Northern Territorians past and present...

[~Kim~]

Looks like we're on the move later this year to the NT. Ive never been there before (DH has lived in Darwin with the RAN)
SO
tell me what it's like please....

[AnyDream]

Gorgeous, you will love it! I spent 18 years in Darwin, grew up there in fact. I personally struggled with the heat, but loved the dry season and there's nothing like that monsoonal rain! People are all open and friendly, because the population is so mobile you will make friends easily and everyone is very social, kwim? Just get ready for some wildlife experiences, this includes frogs in your toilet, geckos running around in your house, and ****roaches eating your stuff (highly recommend getting your house sprayed and don't take a lot of stuff to Darwin thinking you can 'store' it there. Not a good idea at all). You will also learn to keep every speck of food in the fridge or under tupperware/plastic pretty quick! LOL

Ah I'm getting homesick now just thinking of all the wonderful Darwin things: Mindil beach and Parap markets, hot potatoes at Nightcliff at sunset, walking along Fannie Bay, East Point, etc, swimming at the waterfalls in Litchfield park, etc etc etc.

Whereabouts you headed?

[~Kim~]

Cool, thanks MD! Not sure yet. DH is transferring to the cops up there, so wherever they send us I gues...

[AnyDream]

Ok cos you need to know anywhere outside of Darwin is very very different to Darwin proper! Ask away once you know where you are going, will tell you what I know!

[AndiE]

Hi Kim,

DH and I were there seven years until moving to SEQld nearly three years ago.

I reckon you'll love it. Yes, the humidity can be a bit of a bother (the Build Up is prob the worst - approx late Aug to late Dec), but the Wet Season (approx Dec-April) is absolutely brilliant. It's very humid but NOTHING beats the storms. Just stunning. My opinion only, but depending on the type of house you have, you needn't worry about frogs in loos (more the traditional Top End house has those probs ), but definitely expect to see lots of geckos and the odd ****y! I second keeping most of your food in the fridge or freezer - especially when the humidity ramps up.

Most homes/offices/shops are air conned, and most homes have a ceiling fan in every room.

Dry season is a dream - no humidity and endless days of 28-30 deg. Like Marydean said, the Dry season is when it all happens in the Top End. Endless activities.

I lived in Stuart Park. Loved being able to take a bottle of wine and nibbles down to Fannie Bay or the N'cliff foreshore and watch the sun set. Can't beat that experience. Similarly, the yacht club and trailer boat clubs are great places to have a relaxed meal and watch the sun set. Darwin restaurants are fantasic - very competitive with each other and the variety reflects the multicultural nature of the place.

You'll definitely want to check out the Mindil Markets (Thu night, dry season), Parap markets (Sat morning, Parap) or Nightcliff Markets (Sun morning, N'cliff). Other interesting things to do are the museum, crocodylus park (it's croc overload, but worth a look), Berry Springs, Litchfield Park (2 hours out of Darwin), Kakadu (nearly 3 hours out of Darwin) and Territory Wildlife Park. Things have changed a bit since we were there - the new wharf precinct is up and running, and there must be a tourist attraction somewhere in the CBD where you can swim with a croc, at least so I've seen on TV.

And last but not least, Darwin people make THE BEST laksas in the whole of Australia - big call, but sooo true. I can't find a laksa half as good in brissie .

On the "down side" the shopping doesn't compare with bigger cities. The CBD wasn't very exciting as a shopping mecca - most people go to Casuarina Shopping Square (about 15km out of the CBD), which has most usual shops (no Myer or DJs though, unless things have changed). Palmerston used to have the only Target in the Darwin/Palmerston region. The other "down side" is the airline flights - most arrive and depart to other Australian cities between the grand hours of 11pm -1am.

If you want some more details, let me know. In truth, Darwin can be a bit of a culture shock, the CBD is very small (although suburbs sprawl for miles) but the experience is unlike anywhere else in Australia - and I've now lived in several states. It's an experience I could recommend to anyone.

Good luck with the move. Hmmm, just reread my post and am beginning to think I missed my calling as an NT tour guide! Hope I wasn't too full on!

Andie

[AnyDream]

And last but not least, Darwin people make THE BEST laksas in the whole of Australia - big call, but sooo true. I can't find a laksa half as good in brissie

Agree 100%. There's a tiny little Chinese lady called Mary who has one of the laksa stands at Parap and Mindil and I reckon hers is the best in the entire universe! LOL Make sure you get a mango smoothie to go with that.

[~Kim~]

Cool thanks you guys!
Dont think it will be too much of a culture shock - we live in the middle of NSW as it is...really looking forward to it.

[mitzy81]

Make sure you have bug repellant on hand! I used to get eaten alive by midgies. They are awful!
Darwin is very nice. I learnt to shop online though!