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Easy to relax in tropical Darwin DARWIN is the tropical capital city of Australia's Northern Territory. It has a relaxed outdoor lifestyle and enjoys warm weather all year round.Perched on a peninsula with sea on three sides, Darwin is an excellent base to explore the natural attractions of World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, Litchfield and Nitmiluk National Parks, the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land. The city was founded as Australia's most northerly harbour port in 1869, and its population rapidly expanded after the discovery of gold at nearby Pine Creek in 1871. World War II put the city on the map as a major allied military base for troops fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. Today travellers can see evidence of Darwin's World War II history at a variety of preserved sites including ammunition bunkers, airstrips and oil tunnels in and around the city. Darwin again made world news when the city was rebuilt in the wake of Cyclone Tracy in 1974 - an event well documented at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Its colourful history has contributed to the Darwin's cultural diversity - more than 50 nationalities make up its 100,000 population, including the area's traditional landowners, the Larrakia Aboriginal people. The cultural and culinary benefits of such a melting pot are best experienced at its weekly markets, variety of restaurants and through its annual calendar of festivals and events. Youthful vibe The city has the most youthful population in Australia, which gives it a distinctly optimistic vibe. The weather is always warm with a year round average of 32 degrees Celsius, and is best described as balmy (from May to October) or sultry (from November to April). Exploring the compact central business district by day is best done on foot, or aboard a jump on and off tour bus. The city can also be circumnavigated on a bicycle following a designated path that meanders through the lush esplanade that skirts the Central Business District and provides great views over the harbour. At night you can immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of the pubs and nightclubs that dominate the city's nightlife hub on Mitchell Street, dine at Cullen Bay or try your luck at the casino on Mindil Beach. Local restaurants serve dishes from all over the world along with authentic Northern Territory cuisine like mud crabs, barramundi, buffalo, kangaroo and crocodile. You can choose from silver service fine dining, an al fresco meal with a harbour view, or a platter of local seafood at the wharf. On weekends the city is scattered with open air markets at Parap, Nightcliff and Mindil Beach. Here you'll find an array of stalls serving cuisines from all over Asia and locally made arts and crafts. There are also performances from musicians and artists, a variety of street theatre, traditional bush poetry and even free stock-whip cracking lessons. Darwin Harbour's healthy population of barramundi and other tropical fish make it a world-class fishing destination and its turquoise waters set the scene for the more relaxed option of a sunset cruise. |
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