Climate appropriate clothing in Darwin/other hot places

So I am in holidays in Darwin just for two weeks, but my mum is here a couple of months and all the shops have winter stuff in them e.g the same as in Melbourne. Now I know dry season is cooler of two seasons, but same ranges as Melbourne seems odd - are all hot places like this? Mum wants some thin three quarter length cheap ish trousers but has had no luck at all.

If anyone knows where we should be looking would be appreciated (have tried all the big names, target, big w, best & less, Kmart etc.

Also don't seem to be having much luck with finding rashies (swim tips).

That is odd - Cairns and Townsville certainly don't stock the same clothin range that Toowoomba does. The catalogues from those stores you mention usually have a * with not available Darwin, Cairns, etc stores so I don't know.

We get all the winter gear up here and to be honest our 'winter' lasts less than a month. I have NFI why Cairns gets wool jackets but people up on the tablelands must buy them.

I have a Girlfriend who lives in Darwin. She hates it because they do get all the winter stock and noone buys it for obvious reasons.

Must say I like it though when I go up for holidays I manage to time the Pumpkin Patch Clearance sales and they are really really cheap.

I used to live in Darwin, I had forgotton about that- its ridiculous. My work mates would be wearing wooley jumpers and scarves when it was literally 15deg for 1 hour in the mornings of winter- strange.

Have you tried the markets ( Mindil, Parap, Nightcliffe)- they have those fishermans pants etc which might be good.

I'm jealous, Darwin is unreal, have fun xx

Silly isn't it? Darwinians think it's cold at 25degrees lol.
Sadly when we lived there over winter I had to get most stuff online.

Friends from up north often comment that they can't get warmer clothing if they have a cold snap so now I am confused!

lol we definitely have the southern winter stuffs in the stores atm which i agree is crazy but we also get all your summer stuff from last season early as well :)
tell your mum the red cross op shop in the city and st peter's on trower/bagot road are quite good for clothes.

and in our defence, it's freaking cold here this morning!!! got down to 17c which I know isn't cold compared to what the southern states are getting but with a very strong wind, which is making it feel quite cool, particularly when you've come of of 30C+ days! it's all relative :) (mind you i'm still swimming lol)

so for the first time this year, our fans are off and i have a 3/4 shirt and trackies on! Also can wear moisturiser again, uusally it's so hot and humid it just runs straight off your face lol

Thanks at least mum feels she isn't going mad or there is some secret shopping somewhere she is missing out on. She is an op shop fan so will give her those stores.

It was cold here this morning is true but only till about 9:30 - 10:00. We will try some more markets this week, went to Mindl on Thur but was very busy and with DD and DS wasn't conducive to shopping for clothes.

How about swimwear? Trying to get a rashie for her without success. My Grandma lives close to Casaurina so that is where mum has been for shopping mainly.

Have to say I like Darwin, it grows on me more each visit, if I wasn't so attractive to the mossies would be even better

Any tips on what to do next week? This is what have done so far (will be me, my parents and DD 3 and DS 10 months).

Museum
Mindl beach market
Leanyer pool
Litchfield (will go again one day this week)
Casaurina beach in evening
Wave pool
Fish feeding
Territory Wildlife Park (might do again as can get in cheap as cousins wife works there so might combine with Berry Springs)

We have ruled out Kakadu as too far and all us adults have done before.

Do berry springs definately
Parap matkets- sat morning, the food is to die for
outdoor cinema- you can drink wine

I haven't beenthere since 2005 so can't remember anything else xx

one of the croc places?
The wharf for fish and chips?
The rubber ducky tour?

Fish feeding!
East point - nice in the morning. You could stop at the cool spot for a gelato if it's still there!
Night cliff foreshore for a sunset picnic.

Thanks for the extra ideas, still debating croc place, we went to Crocodylus in Nov, so not sure is worth it again. Would be my third visit.

Think most of boat tours for crocs not keen on a 10 month old, and as we have done before seems a lot of time getting there - the duck truck thing will look into though.

Will check out East Point, and Night cliff foreshore one evening.

I live in Darwin and it is pretty cold here at the moment and I am one of the strange ones that wears a jumper for half the day. But if you are coming from somewhere cold you will be fine in pants and a tshirt.

Places I can suggest to visit are:

Crocosaurus cove
Wave pool (may be bit cool though)
Museum
Aquaduck
Crocodylus park
Territory wildlife park
Berry springs - they pulled out a quite large croc from an adjoining creek last week...
Jumping croc cruise
Litchfield
For the kids to let of steam there's playshak (Palmerston) and the planet (nightcliff)

Have fun.