by Lyndon Sparrow

Created on: April 15, 2010   Last Updated: August 20, 2010

Positioned between Queensland and Western Australia on Australia’s northern coastline, and overlooking the Timor Sea is Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. During the Dry Season in Darwin, the city really comes alive with an influx of tourists coming to the city, swelling its permanent population of around 110,000 people. With its tropical climate and warm weather all year round, the city enjoys a relaxed outdoor lifestyle and a real buzz occurs each night in the many hotels and nightclubs. If you want to experience some true Australian cuisine then make sure you try Kangaroo, Barramundi and Mud Crabs, or for the real experience try some Buffalo or Crocodile.

A little known fact of Darwin is that on the 19th of February 1942, the Japanese dropped more bombs on the city than were dropped on Pearl Harbour. Along with the 15,000 Allied soldiers that were based in Darwin at the time to support the war, there were also 2,000 permanent residents, down from its original 5,000 due to the war. Between 1942 and 1943, Darwin came under attack another 58 times, but none were as devastating at the attack on the 19th of November. Today you can still see remnants around the city from World War 2.

Because of Darwin’s location, unlike a lot of Australia that has 4 seasons, Darwin only has 2, a Wet Season, and a Dry Season. The dry season tends to run from April/May through to October, with the wet season seeing most of the rain fall between December and March. Darwin sees very little rain falling between May and September, and come November the days become very hot and humid in the build up to the wet season. Tourists shouldn’t be put off by the wet season though as that is when the waterfalls and rivers are at their spectacular from the air.

Darwin is the perfect place to base yourself as you explore the Top End of Australia, with good access to the Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks, Katherine Gorge is not too far down the road in Outback terms, and the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land aren’t too far away. To experience crocodiles close up then join a tour along the Adelaide River to see the jumping crocodiles in the wild, or if it is Barramundi you are after then there are fishing tours available out of Darwin. There are the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets each Thursday and Sunday evening during the Dry Season where food stalls prepare cuisine from around the world and local artisans and craft people sell a colourful array of goods.

Learn more about this author, Lyndon Sparrow.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.