Positioned between Queensland and Western Australia on Australia’s northern coastline, and overlooking the Timor Sea is Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. During the Dry Season in Darwin, the city really comes alive with an influx of tourists coming to the city, swelling its permanent population of around 110,000 people. With its tropical climate and warm weather all year round, the city enjoys a relaxed outdoor lifestyle and a real buzz occurs each night in the many hotels and nightclubs. If you want to experience some true Australian cuisine then make sure you try Kangaroo, Barramundi and Mud Crabs, or for the real experience try some Buffalo or Crocodile.

On 19th of February 1942, 188 Japanese planes raided Darwin, dropping more bombs on the city than Pearl Harbour. Along with the 15,000 Allied soldiers that were based in Darwin at the time to support the war, there were also 2,000 permanent residents, down from its original 5,000 due to the war. The Japanese attacked Darwin another 58 times between 1942 and 1943, but none of the attacks were as devastating to the city as the original one. Today you can still see remnants around the city from World War 2.

Because of Darwin’s location, unlike a lot of Australia that has 4 seasons, Darwin only has 2, a Wet Season, and a Dry Season. The wet Season tends to run from November through to March/April, with most of the rain falling between December and March, and the dry season running from April/May through to October. Darwin sees very little rain falling between May and September, and come November the days become very hot and humid in the build up to the wet season. Tourists shouldn’t be put off by the wet season though as that is when the waterfalls and rivers are at their spectacular from the air.

Darwin is the perfect place to base yourself as you explore the Top End of Australia, with good access to the Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks, Katherine Gorge is not too far down the road in Outback terms, and the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land aren’t too far away. Try your hand at fishing for Barramundi with one of the many tour charters from Darwin, or experience the crocodiles out in their wild habitat on one of the jumping crocodile tours on the Adelaide River. During the dry season the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets come alive with food stalls selling cuisine from all over the world, and local artists selling an array of locally made goods.

There are many other attractions in Darwin, with some of them being:

– Crocodylus Park is a crocodile museum displaying everything you need to know about the Crocodile. There are breeding and rearing crocodile pens, plus many other animals on display such as lizards, snakes, wombats, dingoes, birds and buffalo.

– Visit Acquascene at Doctor’s Gully to witness the fish feeding frenzy. At particular times during the day when the tides are right, wild fish come in to be fed.

– Darwin Crocodile Farm is a breeding ground for crocodiles to be farmed for their skins as the leather is highly durable and unique with its individual patterning. The crocodile farm is also open to tourists, with the best time to visit being feeding time.

– The Territory Wildlife Park is a 400 hectare open range sanctuary situated 56kms outside of Darwin. It is on natural bushland and contains animals and plants native to the Northern Territory, including an aviary, an aquarium, natural lagoons and a nocturnal house.

– Majestic Orchids houses Australia’s largest tropical orchid farm, set across 2 hectares and with over 300,000 blooms.

– Windows on the Wetlands is on the Arnhem highway overlooking the Adelaide River floodplains. It offers spectacular views across the Top End Wetlands, with the Wet Season the floodplains are under water, and the Dry Season they are baked in the sunlight.

– The Darwin Wharf Precinct is a great place to relax and enjoy your dinner at a restaurant overlooking the water. There are also tours that go through old World War 2 tunnels.

– If you don’t have the time to go out on a tour boat to fish for Barramundi, you can always try your hand at catching a Barramundi at the Barramundi Fishing Park. The Billabong is always well stocked with over 3,000 Barramundi, and its only 30 minutes from Darwin.

– Operating over the Dry Season, the Deckchair Cinema overlooks Darwin Harbour creating a stunning backdrop to enjoy a glass of wine and watch a movie.

– The Myilly Point Heritage Precinct is made up of 4 houses set in their original location and are perfect examples of pre World War 2 Darwin architecture.

– Jilamara Arts and Crafts is a highly respected art centre, displaying art from the local Tiwi artists who are renowned for their use of natural ochres on paintings, tunga baskets, tutini poles and carvings.

– The Darwin Botanic Gardens have displays of orchids that thrive in the humid conditions, along with baobab trees, palms and mangroves.

– If you feel like experiencing Darwin on foot then there are a couple of walks that you can do. The Fairweather Walk starts at Mindil Beach and finishes at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The Traveller’s Walk takes you up a path which was constructed with Stokes Hill Wharf was being built in 1895.