Known as Australia’s only tropical capital city, Darwin welcomes visitors with the best weather, beaches, and activities every adventure seeker would love. Perched on the very northern coast of Australia, the area doesn’t see the attention of its sister cities Sydney or Melbourne. This lack of attention is actually a good thing. It is one of the few places that live up to what you envision the land down under being.
Visiting Darwin was our first visit to Australia, we learned a few lessons from our visit. We want to pass on a few of the basic do’s and dont’s for the area to ensure a problem-free and enjoyable vacation. We want you to have the insiders guide when going to the northern territory of Australia.
Do Plan for Adventure
Darwin offers visitors plenty of activities they can do from daytime to nighttime. There are two amazing national parks within driving distance of Darwin: Kakadu and Litchfield. Both are must sees for any visit to the “Top End.” There are many tours that leave from darwin and take you to on a day trip. The tour we elected to take gave us passage on a croc viewing cruise and a day swimming in the waterfalls of Kakadu! There are many multi day camping excursions into the national parks if you wish to get a more involved adventure. For the history buff, there are many World War II sites in Darwin. You can take a harbor cruse that highlights the different points of interest. There is also a WWII museum which has many interesting exhibits just outside of Darwin.
Kakadu National Park
Once the sun goes down in Darwin, the fun continues! We highly recommend visiting the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. It lines the beach with art, food and fun vendors. We absolutely loved just people watching along the path. You can also check out the Deckchair Cinema for an outdoor film viewing while resting in a reclining chairs under the stars.
Don’t Overspend on Accommodation
There will be plenty of things where you can put your money in, and accommodation shouldn’t be one of it. To fully experience the authentic atmosphere of Australia’s Northern Territory, consider signing up for a house sitting instead. According to a popular house sitting platform Trusted House Sitters, many homeowners in the area are in search for a loving home sitters to look over their humble abode including their pets while they are away. You get to stay in their homes for free, while enjoying the rest of your trip in Darwin. It will save you plenty of cash that you commonly spend on hotels or inns. This is highly beneficial for those planning to stay in the destination for a long period of time.
We stayed at the Bromeliad Bed and Breakfast and had a great time. The innkeepers are so kind and will definitely help you make your visit to Darwin an enjoyable one.
Do travel with insurance
Whether you are traveling to Darwin from another Australian location or internationally, the need to have a travel insurance will be highly helpful to you, especially when going on a trip with your family. A typical policy, based on the information shared by this travel insurance guide, can help you avoid any travel risk, such as:
· Hefty medical costs
· Airline and accommodation cancellation
· Lost, stolen or damaged items
· Legal liability
The same article also showed the ins and outs of making a claim, when the need arises, making it easier for you in case an emergency strikes.
Don’t Visit During the Wet Season
Given the plenty of outdoor activities you can do in the city, the best time to visit Darwin is during the dry season, which lasts from April or May until September or October. It’s the most beautiful weather to get around the city with clear blue skies, warm days and balmy nights. During the wet season, you have to endure storms that sometimes led to cyclones and floods. The temperature is less humid as it gets close to the wet season. The wet season starts around October to November, but rain falls more between January and March. According to resource page Outback Australia Travel Secrets, the wet season may still work for travelers who are more adventurous and flexible as it’s the time when wildflowers are blooming and waterfalls are raging.
Darwin’s geographic location made it a highly popular destination for travelers in search of peace of mind without the need to leave the city life. We hope this post presented you with all the preparation and safety tips you need before going to the capital city of Darwin. Feel free to add more tips to this list, by leaving a comment below.
We are Mike and Luci.