Darwin Travel Guide (NT, 800)
1536 km from Alice Springs
Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and situated on the Timor Sea. Darwin's population of 115,000 makes the city the most populated city in the Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australian capital cities. Darwin city is built on a low bluff overlooking the harbour.Darwin experiences a tropical climate with a wet season and a dry season. It receives heavy rainfall and spectacular lightning during the wet season.Darwin has been rebuilt twice, once due to the Japanese air raids during World War II and the other after Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Darwin is thus one of Australia's most modern capitals.
Darwin is the northern gateway to Australia, and is one of the romantic names associated with Australian history, both past and present. Named after the famous naturalise, Charles Darwin, who visited the area early in the 19th century, the site was selected by George Goyder, Surveyor General of South Australia in 1869. The year 1872 saw the overland telegraph line of 3220 km completed, linking Darwin with Adelaide.
The importance of its geographical situation was borne out during World War II when Darwin became the base for Australian and Allied Forces operating in the South West Pacific war zone.
The town is connected to Alice Springs and Mount Isa by well constructed bitumen sealed roads.
The well equipped aerodrome connects Darwin with the southern states and is the main airport for overseas air services to Australia.
The climate is tropical, the “wet” season commencing during November and the “dry” season during May.
The town possesses one of the finest deepwater harbours in Australia and has been likened, in size, to that of Sydney. The public buildings and utilities are modern and efficient, and the cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere of the town suggests luxury and ease. For the sightseer there are conducted tours which include visits to numerous attractive beauty spots, including the former army convalescent hospital at Berry Springs, where tropical fruits are plentiful. The town can be made the headquarters for buffalo and crocodile shooting parties. Crocodiles are plentiful on the Adelaide and Daly Rivers and can be seen lazing in the sun on the banks.
Fishing in the rivers is excellent and boating can be enjoyed on the beautiful harbour. The beaches are good and all the year swimming is a feature, although at certain times during the year the jelly fish known as the “Portuguese Man-o-War” infests the coast. The sting from this fish can prove fatal.
The town has been described as “the unfinished capital of an empty land”, but it has attractions for exceeding any other Australian town or city. In the “dry” season Darwin is the ideal Australian holiday resort.
Darwin is the northern gateway to Australia, and is one of the romantic names associated with Australian history, both past and present. Named after the famous naturalise, Charles Darwin, who visited the area early in the 19th century, the site was selected by George Goyder, Surveyor General of South Australia in 1869. The year 1872 saw the overland telegraph line of 3220 km completed, linking Darwin with Adelaide.
The importance of its geographical situation was borne out during World War II when Darwin became the base for Australian and Allied Forces operating in the South West Pacific war zone.
The town is connected to Alice Springs and Mount Isa by well constructed bitumen sealed roads.
The well equipped aerodrome connects Darwin with the southern states and is the main airport for overseas air services to Australia.
The climate is tropical, the “wet” season commencing during November and the “dry” season during May.
The town possesses one of the finest deepwater harbours in Australia and has been likened, in size, to that of Sydney. The public buildings and utilities are modern and efficient, and the cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere of the town suggests luxury and ease. For the sightseer there are conducted tours which include visits to numerous attractive beauty spots, including the former army convalescent hospital at Berry Springs, where tropical fruits are plentiful. The town can be made the headquarters for buffalo and crocodile shooting parties. Crocodiles are plentiful on the Adelaide and Daly Rivers and can be seen lazing in the sun on the banks.
Fishing in the rivers is excellent and boating can be enjoyed on the beautiful harbour. The beaches are good and all the year swimming is a feature, although at certain times during the year the jelly fish known as the “Portuguese Man-o-War” infests the coast. The sting from this fish can prove fatal.
The town has been described as “the unfinished capital of an empty land”, but it has attractions for exceeding any other Australian town or city. In the “dry” season Darwin is the ideal Australian holiday resort.
Aboriginal Air Service | Darwin
Aboriginal Air Services is an umbrella company of 4 distinct airlines owned by the Aboriginal people of Australia. The four companies have gradually come together as a consortium over the last twenty years or so and now known as Aboriginal Air Services.
Several remote communities across Australia, especially the Northern Territory, rely on the service to travel to major centres for health checks...
Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery | Darwin
The Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery is based in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory of Australia, and is at the centre of Aboriginal art and culture.
AFA has developed a strong identity and commitment to promoting the art and culture of Australia's indigenous people. The gallery’s catalogue focuses on works by prominent artists from Central and Western Desert regions of Australia as well...
Australian Masters Squash Championships | Darwin
The Australian Masters Squash Championships is a major event on the Australian Squash Calendar, open to professional squash players from Australia only and offering them a great opportunity to compete for precious world rankings points. The Championships also, held each year in early September, include the Australian graded titles for amateur players.
Bathurst Island | Darwin
Approximately 80km off Darwin lie the Tiwi Islands. Comprised of Bathurst and Melville islands, the latter being Australia’s largest island behind Tasmania, retain their own distinct culture.
