Darwin - Central Business District
A geographical paradox of Darwin's City Centre is having to travel south to enter it. Occupying a low-lying peninsula fringed by white beaches, mangrove forests, and whispering casuarinas, the city is a mellow manifestation of modern buildings, broad avenues and giant tropical trees. The centrepiece and retail heart is Smith Street Mall, a pleasant area of plazas, contemporary shops, and a variety of eateries which reflect Darwin's cultural diversity. One block over, lively Mitchell Street also has a great range of restaurants and cafes as well as being Darwin's premier gathering spot for party-goers.
On the western foreshores of the city centre, The Esplanade provides a line of international hotels and beautiful old Top End style houses (some now operate as small museums) with the perfect vantage point for Darwin's incomparable sunsets. Adding to the scenery, Bicentennial Park lies between The Esplanade and the sea, and is well known for it's excellent cliff-top walking trails. Trails lead not only to a succession of lookouts with brilliant views over Port Darwin, but also to a series of memorial sites, many of which commemorate the cities unfortunate involvement in World War II. North of the park at the cove known as Doctors Gully, Aquascene is a starkly unique attraction, allowing visitors to hand feed hundreds of fish which turn up like clockwork at high tide.
At the southern end of the park, the grassy pocket of Liberty Square is the home to the Territory's distinct governmentary buildings. Opened in 1994 and dominating the streetscape in this corner of the city, Parliament House is a huge white structure designed with architectural influences originating from hot climates, such as the Middle East and Asia. It also houses the comprehensive Northern Territory Library and is well worth a wander through. Among other stately buildings around the square, the Supreme Court is primarily of interest for the Aboriginal artwork on display inside. The foyers floor is of particular appeal, constituted by an extraordinary mosaic designed by Aboriginal artist Nora Napaltijari.
Just around the corner from State Square and immediately below the city centre, Darwin's Wharf Precinct has been revamped from an ugly old port into an very attractive and popular leisure centre, consisting of food outlets, bars, tourist shops and interesting attractions. On Kitchener Drive, visitors are able to scramble through a network of tunnels built to store oil in World War II. Towards the other end of the precinct by the entrance to Stokes Hill Wharf, the Indo-Pacific Marine features impressive displays of various coral ecosystems. In a series of tanks, each different ecosystem has been so precisely recreated that they are almost entirely self-sufficient! In the same building, the Australian Pearling Exhibition provides some fascinating insight into the history and modern science of this important Territory industry.
There are surprising amount of historic buildings gracing the cities streets, considering it's shaky past. Some have managed to survive Darwin's various onslaughts and others that weren't so fortunate have been restored back to their former glory. The National Trust produces an excellent booklet informing interested visitors of each structures background and whereabouts.
Only minutes west of the city centre beside the Larrakeyah army base, the pretty Cullen Bay Marina is the departure point for harbour cruises and ferries. The marina has also established itself as a fashionable leisure area with a selection of cafes, restaurants, and speciality shops dotted around an attractive boardwalk. North of Larrakeyah, the aptly named inner suburb of The Gardens is a picturesque corner of the city, enveloped by football grounds, cricket fields, Garden Park Golf Course, and the beautiful Darwin Botanic Gardens. From modest beginnings as a vegetable patch, the Botanic Gardens has a notable collection of tropical fauna and a self-guided Aboriginal Plant Use walk.
Adding to the area's beauty, Mindil Beach's idyllic two kilometre stretch of white sand contrasting with the lucid blue bay forms The Garden's western border. Although the waters are filled with stingers and are off-limits most of the year, the beach is still a favoured destination with sunbathers and leisure seekers all year round. Mintil Beach is also home to the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, a quintessential Darwin experience which culminates exotic cuisine's and a variety of art, craft and clothing stalls with an array of terrific live entertainment. The markets operate Thursday nights between May and October, and Sunday nights from June to September. A short distance from the shores of Mindil Beach, the MGM Grand Darwin is a large complex combining nightclubs, restaurants, and luxury accommodation with Darwin's international casino.
