Darwin Specials

City Guide

DARWIN

Welcome to a tropical metropolis with crocodile sunsets.

The 'capital' of northern Australia is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it should come as no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia.

This proximity and familiarity with Australia's northern neighbours is reflected in the town's relaxed, cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere. In a country that prides itself on its ethnic diversity, Darwin may be the most multicultural city of all.

Timezones

GMT +9.5 Eastern Standard Time

Environment

Latitude-12.4130001068
Longitude 130.832000732
Area sqkm1660
Population 103500

Darwin is a compact area at the end of a peninsula in the far north of the Northern Territory, west of Arnhem Land. Most of what you'll want in central Darwin is within two or three blocks of the main shopping centre, Smith St mall. The suburbs spread a good 12 to 15km (7 to 9mi) to the north and east.

Darwin's airport is 13km (8mi) north of the town centre. The transit centre, where buses arrive and depart, is in the centre of town.

Events

There are beach parties and rock concerts on May Day, more to celebrate the absence of box jellyfish and the start of swimming season than to pay tribute to International Labour Day. The Royal Darwin Show is held in July. Darwin's legendary thirst for beer is celebrated at the Beer Can Regatta in August, when a series of boat races are held for craft constructed entirely of beer cans. Other August festivities include the Rodeo and Mud Crab Tying Competition, and the Darwin Cup horse race.

Darwin Show Day
official holiday 4th Friday in Jul

Weather

Indigenous Australians from this area divide the year into six seasons, but in Darwin people generally prefer to think in terms of the 'wet' and the 'dry'. The wet season begins in October, when humidity levels begin to climb, until by January and February the combination of heat and humidity is quite stifling. The end of the wet is characterised by fierce storms Aborigines call 'knock 'em down storms'. By contrast, the dry is a delicious time of year - sunny and warm.

Activities

If you enjoy diving, cycling, swimming, or sailing then Darwin is the place for you; the city has excellent cycle paths and the harbour harbours coral-encrusted wrecks from the days of WWII and Cyclone Tracy; October to May is stinger season making beach swimming off limits but the local pool and Lake Alexander at East Point are good spots for a dip. Fishing, bungee jumping (at Wharf Precinct) or bushwalking in the top end, Kakadu or the Kimberley are also popular and easy to arrange.

Getting there and away

Darwin's airport services both international and domestic routes. Lots of flights run between Darwin and Indonesia, as well as to other spots in South-East Asia. You can also fly to Darwin from all other states in Australia, although you might end up going via Alice Springs, Brisbane or Adelaide.

You can reach Darwin by bus on three routes - the Western Australian route from Broome, Derby, Port Hedland and Kununurra; the Queensland route through Mt Isa to Threeways and up the Track; or straight up the Track from Alice Springs.

The weekly Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs and Katherine train service leaves town on Wednesday morning.

Getting around

The airport is only 13km (8mi) from town and is serviced by a shuttle bus. Darwin has a fairly good city bus service, but it's only in full swing from Monday to Friday, and it shuts down entirely on Sunday. Several private bus companies do a shuttles between Darwin's major places of interest. There is an extensive network of bicycle tracks; bikes can be rented or borrowed from many of the backpackers' hostels.