Activities |
Darwin |
Darwin has survived destruction three times. Firstly by a cyclone in 1893; it was then bombed by the Japanese in 1942 during World War II; and more recently in 1974 Cyclone Tracy levelled the city on Christmas Eve. It is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of its cosmopolitan population of 87,000 that it has not only overcome these calamities, but gone on to thrive.
The city is compact, and easy to explore on foot. The tropical climate encourages outdoor living and simply strolling through the leafy streets, browsing art galleries and enjoying refreshments at a sidewalk cafe is a pleasure for visitors. Shady parks are to be found behind busy shopping streets and are a delight with exotic flowering trees like frangipani, banyan and tamarind.
The Tour Tub, an open-air bus, is a good way to tour the city and view its major attractions, which include the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory; the Overland Telegraph Museum; Fannie Bay Gaol; the Botanic Gardens; the Australian Pearling Exhibition; and East Point Military Museum. The city is a good base from which to explore the surrounding national parks. Note that sea swimming, particularly between October and May, is generally unsafe around Darwin because the sea abounds with deadly box jellyfish.
Attractions
Aquascene
Aquascene is where hundreds of fish, such as milkfish, bream, catfish and many other species come to shore at high tide to be fed by hand in a skirmish of fins and tails. The ritual began in the late 1950s when local residents would throw scraps of food to a few mullet. Before too long, hundreds of fish were turning up at high tide every day to be fed. This popular attraction gives visitors an introduction to the marine life living off the Darwin coast.Address: 28 Doctors Gully Road; E-mail: aquascene@bigpond.com; Website: www.aquascene.com.au; Telephone: +61889817837; Opening time: As feeding times change daily with the tides, and Aquascene is only open at those times, it is important to check the times on the official website before visiting. ; Admission: A$11 (adults), A$7 (children)
Crocodylus Park and Zoo
Housing over three decades of research on Australian crocodiles and a comprehensive crocodile museum, the Crocodylus Park and Zoo is designed to educate people about this lesser known predator. At this, the largest attraction in Darwin, visitors can learn about these reptiles as well as view a collection of other animals such as big cats, monkeys, birds, snakes and turtles, to name a few. Regular daily tours, including crocodile feeding, will leave visitors captivated and enthralled by these prehistoric-like creatures.Address: 815 McMillans Road, Knuckey Lagoon; E-mail: services@wmi.com.au; Website: www.crocodyluspark.com; Telephone: (08) 8922 4500; Transport: From Darwin City, catch Bus #5 or #9; Opening time: Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Closed on Christmas Day.; Admission: A$35 (adults), A$17.50 (children). Concessions are available
Deckchair Cinema
Operated by the Darwin Film Society and completely independent, the Deckchair Cinema is unique in more than one way. Screening films that would otherwise be unavailable to local audiences, the Deckchair Cinema is set outdoors on the edge of Darwin Harbour and is the perfect location for a sunset picnic followed by a movie. Te cinema runs seven nights a week during the dry season (April to November) and screens a range of movies from family friendlies to foreign films. With 250 deckchairs and about 100 straight-backed seats, the cloudless skies above the Deckchair Cinema and harbour lights make a breathtaking backdrop for the screen.Address: Jervois Road, off Kitchener Drive, Darwin Waterfront; E-mail: info@deckchaircinema.com; Website: www.deckchaircinema.com; Telephone: (08) 8981 0700; Opening time: Open nightly, from April 27 to November 20; Admission: A$15 (adults), A$7 (children). Concessions are available
Excursions
Kakadu National Park
This stunning park, covering almost 12,500 square miles (32,375 sq km) was added to the world's list of World Heritage areas in 1984 and is regarded as one of the natural marvels of Australia. The land itself is believed to be more than two billion years old, and is a jigsaw of wetlands, gorges, waterfalls, floodplains, rainforest pockets and escarpments. It offers the visitor a breathtaking variety of superb landscapes teeming with wildlife, and features some of Australia's most magnificent examples of Aboriginal rock art. About 5,000 Aboriginal sites have been identified in the park area. The park can be visited on a day-trip from Darwin and contains more than 1,600 species of plants and 500 different kinds of birds and animals.Address: Kakadu; Telephone: (08) 8938 1120 (Bowali Visitor Centre)