For thousands of years the Tiwi Islanders thought they were the only people in the world until the 1600’s when they encountered Indonesian fisherman. Then in 1911 the main settlement, and capital, Ngui...
Coral Divers | Stuart Park
'Coral Divers' offers dives in Darwin Harbour. Explore fascinating wrecks amongst wobbegong sharks, coral trout and barracuda or take a more relaxing reef dive amongst soft corals and sponges.
Discovery Nightclub | Darwin
Discovery Nightclub is a massive three level venue with a large dance floor and many bars. Every Friday and Saturday night both resident and touring DJs play RnB, hip hop, dance and pop music until 4am. The nightclub also plays host to popular Australian and international acts. Crowd capacity of 1000. $10 cover charge. Dress code applies.
Framed The Darwin Gallery | Darwin
This gallery has a large collection of fine Aboriginal art from around Australia and hosts up to 20 major exhibitions a year.
Humpty Doo - Fogg Dam | Darwin
Humpty Doo - Fogg Dam, 57 kms south-east of Darwin, is the center of an experimental rice farm. Nearby at Fogg Dam Bird Sanctuary, thousands of birds gather in and around the water lily covered reservoir, and buffaloes roam the open plains.
Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris | Darwin
Adventure safaris or 4WD camping holiday with an opportunity to see saltwater crocodiles, Aboriginal rock art galleries, magnificent waterfalls and tranquil rock pools.
Northern Territory | Darwin
Formerly known to early surveyors as Alexandra Land, named after the them Princess of Wales, and first successfully explored by McDouall Stuart, who, in 1862, proved the practicability of an overland route from Adelaide to the seaboard in the North. Efforts to settle the Northern Territory by the South Australian Government in 1864, when land sales were held in Adelaide, met with little success. ...
Palmerston Golf & Country Club | Driver
Undulating tree lined fairways by beautiful lakes. PGA Professional: Tony Albon. 18 holes, par 71, ACR 71, 6001 metres. Green fees: Weekends & public holidays $25, midweek $15. Hire: Clubs $15 with buggy, buggies $3, carts $30.
Darwin Attractions | Darwin
Darwin is the northern gateway to Australia, and one of the romantic names associated with Australian history, both past and present. Named after the famous naturalist, Charles Darwin, who visited the area early in the 19th century, the site was selected by George Goyder, Surveyor General of South Australia in 1869. The year 1872 saw the overland telegraph line of 2,000 kms completed, linking Darw...
Darwin City | Darwin
Darwin is the northern gateway to Australia, and one of the romantic names associated with Australian history, both past and present. Named after the famous naturalist, Charles Darwin, who visited the area early in the 19th century, the site was selected by George Goyder, Surveyor General of South Australia in 1869. The year 1872 saw the overland telegraph line of 2,000 kms completed, linking Darw...
Lords Safaris | Darwin
Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris provides adventure safaris or 4WD camping holiday with an opportunity to see saltwater crocodiles, Aboriginal rock art galleries, magnificent waterfalls and tranquil rock pools.
Victoria Hotel | Darwin
The stone Victoria Hotel in Darwin known affectionately as 'the Vic' is one of the few buildings to withstand the fury of cyclone Tracey in 1974. Victoria Hotel is a two-storey building with a shaded beer garden, pokies room and large dance floor. Live bands and DJs play Wednesday to Saturday nights.
Barramundi | Darwin
Barramundi reach maturity as females at about age 5 in the upper reaches of freshwater rivers and streams occurring in a continuous belt around the top perimeter of Australia.
The female Adults move downstream, during periods of flooding, to river estuaries and coastal waters for spawning.
Barramundi have a reputation as Australia's best eating fish particularly if caught in the upper reaches o...
Charles Point - Port Darwin | Darwin
The angular steel constructed Charles Point Lighthouse is located on Cox Peninsula west of Darwin. The lighthouse marks the passage across Beagle Gulf into Port Darwin. Today the property upon which the tower stands is leased to a broadcasting service and unfortunately access is not permitted. The lighthouse was built in 1893.
Darwin Cup Carnival | Darwin
Darwin Cup Carnival attracts over 20,000 visitors each year in late June. Enjoy the fashions and lots of racing! The Cup Carnival is held at Fannie Bay Racecourse, Dick Ward Drive, Fannie Bay.
Darwin Festival | Darwin
The annual Darwin Festival is the largest arts event in the Northern Territory and is a celebration of life and creativity in the tropics. Running over 18 balmy nights from mid to late August each year, the festivities take place in venues stretching from Darwin’s Botanic Gardens to the harbour foreshore.
The Festival programme is distinctly flavoured with Indigenous, Asian and multicultural ...
Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta | Darwin
The annual Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta is held in mid July each year at Mindil Beach, Darwin. The Regatta program includes beach events for all ages and spectacular water events. The Regatta is a great family day. Entrance is by a gold coin donation and all proceeds go to purchasing ambulances for St John Ambulance.