Australia

Darwin

As the largest and most populated city in the Northern Territory, Darwin acts as the "Top End's" regional center. Being close to Asia makes Darwin one of Australia's most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities. Its population is made up of people from more than 60 nationalities. The city's multicultural mix is particularly highlighted by its many exciting ethnic cultural festivals and weekly food and craft markets.

Weather: The city, like the rest of the "Top End" has a tropical climate. The combination of high temperature and burdensome humidity turns Darwin into one of the hottest cities in Australia. It's recommended to avoid visiting the city during the wet season, between November and April while in addition to the heat there are tropical cyclones and monsoon rains.

Events and Festivals: Being far from other major places and a visiting center for tourists, Darwin is known for turning every event into a real celebration. Here are some of the major events and festivals during the year:

·     The "Beer Can Regatta" which is held in August is the most famous festival in the city. It includes various races by boats made exclusively of beer cans.

·     The "Darwin Festival" which is held once a year includes comedy, dance, theatre, music, film and visual art.

·     "Mindil Beach Sunset Market" is a weekly market that takes place every Sunday and Thursday. At the market you can find some Asian food and different souvenirs representing mostly aboriginal culture and art.

·     On the 1st of July Darwin celebrates "Territory Day". The main celebrations take place at Mindil beach, where you can see a large firework display and enjoy street performances by local artists.

 

Where to stay?

 

There's a big selection of accommodation within the city to suit every budget.

Most of the hostels are located in the center of Darwin and especially in Mitchell St. which is the main street of the city. Two recommended hostels are "Globetrroter backpackers" and "Melaleuca on Mitchell" where you can enjoy pool volley ball tournaments and a daily voucher for dinner and drink in one of the main bars in the city.  

 

 

What to see?

 

The best way to see the city center is by foot. You'll have the chance to see some historic buildings and museums. The Art and Science Museum in Conacher St presents Aboriginal and Asian galleries and different art exhibitions. The most attractive item in the museum is the "Sweetheart"- a 5 meter long crocodile.

The best tourist attraction in the area is the Aquascene near the promenade, where various species of fish arrive during high tide hours and to enjoy the food that is thrown to them.

In the Indo-Pacific Marine aquarium you'll have the chance to see corals, walruses, jellyfish and other species of sea life.

The botanic gardens, located outside the city center, offer a variety of tropical flora, rain forests, palm trees, figs and orchids.

Another popular place to visit are Darwin's beaches, of which the most known are Mindil and Vestey's in Fannie Bay. Beware not to enter the water between October and May when there are fatal jellyfish in the area.

 

For those who like shopping, the main shopping areas are Smith Street Mall, Darwin Plaza and The Galleria. The city is also a great place to buy aboriginal pieces of art.

 

Nightlife

As a city with hot climate which attracts many young travelers, there is diverse nightlife. The city offers a big variety of coffee houses, eclectic restaurants cinemas, pubs, dance clubs and a casino. The popular bars are the "Shenanigans" Irish pub which offers live performances of local bands and "The Vic" which is the favorite place for travelers.