City Guide Darwin, Australia

Darwin

Humidity was really high! But otherwise nice weather and nice but quite little town. More party town than culture.

Do Litchfield!

Kakadu was too expensive for us so we went on a day tour to Litchfield and it was awesome! Darwin in general is ridiculously expensive.

darwin is fab

Loved my stay in Darwin, weather has been great. Lots of trips to keep you busy, kakadu 3 day trip was the best time ever. met lots of cool people. go to the vic for cheap meal - only $3.50!!! (also cheap booze)

DRY SEASON DARWIN - only the weather

Darwin in the week either side of the Cup is party central. Glorious 32 degree days, balmy 20 degree nights. Al Fresco dining all day & night long. Grouse pubs & eateries, you can walk everywhere from Cullen Bay to the Museum & Botanical Gardens. Mandorah Pub via a ferry a must on a Sunday, great seafood buffets at The Jetty & Seafood on Cullen Restaurants. Walk the streets with safety as there are so many revellers around, only places to avoid at night are the gardens on the Esplanade and be wary of some locals at the bus stop outside Woolworths in Cavenagh St throghout the day. Darwin during the dry season is an absolute must.

Insider Tip:Book early for accommodation a week either side of the first Monday in August when the Darwin Cup is run at Fanny Bay Racecourse, only a stones throw from the City. No need to hire a car, the public transport bus system is brilliant, $2 unlimited travel for 3 hours or a $5 unlimited daily ticket takes you everywhere you need to go. If you want to see the wetlands and crocs in their habitat, go to Kakadu. If it's waterfalls and swimming holes you are after, go nowhere other than Litchfield. Both offer something different.

Good for a short stay

Darwin was a short stay for me -after a longer trip - if longer I would have gone on sidetrips to Kakadu, etc. There are good restaurants of average price, and clothes shopping with a lot of goods from Indonesia at okay prices. I was at the point of needing clothes to return home, and got a few really nice things. The #4 bus is easy for getting to the Art & Science Museum or beach. I recommend going to the museum first and take the special walkway to Mindil Beach rather than the other way around. I was lucky to be there on Market night, and it is a nice atmosphere once the sun is setting. If not on market night, the cafe in the museum had really tempting desserts and a beautiful view of the ocean. However - if you are the type [like me] to buy books from the museum, you may wish to set aside a day for this other than Market day so as not to carry around a heavy bag. This museum had some selections of books on Aborigine's experiences not to be foun din every bookstore. The Aboriginal art show is exceptional. Partying in Darwin appears to go on all the time, but a lot of it is mindless drinking games, lots of smoking, and poor cover bands. I was there for the opening free night of Darwin Festival with excellent bands - and got to see part of the true nature of Darwin. Friendly - but way too much drunkeness. I had just come from Garma Fest on Arnhem Land where no alcohol is permitted, and had a wonderful time.