Darwin Australia - The Undiscovered Jewel In The Outback Crown

By Barry Firt


The Northern Territory is the central northern state of Australia and is well-known for wondrous outback adventures. Frequently known as the Never Never by the customary owners because of it's timelessness and mythical stories, the Northern Territory provides more exciting activity than most of Australia's states and the opportunity to get truly lost in the beauty and ruggedness of what is the perfect "Australian Outback".

The best method to visit this broad red, green and azure land is with a vehicle of your own hired in Darwin or Alice Springs - the 2 biggest cities. There is only one issue to bear in mind when driving in the Northern Territory, Western Australia or anywhere in the outback: If you are leaving the black tar, you have to be in a 4wd!

Where is Darwin. Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, and is the biggest in the state. It is located on the central north coast of Australia on the Timor Sea and is situated between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator.

About Darwin. Darwin is the gateway to the outback of Australia - the rugged, stunning, crimson, green and blue lands that have made Australia celebrated the world over. From Darwin you have quick access to a number of Australia's most iconic landmarks. Kakadu National Park - the world heritage listed recreation lands, Litchfield National park - the inland jewel of the Northern Territory, Uluru - the worlds largest monolith, and a myriad of additional attractions which make you gaze in wonder. You cannot find any greater way to visit these eternal, rugged places than with your very own 4wd camper hire from Darwin.

The Northern Territory is sparsely inhabited and is primarily outback bushland and national parks. Darwin has a population of around 130,000 defining it as the biggest city in the Northern Territory, however is only 16th largest in Australia. It's an important gateway to South East Asia and possesses quite a military importance to Australia. Because of this, you will usually find Navy ships in the harbour. It is the northernmost point of the famous Ghan railway that crosses the country in a North/South direction with the other end being Adelaide some 2979km away.

Like all major cities in Australia it offers a bountiful supply of shops, bars, dining places, diesel, lodgings and everything a traveller will need to have a wonderful time.

When to Go. Darwin is in a tropical location so is warm and humid all year round. It is better defined by a wet and dry season. The ideal time to go is the dry season, but in particular the times when there are no school holidays is the best of the best.

Dry Season: Late April to September/October. This the ideal time of the year to go. In this time there is less rain and the night times become a little cooler. "A little cooler" in Darwin means an average of around 20 deg C (68F) as apposed to 24 deg C (75F). The days stay about the same average all year at 32 deg C (90F) but they seem far more tolerable during the dry season with about fifty percent the humidity of the wet season.

School holidays: These are the dates which will boost crowds in Darwin and other sightseeing opportunities in the Northern Territory during the dry season. Dates change from state to state, but taking in to consideration the commencing dates of the first state(s) to go on break and the end of the last state(s) to go back, these are the dates of school breaks. (Subject to minor change each year).

29th March - 26th April 1st July - 21st July 23rd September - 13th October

Wet Season: October/November to around April. The wet starts with especially steamy, hot conditions associated with some remarkable lightning storms. The rainfall increases as you approach the end of the year. The wettest section of the year is from January to March. Through this time numerous unsealed roads will close to all but local residents and it is not recommended to go at this time except if you like being wet. Even 4wd campers are likely to get bogged at this time of year. This is also the part of the season that is most at risk of cyclones.

What to See. Darwin is the gateway to outback Australia. With a 4wd campervan rented from Darwin you may get to all the destinations you want to go and even to a few you don't know you want to get to yet. From Darwin it is only a road-trip to the likes of Litchfield National Park, Katherine, Uluru & Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and The Kimberly in Western Australia. And don't disregard Darwin itself for a little enjoyment and recreation. As little as three hours drive from Darwin, Kakadu National Park possesses an uncommon dual World Heritage listing for both its natural splendor and its historic Aboriginal culture, dating back 50,000 years. It is one of the most popular points of interest in the north, with Uluru being the best known in the south.

Transport. There are no trains or trams around Darwin, it is just buses. There are lots of attractions around Darwin that are not central to town and you will save yourself much waiting at a hot bus stop if you splash out on a camper. As soon as you are ready to see the sights that are further afield, make sure you get yourself a 4wd camper hire to do the long miles with. There is minimal useful public transport options outside of Darwin. The only train runs from Darwin to Adelaide 2 times a week (The Ghan).

Darwin and the Northern Territory are where many of the most well-known photographs of Australia are taken, not to mention movies like Crocodile Dundee and Kangaroo Jack. It is a spot where time stopped tens on thousands of years ago and today gives the modern tourist a glimpse in to the past when only the Aboriginals inhabited the land along with the native animals. No other place in Australia or the globe can provide astonishment, tranquility, excitement and adventure like that which is on offer in the "Never Never".




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