Hiring A Car In Darwin

Situated in one of the northernmost tips of the country, Darwin is the capital and largest city within the Northern Territory of Australia. Despite its population in comparison to the rest of the territory, the city of Darwin is the country’s smallest capital, with just under 150,000 residents calling the region home.

Those familiar with the Darwin area, cite its wildlife as one of its biggest attractions. National parks such as Litchfield litter the Northern Territory region around Darwin, allowing tourists to get up close and personal with Australia’s exotic wildlife species.

Transportation

Driving in Darwin

This will be the most efficient method of traveling around Darwin. If you're looking to drive a hired vehicle while in the city, you should face no problems. Foreigners traveling from overseas can drive with their home country's driver's license for three months as long as it is in English. Foreigners with non-English driver's licenses will need to attain an International Drivers Permit for use in Australia.

Luxury Accommodation Options

Hilton Darwin

5-star hotel - 32 Mitchell St, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia

Located in Downtown Darwin, the Hilton Darwin overlooks the famous Darwin Harbour and is walking distance to popular attractions such as Bicentennial Park, the Darwin Convention Centre, and the Darwin Waterfront Precinct. Amenities include a first-class fitness centre, pool, and bar area.

Mindil Beach Casino Resort 

5-star hotel - Mindil Beach, Gilruth Ave, Darwin City NT 0820, Australia

Formerly known as SKYCITY Darwin, the Mindil Beach Casino and Resort is located just minutes from Darwin’s central business district and provides guests with stunning views of both the city and the beachside. Additionally, several amenities including a pool, spa, and restaurants exist within the resort. The property also features the only casino operating in the entire city of Darwin.

H on Smith Hotel

4-star hotel - 81 Smith St, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia

The H on Smith is an upscale posh hotel that offers 186 spacious rooms and suites as well as a restaurant and resort-style pool. This property is centrally located on Smith Steer in the Darwin central business district, just a short distance from a variety of entertainment and dining options.

Things to Do

Nature & Outdoors

Crocosaurus Cove

Located in the heart of Darwin City, Crocosaurus Cove gives visitors an up-close and personal interaction with Australia's saltwater crocodiles. The zoo is planet earth's largest display of Australian reptiles and home to the famous 'Cage of Death' attraction. 

Sights & Landmarks

Charles Darwin National Park

While Charles Darwin National Park features many of the natural aspects you expect and enjoy from the typical state preservation, the location of the park is notable for its World War II-era concrete bunkers. Events such as the Earthdance festival are held at the park every year.

Sports & Entertainment

Mindil Beach Casino and Resort

Nestled along the Beagle Gulf coastline, the Mindl Beach Casino and Resort provides visitors with almost everything necessary for a pleasant stay in Darwin. The resort features hundreds of guestrooms over several floors, in addition to restaurants, bar areas, and pools. The Mindl Beach Casino is also the only casino in Darwin and one of two in the Northern Territory.

Darwin Entertainment Centre

The Darwin Entertainment Centre is the city’s home for the performing arts. As Darwin’s main concert venue, the complex holds music events nearly every night of the week and hosts the Darwin Symphony Orchestra regularly.

Historic Museums

Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory

As its name suggests, the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory highlights the history of the region and its people. It is also the main museum of the entire Northern Territory.

The Darwin Military Museum

The Darwin Military Museum was originally established to exhibit photographs and artifacts from Darwin's history during World War II. Today, the museum hosts items from the war, including pieces from the Australian, American, and British armed forces, amongst other allies.

The Darwin Aviation Museum

Situated near Darwin International Airport, the Darwin Aviation Museum is well worth the visit for lovers of history and/or aviation. The museum features memorabilia from WWII as well as more recent events in modern aviation.

Shopping

Casuarina Square

Filled with retailers from around the globe, Casuarina Square is Darwin’s premier shopping experience. The mall contains nearly 200 businesses including supermarkets, department stores, and a 7-screen cinema.

Mitchell Centre

Mitchell Centre is a no-frills, indoor mall located in Darwin City. The facility includes a supermarket, pharmacy, restaurants, as well as a handful of shops and salons.

Beaches

Mindil Beach

Mindil Beach is undoubtedly one of the most popular beaches in the entire Northern Territory. Conveniently located near Darwin’s central business district, Mindil Beach is also known for its Mindil Beach Sunset Markets that run annually during the region’s dry season.

Darwin Waterfront Precinct

A hit among children and young teens, the Darwin Waterfront Precinct offers a variety of restaurants, bars and a man-made beach for visitors of all ages to enjoy. The tourist park is located just minutes from Darwin’s central business district.

Weather

Darwin is known for its two distinct seasons - ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ – rather than the four seasons the country’s other capital cities enjoy. This is, in large part, due to its extreme northernmost most location in Australia’s Top End. Wet season encompasses summer and most of the autumn months, while dry season occurs the rest of the year.

Spring

Spring marks the transition between the wet and dry seasons of Darwin. Temperatures range from 23 - 33°C across the course of the season. Rainfall steadily increases over spring months, with as little as 16 mm of precipitation and 2 rainy days to start, all the way up to 140 mm of precipitation and 12 days of rain by November.

Summer

Summertime in Darwin occurs during the peak of the region’s wet season. If visiting the city during this time, expect up to 426 mm of rainfall on average. Worst yet, it is said to rain two out of every three days during this period. Temperatures are relatively mild, ranging from 25 - 33°C

Autumn

Autumn lies on the cusp of the dry and wet seasons. March will see a large amount of rainfall and rainy days, with about 300mm of precipitation falling on average. The dry season begins in April and Darwinians begin seeing less and less rain for the remainder of the period. Temperatures range from 22 - 32°C on average.

Winter

Winter is at the peak of Darwin's dry season and it is quite a pleasant time to visit the city. Rainfall is extremely rare during this time, but temperatures can reach pretty high levels. Averages range from 20 - 31°C throughout the season.

Top 5 Attractions around Darwin

FAQs

What is Darwin known for?

Darwin is known for its wildlife preserves and landmarks honoring the region’s impact on World War II.

Where is the Darwin airport located?

The Darwin Airport is located 1 Henry Wrigley Dr, Eaton NT 0820, Australia. The airport is about 12 km away from the city centre. 

Is Darwin known to see snow?

Darwin is not seen to see snow, but excessive amounts of rain are common.

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