Our adventures up the east coast of Australia ended in Cairns, from where we boarded a flight to Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory and Australia's smallest state capital. Located in the far north of Australia, Darwin is graced with tropical weather - warm temperatures year round, and two seasons: wet and dry.
Our visited coincided with the early dry season - possibly the best time to visit the top end as the humidity is not as bad as during the wet, the rains have gone, yet the area is still alive from the past season's waters. As the dry season progresses the grasses die, waters recede and the landscape becomes very barren.
Darwin is certainly the most sedate Aussie city we've been in so far - there wasn't much going on even on a Saturday night on Labour Day (May Day) weekend! Besides the usual watering holes and souvenir tourist shops Darwin has a few Aboriginal art galleries to visit, but as usual prices are really high. A short walk from the town centre is the Darwin Museum that has plenty of interesting displays where you could easily while away a half day in the cool air-conditioning. The galleries range from Aboriginal culture from the surrounding lands, the flora and fauna of the tropical top end, the effects of WWII as well as a very detailed exhibition about Cyclone Tracy, a tropical storm that devastated Darwin in the 1960s.
During the dry season Mindil Beach is home to the Mindil Sunset Markets twice a week. A plethora of stores line the waterfront selling everything from cheap eats to skin remedies, didgeridoos to bull whips, and everything in between. Though there is plenty to keep the traveller occupied the real star of the show has got to be the setting sun. Mindil Beach faces into the west, giving a splendid view of the sun setting into the golden ocean. While we're talking about beaches I should mention that though the waters around Darwin are very inviting swimming isn't recommended - not only are you likely to come across deadly Box Jellyfish and Irukandji, but Saltwater Crocodiles have been known to frequent the area around Darwin! To compensate for the deadly creatures in the sea the Darwin council has created an artificial lagoon and wave pool at the other end of town.
Our final stop in Darwin was the Wicked Campers depot, where we picked up a van to take us on the road trip of a lifetime…
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