Darwin, the Northern Territory’s vibrant capital, is a city with influences that are as much Asian as they are western. A city with dozens of nationalities sharing an easy-going lifestyle, Darwin is located on a peninsular with the sea on three sides. It is a place unvisited by winter where the weather can usually be described as either balmy or sultry. Darwin is well appointed, possessing most of the amenities expected of a much larger city. Watching sunsets and storms are something of a local pastime, and after a cleansing rain shower you can almost hear things growing.
Relax in the sunshine
The city of Darwin 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). Darwin's calendar of annual cultural events and festivals also makes the most of the weather, with the majority held between May and September, when the city enjoys beautiful sunny days and southern Australia rugs up for winter. Exploring the compact central business district of Darwin 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 bars, pubs and nightclubs that create Darwin's nightlife hub on Mitchell Street. Dine at Cullen Bay Marina with its boardwalk of great cafes and restaurants, or try your luck at the casino on Mindil Beach. Along Fannie Bay is the perfect place to go for an alfresco meal with a harbour view or a cool drink at sunset. 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 or feast on a platter of local seafood at Stokes Hill Wharf, while enjoying the refreshing sea breezes and stunning sunsets. On weekends the city is scattered with open air markets at Parap, Rapid Creek, 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. If you over indulge at the markets, there's no shortage of scenic areas and open spaces in which to exercise. A network of bicycle paths and walking tracks follow the city's coastline through mangroves, monsoon forests and beaches. Darwin Harbour is the backdrop of the city's famous sunsets and you can really immerse yourself in the experience aboard a sunset cruise. Enjoy great food and wine while sailing on the turquoise waters. Darwin is a world-class fishing destination, with a healthy population of barramundi and other tropical fish. It has a large harbour, twice the size of Sydney Harbour, with great fishing. You can throw in a line at Stokes Hill Wharf or East Point. There is a wide range of day trips and extended fishing tours available from Darwin. more
