Darwin - Relaxed Port Metropolis

Darwin is the capital of and the biggest city in the Northern Territory. At the same time, it is the country's smallest state capital with 121,000 inhabitants and an area of 112 km². Due to its geographical position in the north of the red continent and its proximity to the Timor Sea and the countries of Indonesia and East Timor, Darwin is also called the "Gateway to Asia". But Australia's northernmost city is much more than that. With attractions like the Litchfield National Park, the Kakadu National Park and the Arnhem Land, Darwin is the ideal starting point for a trip through Australia's north. The tropical climate, which is dominated by a rainy (December to April) and a dry season (May to September), creates hot temperatures and high humidity throughout the year.

Darwin was founded as "Palmerston" (the name of the former British Prime Minister) in 1869. Its natural harbour, however, was named "Port Darwin" in honour of the British researcher Charles Darwin. The capital of the Northern Territory has suffered Japanese air raids and several cyclones. The ruins of the Old Town Hall bear testimony to Cyclone Tracy, which devastated the city in 1974. Despite the enormous damage, the inhabitants of the northern metropolis managed to rebuild the cityscape and created a variety of cultural sights. Today, Darwin is one of the most modern and fastest-growing cities in Australia. Highlights are the Government House, which was built in 1872 and is the oldest European building in the Northern Territory, and the museum complex of the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The latter accommodates numerous works by regional aboriginal artists and the saltwater crocodile "Sweatheart", which weighs 780 kilograms and posed a problem to the local fishermen in the 1970s. Other sights are Fanny Bay Gaol, the Botanic Gardens and the WW2 Oil Storage Tunnels, an underground tunnel system which provides information on the history of World War II and the air raid from 1942.

Darwin is a lively and relaxed port city. Darwin's multicultural atmosphere is enriched by its vibrant nightlife and entertaining leisure activities. The Waterfront Precinct offers numerous restaurants, live music, the Skycity Darwin and the swimming pool of the Wave Lagoon. In addition, the pedestrian zone of Smith Street Mall and the lively Mitchel Street offer entertainment by both day and night. Pubs, night clubs, discos, restaurants, cafes and countless shops string together here and leave no room for boredom. The Mindil Beach Sunset Market with its culinary specialities, handmade souvenirs and unique art handicraft as well as extraordinary festivals such as the Beer Can Regatta or the Barefoot Mud Crab Tying show that Darwin is not an ordinary city. Travellers realise this when they see Indonesian and Thai dishes next to dishes containing crocodile meat on the restaurants' menus. Another way of learning more about the dinosaur-like reptile is a visit to Crocosaurus Cove. The gigantic aquarium accommodates huge saltwater crocodiles like Burt from the film "Crocodile Dundee", which you cannot only watch but also feed.

Darwin's beaches, for example Mindil Beach and Casuarina Beach, are the ideal location for countless water sports like swimming, diving, parasailing, sailing and jet-skiing. The coastal waters and surrounding rivers offer excellent conditions for going fishing. A particularly popular catch in the region is the predator barramundi, which lives in the region's rivers. Other leisure activities in and around Darwin are boat tours at Darwin Harbour, helicopter flights, cycling tours, golfing, climbing and parachuting.

Due to the consistent temperatures throughout the year, Darwin is a great travel destination at any season. The most popular time for visiting the city, however, is the dry season between May and September. During this period, the days are usually dry and sunny, while high precipitation and extremely high humidity most commonly occur in the rainy season. Holidaymakers need to watch out for the poisonous box jellyfish while bathing between May and October. In addition, the regional saltwater crocodiles ("salties") pose a threat to all bathers throughout the year. You need to look out for special warning signs whenever you go into the water. Darwin has an international airport, which several Asian airlines arrive at.