Destinations / Darwin / Darwin - the city

The city of Darwin has the most youthful population in Australia, which gives it a distinctly optimistic vibe.

The weather is always warm with a year round average of 32 degrees celsius, and is best described as balmy (from May to October) or sultry (from November to April).

Exploring the compact CBD of Darwin by day is best done on foot, or aboard a jump on and off tour bus. The city can also be circumnavigated on a bicycle following a designated path that meanders through the lush esplanade that skirts the CBD and provides great views over the harbour.

At night you can immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of the pubs and nightclubs that dominate Darwin's nightlife hub on Mitchell Street, dine at Cullen Bay or try your luck at the casino on Mindil Beach.

Local restaurants serve dishes from all over the world along with authentic Northern Territory cuisine like mud crabs, barramundi, buffalo, kangaroo and crocodile. You can choose from silver service fine dining, an al fresco meal with a harbour view, or a platter of local seafood at Stokes Hill wharf.

On weekends the city is scattered with open air markets at Parap, Nightcliff and Mindil Beach. Here you’ll find an array of stalls serving cuisines from all over Asia and locally made arts and crafts. There are also performances from musicians and artists, a variety of street theatre, traditional bush poetry and even free stock-whip cracking lessons.

Darwin Harbour’s healthy population of barramundi and other tropical fish make it a world-class fishing destination and its turquoise waters set the scene for the more relaxed option of a sunset cruise.