Darwin

The Top End Region covers the area of the Northern Territory from the northern islands and coastline across to Nhulunbuy in the Gove area down to Groote Eylandt and across the Territory through the Pine Creek area. This area includes such towns as Nhulunbuy, Tiwi Islands, Cobourg, Jabiru and Darwin. Darwin, a modern tropical capital set on a harbour twice the size of Sydney's, is Australia's most successful multicultural city.

More than 50 nationalities are among the Darwin region's population of around 105,000, including the Larrakia Aboriginal people. The city is closer to Jakarta than it is to Canberra - no wonder it is referred to as the Gateway to Asia.

As the capital of the Northern Territory and one of the major centres in northern Australia, Darwin is well served in terms of communications, transportation, technology and other facilities and resources. Originally named Palmerston, Darwin has come a long way since it was a tiny outpost that existed only to serve South Australia's desire for a settlement in the north. The establishment of an Outback Telegraph Station in the 1870s, followed by a minor gold rush which attracted thousands of Chinese (outnumbering the European population at the time), further entrenched the settlement - but it is the disasters that have really shaped Darwin's character.

The city has risen, Phoenix-like, from the devastation of two vicious cyclones (in 1897 and 1975) and Japanese bombing during WWII. While many buildings survived one or more of those onslaughts to remain as reminders of the city's heritage, the extensive rebuilding required after each catastrophe means Darwin has the look of a thoroughly modern city.

On 19 February 1942, the Japanese launched a ferocious bombing raid on Darwin which killed 243 people and wounded over 300. It also sank and retired 12 ships in the harbour. It was the first of many air raids on the city. On 25 December 1974, Cyclone Tracy struck with devastating fury, killing 64 residents and injuring thousands. The sleepy little tropical outpost of about 43,000 people, in effect ceased to exist and more than 30,000 people were evacuated in the largest airlift in Australian history. Darwin was rebuilt from scratch which makes it the youngest and most modern capital city in the nation. Since Cyclone Tracy, Darwin has been remodelled as the ideal tropical capital, with wide tree-lined streets, inviting public buildings and hectares of landscaped parkland with its central business district focused on a new-look mall, edged with excellent cafes and air conditioned shopping arcades. Elsewhere throughout Darwin and its satellite city Palmerston, there are large air-conditioned shopping complexes, shopping 'villages' and well-stocked corner stores and a smorgasbord of restaurants.

Major banks are also well-represented throughout Darwin. The people of Darwin enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, aided by the warm tropical climate. Darwin is green and lush with palms and the perfume of frangipanis, and is clean (a survey by Personal Investment Magazine found Darwin has the nation's cleanest air and best water).

Choosing your style of fun in the Top End is easy when there are so many options at your fingertips. Darwin offers international standard sporting facilities as recreation plays a major role in the lives of its residents. For the sports enthusiast, Outer Darwin offers opportunities for golfing, shooting and tournament water-skiing, while regular football and cricket matches are played on weekends. In Palmerston there are a number of venues including motorcross and BMX events as well as a 9 hole golf course at the Palmerston Golf Club where visitors are welcome. The course is situated in picturesque grounds with plenty of shade. There are also excellent museums, cinemas and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues for art exhibitions, live theatre and music performances in the Top End. Fishing, boating, sunset picnics on cliff tops by the sea and riding the city's extensive bike tracks are popular activities.

Darwin is developing a network of cycle tracks and it is now possible to cycle from the city of Darwin, along side the Stuart Highway through to Palmerston. Between Berrimah and Palmerston, the path detours through some picturesque bushland with interesting sites being interpreted along the way. There are also cycle paths in the Howard Springs and Humpty Doo villages. Walking is a great way of seeing the sights of the Top End region and there are brochures designed for this purpose. They will outline places of interest and historical landmarks. They are available through the information centres both at the airport and in the city as well as a number of accommodation houses and attractions and are called “Discovering Darwin”. There are a series of 9 places of interest in all in these brochures covering the Wharf, the Esplanade, the City, the Gardens, the Northern Suburbs, East Point, Darwin, Outer Darwin and Fannie Bay. Or perhaps you would prefer the “Historical Stroll of Darwin” taking you to places such as the Chinese Temple, the Tree of Knowledge, National Trust, World War II Oil Storage Tunnels, and Parliament House. A total of 17 in all, outlining the history of World War II, Cyclone Tracy and the general growth of a tropical city. And then there's that beautiful harbour, just a street or two away from the city centre. Darwin's glorious waterfront can be enjoyed by taking a harbour cruise or chartered fishing trip, or a flight in a sea plane or helicopter. View it from dry land at the bustling Wharf Precinct (with restaurants, cafes, museum displays and galleries); Bicentennial Park on the Esplanade; the boardwalk at Cullen Bay or the clifftop at East Point.