Australian Travel Destination Darwin, Kakadu, Litchfield, Bungle Bungles, Broome
Australian Travel Destination 8
Darwin is a modern Australian city, an island of civilization in the "Top End" of Australia. The rest of the expanse of this immense area is a land of mystery, a land of intriguing natural features from waterfalls to wetlands, wide open spaces and a full tropical environment merging gradually into the red deserts of the interior of Australia. It is still rugged and undeveloped outside of Darwin and the other towns of the area, and presents an opportunity to experience nature first hand unlike any other in the world. >>> Hotels in Darwin and Kakadu
For more detail, see the Map of Darwin, Kakadu, Litchfield, Katherine, Broome, Bungle Bungles, The Top End Australia. Also see the Map of Darwin Australia
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History of Darwin
The Northern Territory and the area around Darwin was one of the first areas inhabited by the Australian Aborigines over 30,000 years ago, and has been an important part of the north/south trade routes between Australia and Asia ever since. During the 1600's, the area was visited by Dutch explorers (hence names like Groote Eyelandt and Arnhem Land), but the first English arrival was the HMS Beagle in September of 1839. The commander of the Beagle named the area Port Darwin after Charles Darwin, a shipmate of theirs on the previous voyage. The first British settlement in 1869 was named Palmerston, and the city was renamed Darwin in 1911.
The trans Australia telegraph line was completed in 1872 and this linked the remote city to the rest of Australia and the world. In 2003, the railway was completed from Alice Springs to Darwin. Darwin is a modern city, having been almost completely rebuilt twice - once after the bombing raids by the Japanese in WW2 (more bombs were dropped on Darwin than Pearl Harbour, killing 243 people), and again after Cyclone Tracy devastated the city on Christmas Day 1974, killing 71 and absolutely flattening everything.
Geography of Darwin
Darwin fronts directly onto the Timor Sea, and is built on a wide, low bluff of land surrounded on three sides by water. Darwin is remote - it is closer to Singapore than it is to the Capital of Australia, Canberra. Darwin is 3,969 Kms (2,466 miles) from Canberra.
Compare Prices on Darwin Hotels: >>> Australian.com - Hotels in Darwin
Climate of Darwin
Being so close to the Equator, Darwin has a steady, hot climate. The daytime temperature during the year varies only between 30 and 32 deg. C (87 - 90 deg. F). Darwin has its year divided into two distinct seasons: "The Wet", and "The Dry" - with a little bit of shoulder season in between. Darwin gets approximately 1,716 mm ( 67 inches) of rain a year, almost all of it between November and April. "The Wet" occurs from December to March. April and November are "Shoulder" months, and "The Dry" is between May and October. During "The Wet", Darwin is treated to amazing lightning displays, particularly during the evenings.
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is absolutely huge, being some 200 Kms (120 miles) north to south and 100 Kms (60 miles) east to west, covering an area of 19,084 Sq.Km (7,646 Sq. Miles). It has a warm monsoonal climate and has both "Wet" and "Dry" seasons, as does Darwin. Kakadu National Park maintains a delicate balance between mining (it is the home of the Ranger Unranium Mine, one of the largest in the world), the prolific wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles, including the saltwater crocodile) and an incredible array of plants. It is a UNESCO World Heritage listed area and contains examples of Australian Aboriginal Art - many of Australia's finest examples of Aboriginal Rock Art are in the Kakadu National Park. You can visit the Kakadu National Park on many day or multi-day tours from Darwin. You can find excellent hotels and accommodation for a longer stay if you are driving yourself.
Multi-Day Tours of Kakadu: >>> Multi-day & Extended Tours Darwin
Day Tours from Darwin: >>> Day Trips & Excursions Darwin
Compare Hotels in Kakadu National Park: >>> Australian.com - Hotels in Jabiru
Litchfield National Park
To the south of Darwin by 100Kms (60 miles) is the Litchfield National Park, an area of 1,500 Sq. Kms. (580 Sq. Mi.) which attracts some 260,000 visitors a year. Litchfield National Park is home to a lot of wildlife, including species of wallaby endemic to the region, as well as dingoes, flying foxes and bats. Day tours are available from Darwin and visit Wangi Falls, Tolmer Falls or Florence Falls where the large water pools attract birds and wildlife as well as being suitable for swimming. A feature of Litchfield National Park are the Magnetic Termite Mounds, built at a North-South orientation by the termites to keep temperatures lower in this very tropical climate.
Book the Litchfield Day Tour: >>> Litchfield National Park Day Tour from Darwin
Will Travel Planning Help? >>> Work with an Australian Travel Planner.
Bungle Bungles - Purnululu
As you head south and then west from Darwin, the Highway leaves Australia's Northern Territory and enters the state of West Australia. Between Kununurra and Hall Creek lies a National Park called Purnululu by the Aboriginal People, but known widely as the Bungle Bungles. This spectacular area is made up of sandstone domes, striped layers of orange and grey weathered down into large domes. The Bungle Bungles are only accessible by road in the Dry Season, but can be seen most of the year on Helicopter flights, or on a Flightseeing tour from Kununurra.
Book Bungle Bungles Flightseeing: >>> Bungle Bungle and Lake Argyle Scenic Flight
Broome
Broome was first sighted by Europeans in 1688 by the first Englishman to set foot on Australia, William Dampier. After the opening of the Telegraph Cable to Singapore and on to London in 1889, Broome was connected to the world and began to grow as a major world pearling centre. There is a marked Japanese influence and Broome is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia with strong tourism and mining industries. There is good accommodation in Broome and surrounds, and many tours and sightseeing trips show the best of the area to visitors.
Compare Hotel Prices in Broome: >>> Australian.com - Hotels in Broome
Book Tours and Sightseeing in Broome: >>> Outdoor Activities Broome
