Darwin Travel Forum

Dear VTs,

Another question, my frens & I would like to self-drive around Darwin at this period. Is it advisable? Bec. I read somewhere that there will be cyclones, strong winds, & road blocks. Is it true?

I know it is definitely the rainy season but I hope the weather isnt as bad as you describe I am up there at the same time as you for 6 weeks work. Sorry cant answewr any of your questions. If you do get the chance to drive yourselves I can tell you the roads around Darwin out to Kakadu etc are very good sealed roads and well sign posted. Where are you staying? I am at the Mediteranean Apartments.

Basically, the answer is 'yes'. The summer around there is known as "suicide season".
It will definatly be very hot, very humid and very wet with a possibiltiy of cyclones and flooding.
Look here:
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=14015

It depends what you mean exactly by driving 'around Darwin'. If you mean into the bush/outback then it's the very worst time. It's monsoon season and roads are often flooded, impassable and closed. You may be lucky or you may get stranded for several days.

You're getting some wrong information here. The conditions you describe are possible, or perhaps probable, at some stage during January, February, March. During December and April it's pretty unlikely. During November and May the chances are almost zero.

The monsoon season doesn't normally start until January. Most years no cyclones hit Darwin. For that week you can expect it to be very hot and humid with the possibility of afternoon/evening storms which don't last more than about 20 minutes usually. Strong winds sometimes come with those storms. But coming from Singapore you should be used to this sort of weather.

For information on the weather it's best to go to the official weather bureau website (www.bom.gov.au), the other sites only get part of the information. None of them have weather stations and they only copy things from the weather bureau web site.

All that 1+1 said:) I was thinking that we needed the local *boy* to come and tell how it is:)
People do have strange, unwarranted ideas about the wet season in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, for that matter.

Sorry of my response was a little exaggerated. I am rather biased against hot humid weather and would find the conditions in December intolerable, even without the possibility of cyclones. But coming from Singapore you'll be used to it.

I realised that Lesley. In fact I was just picturing you bracing yourself for the onslaught of the coming summer, brandishing a shield of ice (or was that a giant cocktail?). ;o)

Sangria with lots of ice works well! So do super chilled lagers.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I believe my frens and I would get used to the weather as we come from Singapore.
We still have not found a place to stay yet. There are 3 of us gals. We intend to stay in budget places like hostels & cabins(if there are cabins available).
Any recommendation?
We would reach Darwin at around 1215am. How far is the city from the airport?

Try looking up on this site, you can find some good accommodation deals:

www.wotif.com/

Or, you can check the YHA in Darwin:

http://www.yha.com.au/index.cfm?

A lot of aircraft come into darwin in the middle of the night so they can continue on and reach the other major cities in daylight hours. You still should be able to find transport at the airport at those times. It's about 12 kms from the airport to the city.

The city is about a 10-15min drive from the airport. Look to spend between $20-25 for a taxi. Or there is a shuttle bus which will carry you in but if there is three of you then a taxi is probably more economical. Be warned if there are a number of flights arriving at the same time wait for a taxi can be up to 30min :/

Weather here in Dec is much like Singapore. You shouldnt have any major worries with it. Its very sticky with occasional showers/storms

Good advice 1+1, Some of you VTers like to exagerate don't you? You'll be fine! See my post on your accommodation thread for the full story.