by Frances Stanford

Created on: October 28, 2010

Darwin, Australia, is the northernmost capital of the country and its closest point to Asia. The city has a population of less than 100,000 and has survived a myriad of natural disasters that have destroyed many of the buildings over the centuries. However, some of the historic buildings are still intact and are located around the center of the city. Commonly used as the jumping off point for tourists traveling to the Kaladu National Park, Katherine Gorge and Kimberley. It is blessed with pleasant streets just made for strolling, parklands and unique wildlife attractions.

Spend some time in the 43-acre George Brown Botanic Gardens where you can walk the paths through numerous species of baoboh, orchids, mangroves and palm trees. The walking trail along Fannie Bay is a delightful one where you have a pretty good chance of seeing wallabies.

There are two noteworthy wildlife parks in the vicinity of Darwin. The Territory Wildlife Park is located about 38 miles south of the city and is certainly worth a visit. Here you will find manmade habitats for the animals that replicate their natural habitats so closely that you think the park had been built around them. There is a rainforest, as well as lagoons and boardwalks. Walk through an aviary and an aquarium as well as a nocturnal house where you can see the bilby. Take part in one of the animal talks that are held throughout the day to become more knowledgeable about the inhabitants of the park.

The Crocodylus Park and Zoo is only 15 minutes outside of the city. Here you can see the crocodiles being fed at the feeding station and take a free guided tour of the facilities. The zoo is home to exotic species of animals from other parts of the world, such as a Bengal tiger and monkeys.

Darwin was bombed several times during the Second World War. Learn about this part of the city’s history with a visit to the East Point Military Museum Watch a video about bombings by the Japanese during the war and walk through the tunnels. These tunnels are not open in December and February.

Learn about the pearling heritage of the region when you visit the Australian Pearling Exhibition. Take a cruise on the harbor or engage in some fishing in the wetlands and ocean. Charter boats take avid fishers to the fishing spots where they can fish for big species, such as the barracuda.

Shop for Aboriginal crafts as well as opals, pearls and diamonds when you visit Darwin. There are many shops and galleries that sell authentic Aboriginal artwork and you have the chance to buy some of the best pearls in the world in the stores in the mall.

There are many different types of accommodations to choose from. The dry season here is from April to December and this is the busy tourist season. However, if you choose to visit at other times of the year, you could realize fantastic savings on your hotel.

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