"Darwin - Home for a while" Darwin by Zanzibargirl

Sunset from my flat

In 2004 I spent about 6 months living in Australias very tropical lush and transitional Darwin. I was one of its so called transitional population. Darwin is a place of change, of growth, of difference. No where else is like it in Australia. It is a hugely modern city, mostly due to it having to be rebuilt a few times. It was bombed in World war 2 and then destroyed again by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Named originally of course after Charles Darwin, the city seems to have a very apt title for a place that seems to have evolved over time. Changing due to these natural and man involved disasters.

It is ever changing. Its a very different place in Australia. I had never experienced anywhere quite like it in all my travels. Very beautiful, yet remote I grew to both love Darwin and be driven mad by the relative distance from anywhere else in Australia. It is a great place to visit. And I loved it there. I would highly recommend it. But unless you have family there, it seems to be so far away from everywhere to live.

There is heaps to see in Darwin and surrounds itself. Amazing sunsets from Nightcliff Jetty, Mindil beach Markets, Cullen Bay and the esplanade. Mitchell Street is lined with bars, clubs and backpackers. The main shopping is out at Casuarina Shopping Square. Although Smith Street mall is worth a wander as well. It is a must to visit those Mindil Markets and Parap Markets.

The Wharf Precinct has fantastic fish and chips, you can visit Indopacific Marine for a display of coral that is self sufficient growing inside (there are only 4 such displays in the world). There is buildings to see such as The Parliament Building or 'the Wedding cake" as it is also known and Government House and The Old Police station and courthouse.

The gecko that resides with me

There are the botanical gardens which for me included nighttime wanderings and listening to music.

Outside of the city, a short drive away is Litchfield National Park. A day trip to the falls is essential for some swimming to cool off from Darwins year round heat. It is really beautiful and a must as other than swimming pools, unless you are one of the crazies that swims with the Crocs and the stingers off Nightcliff or hurtles yourself off Nightcliff Jetty, swimming in the beaches is really not done in Darwin. There are no waves by Australian standard anyways.

The most well known pubs and bars to go out on the town and have a laugh include The Cavanagh (its busiest nights are Fridays with the after work crowd), The Vic (where people dance on tables), Discovery Nighclub, The Ducks Nuts, Shenanigans and Rorkes Drift.

At the right time of year, NT holiday has fireworks lighting up the whole city (on this one day of the year it is legal to buy and set them off), The Expo, Darwin Cup day and lots of events bring the city alive with visitors during the Dry Season (May - October officially). The Wet begins in November, but rain doesnt really come till December depending of the seasonal variations. But it is more humid and hot at this time. Though less crowded for seeing the sites.

Its a great place to visit and a completely changing experience to see Darwin, especially if you are from other places in Australia. The city is an eye opener in itself and you feel like you arent quite in Australia anymore. I needed the change that Darwin Gave me, and it was nice for a while, but it was nice to evolve like Darwin and take those changes away with me too.

• Pros:My home for a time
• Cons:So far from my family and friends
• In a nutshell:A home away from home