Darwin

Darwin, Australia

Darwin is a thriving, prosperous and multicultural city with lively bars and wide-ranging international cuisine. It is lush, tropical, and the gateway to top-end outback adventures through the world heritage Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Darwin boasts an eclectic cultural mix: Asian music, food, and languages live side-by-side with aboriginal artistry, Australian beach culture, love of the outdoors, and a profound appreciation of cosmopolitanism.

Population:

147,255 (2019, estimated)

Currency:

Australian Dollar (AUD) $1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

000 (Ambulance, Police and Fire)

Opening Hours:

Most shops are open 7 days a week. Generally on weekdays they open 9am–5pm and on weekends 10am–3pm.

Newspapers:

The Northern Territory News

The City

Darwin, built upon a low bluff overlooking Darwin Harbour, is the administrative capital of the Northern Territory and is called the capital of tropical Australia because it is lush and green, full of tropical plants and the perfume of Frangipanis. The cyclone season is from November to April, when there are stunning electrical storms and predictable afternoon rains. The city had to be virtually rebuilt after being devastated by cyclone Tracy in 1974. Before that, the city had been destroyed tree more times — yeah, tough luck.

Darwin is also the most multicultural city in Australia, boasting over 75 nationalities, a large indigenous population (25 percent) and a diverse range of immigrants from Asia.

The Stuart Highway — The Track — is the only road out of town and runs 2,800 km south to Adelaide. Since 2004, Darwin has had a rail link to the great southern cities of Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The Ghan passenger train service runs twice a week.

Do & See

Darwin is a youthful city with a young and vibrant population, and it is famously packed with young travellers during the dry season. Outdoor living is the norm and outdoor activities and adventures are the main attractions, with breathtaking natural parks in close proximity. Central Darwin is compact and easily explored on foot, although the suburbs are somewhat spread out.

Dining

Australian dining is almost always an easy-going and casual experience, even in smart restaurants. Darwin restaurants have a fabulous range of fresh seafood, primarily the superb local Barramundi fish. Local wildlife such as kangaroo, crocodile, buffalo, emu and camel can also be found on many menus. International cuisine is also on offer including Mediterranean, Thai, Malay and Chinese. Pubs have voluminous menus and are a popular alternative.

Cafes

Australia has long been a country of tea-drinkers, but coffee has taken over in recent times. Darwin has plenty of local roasters and specialist baristas, now boasting lots of cosy cafes, patisseries and seaside eateries to choose from. So whether you fancy a long and relaxing brunch, a quick coffee or an afternoon drink, you'll find exactly what you're looking for in garden cafes of specialist bakeries.