A Tropical Metropolis With Crocodile Sunsets

Darwin is in the far north of the Northern Territory, west of Arnhem Land. Darwin's centre is a fairly compact area at the end of a peninsula. The Territory's capital Darwin, beautifully situated on the coast in Australia's far North is a wonderful city of about 80 000 inhabitants. It is the most cosmopolitan of Australia, close as it is to Indonesia, about halfway between Singapore and Sydney.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. Australia is in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is 4,000 km. from the east to west coast and 3,200 km. from north to south. The coastline is 36,735 km. all the way around.

The 'capital' of northern Australia is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it should come as no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia.

This proximity and familiarity with Australia's northern neighbours is reflected in the town's relaxed, cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere. In a country that prides itself on its ethnic diversity, Darwin may be the most multicultural city of all.

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.