GEOGRAPHY
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory. It is the gateway to Southeast Asia, which is very close to Indonesia. Darwin has about 148,000 inhabitants. It is the principal operations centre for various industries, such as mining, oil and gas, and offshore companies.
WEATHER
Darwin is warm all year round; it has a tropical climate with a dry season from April to October and a wet season from November to April.
Source: Google
DARWIN'S COST OF LIVING
Darwin is Australia’s fifth most expensive city, followed by Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Here are a few indicative prices to help you understand the cost of living in Darwin. If you are a student in Darwin, remember that you can access discounts with your student card.
- One room in a sharehouse: $700/month
- One-bedroom apartment in the city centre: $1152/month
- Utilities: $300/month (power, water, garbage)
- Internet unlimited: $72/month
- Fuel : $1.45 per litre
- Bus ticket: $3 for 3 hours unlimited travel
- Monthly bus pass: $84
- Cinema ticket: $21.50
- Fitness club: $55 per month
- Mc Donalds combo meal: $12
- Inexpensive Restaurant, meal for two people: $50
- Milk 1L : $1.50
- White bread 500g: $2
- Eggs dozen: $4
- Rice 1kg: $2.50
- Pasta 1kg: $1.50
- Beer 500ml at a bar: $7.50
GETTING TO DARWIN
The most popular way to get to Darwin is by plane, which is far from other major cities. Tiger Air, Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jet Star are the leading companies that fly to and from Darwin. Direct flights are to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. The duration of the flights varies between 3h40 and 4h20.
GETTING AROUND DARWIN
The city centre is relatively small, and you can easily walk around.
BUSES: You can use the buses which cover a good area of Darwin. One bus ticket costs $3; you can use it on all buses around Darwin for 3 hours.
BIKE: Depending on where you live and study/work, renting or buying a bike could be your best choice. It is cheap, eco-friendly and reasonable to do some exercise.
CAR: If you have a driving license, you can hire a car for about $25 per day or buy a second-hand car if you need one long-term.
TAXI/UBER: You might need to take a taxi or Uber to go somewhere; fares are charged at a standard rate.
LIFE IN DARWIN
MONEY: The currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). You can exchange cash or withdraw money in the city centre or in shopping centres. Popular banks include ANZ, Westpac, and Commonwealth Bank.
To open a bank account, you will need your passport and an address in Australia, and you might need extra documents – you can check the requirements directly with the bank. International credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and traveller’s cheques can usually be used in some places.
MOBILE PHONE: Depending on your needs, you can choose between different providers, including Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, and more.
SHOPPING: Popular supermarkets include Coles, Woolworths, and IGA. They are all around Darwin and are usually open throughout the day, even on weekends.
EMERGENCY: When applying for a student visa, you must get health insurance covering your stay in Australia. The main hospital in Darwin, Darwin Royal Hospital, is situated in Tiwi. If you have an emergency, you can call 000 for an ambulance, a fire emergency, or to reach the police. This number is free to contact.
THINGS TO DO IN DARWIN
Darwin is very laid-back and relaxing but also very lively and offers a range of cultural and fun experiences and events throughout the year. Visit the local markets, grab some food, and go to the beach to watch the sunset. Darwin also offers plenty of waterfront dining options and various festivals like the Darwin Festival, the Aboriginal Art Fair, and the Festival of Lights.
In Darwin, you can also get to see the crocodiles. Go for a river cruise or to one of the crocodile parks for a fun day out.
You can also go on camping trips to the many national parks around Darwin, such as Litchfield National Park, Kakadu, or Katherine.