I just got back from my trip to Darwin and loved it. Im from melbourne Australia and didnt know what to expect when i got off the plane.
Accomadation. Theres 3 things you can do in Darwin regarding accomadation. 1. Book ahead and suss out the hotel you like. 2. Get off the plane and get a shuttle bus (about $6-$9) to Mitchell St in Darwin. This is the 'backpacker street' where all the joints maily congregate. Alot of them are open 24 hours and you can just go up and ask for a room no sweat. 3. Get off the plane and head straight for the info kiosk and they can ring around and find you a place to stay for a small fee. This is what i did and they basically threw in the shuttlebus for free. You can expect to pay $19 (8+ person dorm with very basic facilities) to $40 a night. I stayed in the Darwin YHA ($25 a night) which is right next to the bus station, pub, food strip and scooter hire. Food. If you go out everynight and never cook you could easily live off mcdonalds and KFC for about $6 a meal. A bowl of oats in the morning will set you back $3.90, most bottled drink will be about $2.50-$3.50. If theres one place that is value for money you cant go past the Casino. Its about a 20 minute walk from most of the backpacker joints but you can get all you can eat/drink... Breakfast - $9.95 Lunch - $11.95 Dinner - $24.95 What do do while there. - Check out litchfiled national park. It will cost you about $100 to do a day tour. This is what i did and this included a jumping croc tour where you go down a river and they make the crocs jump out of the water. Lunch (salad sandwich's are provided) and you can swim in some beautiful waterfalls, rock hole and things. - Check out Darwins harbor at night and get a meal. Will set you back $10.90 for a grilled Barramundi fish, callamari, chips and salad. - A day trip to Kakadu will set you back about $150 as its a bit further away then Litchfield national park. Kakadu is very cultural with aboriginal paintings, majestic waterfalls (only accessible by 4wd) and bird swamps. - Wander round to the pubs and clubs and check them out. The whole town is just about backpackers. Its amazing. Work. There is always plenty of work on fruit farms picking fruit from about August till December. You can expect to be paid about $15 an hour. Every waitress, hostess and most of the business's i went to were all backpackers. If you want work in this town bring your resume and you will get it. Other things. Movies = $15 for an adult Hirecar to Kakadu for 2 days = $300 Scooter hire for the full day (8am-4pm) = $50 + 150 security deposit Fuel for scooter = $4.80 for the whole day Indoor Rockclimbing = $25 fo all day including equipment Pizza for one person = $11 Pizza for two people = $18 A glass of beer = $4-$6 Premix drinks = $7+ Jug of beer can be had for $8 Any questions feel free to ask me. |
Just to add to a great post about Darwin
Backpackers Melaluccas on Mitchell, Chillis and the Cavenagh are the best party atmosphere places if you want a place a bit more quiet try the opposite end of Mitchell St there are two other backpackers joints down there or Frogs Hollows backpackers. Pubs-Clubs The best one by far is the Vic Hotel huge backpacker scene with no attitude. Cavenagh has a pool everyone sits by to drink. Shenanagins,Rorkes Drift, Pig and Whistle are great sit down pubs with live entertainment. Top end Hotel,Lost Arc,The Deck bar and Ducks nuts are upper class establishments (for Darwin). Then there is Discovery basically the bouncers are dickheads and there is a lot of attitude there.Throb is a gay club (all right if your into that kind of thing) Basically there is around 30 pubs/clubs in the Darwin/Palmerston and Casurina area. Things to do Night Markets at Mindil Beach on a Thursday night awesome sunset and a place for everyone to hang out. Also if you are into a bit more extreme sports go Diving in the harbour there are lots of wrecks there from WW2 when the Japaneese bombed Australia really cool to look at but a few dangerous creatures around to watch. |
Thanks and well done on the reviews guys!
ev |
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I entered one of their infamous contests and ended up being on stage wearing boxers from an American Navy Man...(Part of the contest involved me getting underwear from a guy in the bar....gotta love the Navy!) Darwins cool, but bloody hot...Make sure you go in the right season. |
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Also season to come to Darwin is the dry around May-October cause the wet is beautiful but bloody humid. Hotter than Bangkok in March-April |
That has got to be some of the best informed posts i've read on here! :thumbup:
now how many types of dangerous creatures are we talking about? Just sharks? How often are there shark attacks? I heard something about jellyfish. How serious is a sting from one? I should be in Darwin in January or Febuary. But if that's the worst time to be there I could change my schedule and route plans a bit. Thanks, for the great info guys. :cheers: |
Here's what I got from http://www.northernterritory.visitorsburea...itors_info.h tml
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once you see a croc you will not get in the water anywhere up there! i was even scared to get in the bath!!!
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^ I swam in the same waters as crocodiles to get to some awesome waterfalls in Kakadu National Park!
ev |
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Out the bush there are lots of spiders, snakes and feral pigs listen to the guides as they hopefully should know what they are talking about. Having said all this during Jan or Feb it is wet the storms are amazing cool electrical and rain storms and the territory is beautiful everything is green. Also it is one of the colder parts of the year due to the rain. If you come to Darwin you have to see Litchfield park waterfalls they are awesome so much water and practically no crowding cause it isn't tourist season. Having said all that Darwin is probably one of the most unique places in Aus and is really worth seeing |
I definately want to make sure to see Darwin when I make it to Australia! It sounds like a great place... :)
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If you head out for a day trip or a liveaboard out on the GBR, you shouldn't have any problem with jellies or sharks (the Great Whites are down in Southern Australia) while snorkeling, diving, etc.....just make sure you do not get left behind when the boat leaves............ :huh: |
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