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The wet season
(October to March) is considered the best time by locals to visit Darwin,
when everything is green, theres no dust, barramundi fishing is at its best,
prices drop, there are spectacular electrical storms and all the tourists have
gone home. This is the time of year when the humidity is often unbearable,
roads are impassable, swimming in the ocean is impossible, and cyclones are
something of a worry. Late wet, early dry is probably the best season, as the
rains taper off and the humidity drops.
May Day is celebrated with beach
parties and rock concerts. August is the Festival of Darwin, the Rodeo, Mud
Crab Tying Competition, the Darwin Cup horse race, and the Beer Can Regatta.
The Royal Darwin Show is held in July. Darwins airport services both
international and domestic routes. The airport is only 6 km from the city
and is serviced by a shuttle bus and taxi. You can fly to Darwin from all
other states in Australia, although the route may detour via Alice Springs,
Brisbane or Adelaide. By bus there are three main routes - the Western
Australian route from Broome, Derby, Port Hedland and Kununurra; the
Queensland route through Mt Isa to Threeways and up the Track; or straight
up the Track from Alice Springs. The cyclone season is from November to
April. Active monsoon periods are likely times for development of cyclones.
With memories of Cyclone Tracy in 1974, the people of Darwin know the importance
of taking sensible steps during the cyclone season. While Darwin has experienced
only three major cyclones in the past 100 years residents take cyclone warnings
very seriously.
The new construction standards and building codes post Tracy
and the annual public awareness campaigns to alert residents about practical
safety measures are an important part of life in the Top End. Community
cyclone shelters are available if required and brochures and pamphlets with
step-by-step advice are readily available and actively promoted. It is sensible
to collect updated cyclone information each November and maintain a well stocked
cyclone kit in the home. For up-to-date info visit the local visitor centre.
For Darwin accommodation click
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