Darwin is a small yet cosmopolitan city of approximately 110,000 people located on the
Timor Sea (a branch of the Indian Ocean) in north-central Australia. Darwin is the capital
city of the Northern Territory.
The city is notable amongst the capital cities for its history of major disasters. Its tropical
climate has seen it regularly subjected to heavy thunderstorms. Major cyclones have
occurred approximately once every three decades. Much of the city was destroyed by
Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Darwin is also the only Australian capital city to have come under
substantial attack during a war. On 19 February, 1942, Japanese planes made two major
air raids on Darwin from the aircraft carrier fleet that had attacked Pearl Harbor less than 3
months earlier. These were the first of 64 air attacks experienced by the city during World
War II, the last being on 12 November, 1943. (Other areas in northern Queensland and
northern Western Australia were also bombed by Japanese aircraft.) Today Darwin is a
fast growing regional centre, important to Australian military, tourism and mining.
As one of the most isolated of Australia's capital cities, Darwin has a history and heritage
unique unto itself.
The earliest European efforts to settle the 'Top End' were mainly due to British fears that
other European powers might get a toehold on the Australian continent. Between 1824
and 1829 Fort Dundas on Melville Island and Fort Wellington on the Cobourg Peninsula,
200 km (124 mi) northeast of Darwin, were settled and then abandoned.
Modern Darwin is one of Australia's most cosmopolitan cities, more open to Asia than
perhaps any other Australian city. It plays an important role as the front door to Australia's
northern region and as a centre for administration and mining. The port facilities have
recently had a major upgrade, and the completion in September 2003 of a railway link to
Alice Springs and Adelaide has locals hoping Darwin will become the continent's
transport hub with Southeast Asia.
The world could take a leaf from Darwin's multiculturalism. Many diffent cultures are
present in Darwin and all live in harmony. Each culture is celebrated at the Mindil Beach
Markets each week where a visitor can sample food from many different cultures and eat
it at the most spectacular seaside sunset you will ever see.
Darwin is, more than anything else, a backpackers paradise. The level of family-related
tourism is low and the landscape remains, for the most part, as it was long before
European settlement. Natural wonders such as Kakadu, Katherine Gorge, and Litchfield
are all within driving distance from the city and still contain near pre-colonial populations
of crocodiles, goannas, snakes and wallabies. It would not be a stretch to call Darwin
itself "Australia's best kept secret" with its picturesque tropical beaches, excellent night
clubs, unique dining, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and near unmatched wildlife viewing
opportunities.
PLACE TO VISIT
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens - are botanical gardens located
2km North of the CBD of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The gardens cover 42
hectares and are noted for their collections of north Australian and other tropical species.
East Point - is a northern suburb of the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
East Point, Lee Point and Point Charles all appear on Goyder’s original plan of Port
Darwin in 1869. This point, the easterly extremity of the entrance to Darwin Harbour has
been used for a variety of purposes. It was used during the War (1942-46), a post war golf
course and currently a recreation reserve.
East Point Military Museum - was originally set up as an artillery museum by
the Royal Australian Artillery Association (RAAA) to exhibit photographs and artefacts from
Darwin's war time history. It is a little known fact that Darwin was bombed by the
Japanese during World War II. The 64 raids conducted on Darwin lasted for almost 2
years and killed over 300 people. It is a privately run museum and until recently had never
received any funding from the Government.
Charles Darwin National Park - is notable for a number of World War 2-era
concrete bunkers, one of which has been converted into a visitors centre and display of
World War 2 memorabilia. Charles Darwin National Park is also home to a number of
excellent lookouts from the Park towards the city of Darwin. It has a number of middens
used by the Larrakia people
Knuckey Lagoons - Conservation Reserve is a small conservation reserve
wetland located on the outskirts of Darwin and Palmerston in the Northern Territory.
Bicentennial Park - is a large area of parkland in Darwin, Northern Territory which
over looks Darwin harbour and is located within the central business district.
Lake Alexander - is a man-made lake named in honour of Alec Fong-Lim who was
Lord Mayor of Darwin from 1984 to 1990. The lake is located in Darwin, Northern Territory,
Australia and was officially opened on the 21 July 1991 for recreational use by the people
of Darwin.
Crocodylus Park - Only 5 minutes drive from the airport, the park is home to more
than a thousand crocodiles. It also houses exotic birds, primates, big cats and lizards.
Children under 4 years have free entry.
Fannie Bay Gaol - East Point Road, Fannie Bay. 10:30am until 4pm. An aboriginal
warrior called Nemarluk once escaped from here and swam across Darwin Harbour
ilegally free.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory - set on a tropical
garden on Darwin Harbour is this, the Northern Territory's premier cultural institution. The
MAGNT collections place the region's art, history and culture, and natural history in an
Australian and international context through research, interpretation and collection
development. These collections encompass Aboriginal art and material culture, visual
arts, craft, Southeast Asian and Oceanic art and material culture, maritime archaeology,
Northern Territory history and natural sciences. The MAGNT complex consists of five
major permanent galleries, a touring gallery, educational facilities for school groups, a
theatre, the Museum Shop and the Cornucopia Museum Cafe. All contribute to providing
an entertaining, diverse and educational experience for the local community and visitors
to Darwin. Marvel at the giant Salwater Crocodile known as "Sweetheart" who was
responsible for attacking multiple boats in the 1970s, the 18 foot Crocodile is now on
display in the museum.
WHAT TO DO
Doctors Gully Fish Feeding -- yes, you feed the fish by hand and they're not little
fishies, so luckily they don't bite hard! Feeding is dependent on the tide, so call for the
schedule.
Mindil Beach Market - An open air market each Thursday night (just north of
downtown). It is only on during the dry season.
A day trip to Litchfield National Park to explore the wonderful waterfalls & vistas.
Darwin Crocodile Farm -- Over 10,000 crocodiles at this breeding farm. definitely a
good place to see crocodiles from a safe distance.
An Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise to get up close and personal to the
crocs. Stop at the Humpty Doo Hotel on the way to Adelaide River and sample the cold
beer on offer
The Mary River National Park is not a long drive from Darwin and the adjacent
Corroboree and Yellow Water billabongs are home to the biggest in size and highest
concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the world.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Darwin International Airport is situated 13 km north-east of the city. The are
direct flights to most Australian state capitals, Northern Territory destinations, as well as
destinations in northern Western Australia. There are international flights to Bali,
Singapore and elsewhere.
By road - The Stuart Highway is the only highway into Darwin; heading directly into the
city centre and extending southwards all the way to Alice Springs (about 1,500 km) and
Adelaide (3,042 km, or 1,886 mi).
By train - The Ghan is a tourist train that crosses the continent from Adelaide to
Darwin twice a week. It is invariably more expensive than flying, but it is a journey for those
who enjoy train travel, or who want to bring their car without the hassle of driving. There
are transfers in Adelaide from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. You can also transfer your
car from any of these origins. The train line to Darwin was built relatively recently, and was
designed primarily for freight. The terminus for the train is near the deep water port at East
Arm, approximately 7km from the city centre; on the other side of Frances Bay, take a taxi,
or get your accommodation to arrange a pickup for you. There is no public transport to the
train station.
