*daily rates in Darwin based on a 1 day rental (24hr period) and for guidance purposes only.
*average daily rates based on 7 day rental, search for todays best prices.
Darwin Mini Guide
Located in the north of Australia, the small city of Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory. This is a good base from which to venture out into the wild parts of Australia and see all sorts of reptiles and marsupials. Even if you stay close to Darwin itself there are many excellent nature parks such as the Casuarina Coastal Reserve and the Charles Darwin National Park.
Darwin was named after the naturalist Charles Darwin but it was actually discovered by Darwin’s shipmate John Lort Stokes. Originally named Port Darwin, the city’s development really took off when gold was found there in the 1870s. Darwin has the unenviable distinction of being the only capital city in Australia to have come under proper attack during World War II. Visit Darwin Wharf Precinct in the city centre to find out about the history of the attack. For more information call ahead on +61 (8) 8981 4268.
When visiting Darwin remember that it has a tropical climate and is sometimes affected by cyclones. The temperatures rarely drops below 30 degrees Celsius in Darwin but the best time of year to visit is during the summer months of December to March.
Because of its tropical climate there are mosquitoes and so you should take repellent with you. Other critters to keep an eye out for are crocodiles - so make sure the area you are thinking of swimming in has been deemed safe (don’t camp near water either) - and the deadly box jellyfish, to be found in the sea between October and May. Snakes may be in areas of long grass too so be careful when walking.
You will want to have a car in this part of the world especially as Darwin International Airport is situated around 15 kilometres to the north east of the city centre. Once you have picked up your Rhino rental car it gives you the freedom to explore nearby areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Litchfield National Park which has walks, waterfalls and wonderful views. You can also drive to Berry Springs Nature Park which is a great place to have a picnic and take a dip. Take your snorkelling gear.
Within the city centre there are a couple of interesting heritage centres as well as an old jail which you can take a free tour of. For something different, turn up at the Deckchair Cinema after dark and watch some great familiy movies underneath the stars. Although it is a remote location you will find our car hire at Darwin Airport to be an excellent way to get around this fascinating part of Northern Australia.
- A free and fun activity for the kids especially is Aquascene in the heart of the city at Doctor's Gully. There, each high tide, hundreds of fish are fed by hand in the shallow waters - come and have your fingers tickled by fish lips!