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Northern Australia, Darwin

20 November 2011

Darwin in Northern Australia!

Key points to remember

Darwin is the gateway to Australia’s Top End: Kakadu Park, Litchfield, Katherine Gorge. Plan at least 1 week to explore the region. The dry season (May-October) is mandatory: the monsoon makes the tracks impassable.

  If you go to the north of Australia, you will probably pass through Darwin!

Darwin is located in the Northern Territory, it is its main city along with Katherine!

In this region of Australia, there are two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season! It is better to go in the dry season, that is from April to November!

In this article, I will present to you the best places I enjoyed in this region which has a strong Aboriginal influence.

 

Darwin in Australia and its activities:

I have very good memories of Darwin where I stayed 10 days and traveled around the region for 2 weeks! Darwin and its surroundings is Australia differently!

Did you know?

Darwin was almost completely destroyed by Cyclone Tracy on December 25, 1974. Winds of 250 km/h, 65 dead, 80% of the houses razed. The rebuilt city is now one of the most modern in Australia.

 
  • Go see Crocosaurus Cove, it is an interesting place where you can swim with crocodiles, hold them with your hands, and you can also try to go into the death cage where you swim very close to huge crocodiles!

  • The Windmill Market is a market in Australia that opens after 5pm except on Tuesdays where you can find local specialties, music groups, try crocodile meat, listen to music artists, there are quite diverse activities, you can also watch the sunset on the beach which is a magnificent spectacle!
  • Go to the casino, you can go to the casino after the Windmill Market which is quite close to the market!
  • Go sunbathing at the Lagoon, there is also a pool with very high waves, it is very fun to go there, you can rent floats and let yourself be carried by the waves!
 

The 3 national parks in Northern Australia near Darwin:

  • Litchfield National Park,

This national park in northern Australia is known for its many impressive and beautiful waterfalls! You can swim and wade in most of them if there is no “presence of crocodile” sign. The park is not far from Darwin, which is very tempting for a few days of visits!

My experience

At sunset at Mindil Beach (Darwin), hundreds of people gather every Thursday and Sunday for the open-air market. Cuisine from around the world, musicians, Aboriginal dancers. It is one of the best moments on the entire northern Australian coast.

  • Kakadu National Park,

This park is the largest national park in Australia and in the Northern Territory, it is known for hosting these various regions:

– Yellow Water, which is a river home to very old and long crocodiles.

Advantages

  • Direct access to Kakadu Park (UNESCO)
  • Incredible wildlife (crocodiles, birds)
  • Warm climate all year round
  • Mindil Beach Market
  • Low-cost flights from Southeast Asia

Disadvantages

  • Very far from other Australian cities
  • Very humid rainy season (Nov-Apr)
  • Crocodiles everywhere (swimming in the wild prohibited)
  • Huge distances by car
  • Few public transports
SiteDistance from DarwinDuration
Kakadu Park~250 km3 days
Litchfield National Park~120 km1-2 days
Katherine Gorge~320 km2 days
Crocosaurus Cove (Darwin)0 km2-3h
Mindil Beach Market0 kmEvening

– The alligator region (South, with its river of the same name, East with its tropical forest)

– Jabiru is the main town of the park and provides access to the Arnhem region

– The Nourlangie region and Mary River with walks and interesting hikes

The classic trap to avoid

Never swim in a river or billabong without checking the signage. Saltwater crocodiles can live up to 200 km from the coast in freshwater and hunt several meters out of the water.

– The Jim Jim and Twin Gorge waterfalls, the waterfall region but only accessible by 4×4.

The most unpleasant thing in this park are the mosquitoes because with the surrounding rivers, the humidity level is high.

If you are preparing your departure, take a look at our guide on Perth the city which complements the subject well. The feedback around Aveyron a region also provides useful landmarks to avoid unpleasant surprises. And for further inspiration, the article on Cairns in Australia is worth a detour.

 
  • Nitmiluk National Park or Katherine Gorge,

What I liked about this park are the very long hikes of 5-6 hours with a reward at the end because you arrive at a water spot where you can swim! I can tell you it is very refreshing! It is one of my best hikes in Australia

What is the best time to visit Darwin?

From May to October: dry season, open tracks, bearable temperatures. The monsoon makes the parks partly inaccessible.

How many days to visit Darwin and the Top End?

1 to 2 weeks depending on your pace. Allow 5-7 days for Kakadu + Litchfield + Katherine.

How to get around the Top End?

4×4 vehicle essential for Kakadu tracks. Otherwise, tour operators from Darwin for 3 to 5 days.

There are also other less important activities but worth doing:
  • Visit hot springs
  • Cruise on the Adelaide River, to see the crocodiles!
  If you want more information about other regions, I invite you to check the section: Australia Blog If you liked this article, share it on your social networks and/or “like” my Facebook page!

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