Darwin.

At Australia’s top end and where nature takes centre stage, Darwin has evolved into a vibrant and cosmopolitan tropical city. With an abundance of trendy cafés, yoga studios, foodie markets and cultural/arts festivals plus a plethora of outdoor sports, Darwin is a city that balances a small town feel with world-class facilities.

The Waterfront Precinct along Darwin Harbour is home to restaurants, bars, a wave pool, convention centre and a nearby atmospheric outdoor Deckchair Cinema. Smith Street Pedestrian Mall lures shoppers into the CBD, with south sea pearls and boutique shops that sit alongside hidden cafés with homemade spelt bread, almond lattes and organic green juices. 

A full spectrum of traditional Indigenous/First Nation artwork to cutting edge contemporary works can be found amongst the assorted galleries dotted throughout, many exhibit local, interstate and overseas contemporary artists. The Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory in Fannie Bay houses traveling and permanent exhibits and hosts the annual awards, NATSIAA, attracting international art collectors and investors.

Numerous community food markets running year-round provide a feast of mouth-watering flavours from across the globe. The April to October Mindil Beach Markets attract thousands of people, converging together to watch a spectacular display of vibrant colours as the sun swiftly dips into the sea beyond sailboats. 

The Dry Season has a seemingly non-stop jam-packed social calendar full of great outdoor family-friendly festivals, cultural celebrations, formal black tie events, and the Darwin Festival. Outdoor activities exist year-round – paddle boarding, kite surfing, fishing, tennis, cycling and more – as the exciting Wet Season monsoonal weather usually only lasts for short durations.

Darwin has a unique sense of place, rich in Indigenous culture where a respectful ‘Acknowledgement of Country’, is commonly stated at formal and informal events and meetings. It is also a city that has been defined by the vast diversity and sheer interesting characteristics of its people, who come from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. Together, they give Darwin the feel of simultaneously being a busy capital city lavished with opportunities along with the comfort of a small connected town.