Got a week in Darwin? Alison Huth knows just what to do!

Darwin is almost in a world of its own. While it does have a big city feel when it comes to CBD and major chain hotels, it also has a wonderful country town feel to it. My preference is for the latter.

We arrived on a Tuesday in early May and settled into the Discovery Park. Our three vans were together on drive-through sites, which was what we had booked. The amenities were close by which was fine because our hot water service was playing up. Peter’s brother Ken was in Darwin too, at another park. Plus, Lynne, a friend of ours, flew up from Brisbane to spend the week with us as we all discovered Darwin.

Here’s some of the highlights from our trip!

NIGHTCLIFF SEABREEZE FEST

We saw wonderful local acts at the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival on an evening stroll in early May. We stopped for a singer and later belly dancers on our walk back. Some of the music we liked, some didn’t appeal, demonstrating the broad tastes on offer.

LEE POINT

Although few swim at Darwin’s beaches due to crocodiles and jellyfish, its shores are picture perfect, like this Lee Point scene. The receding tide began revealing vast dry and wet patches of sand, as kids splashed among water beneath a clear blue sky.

BURNETT HOUSE

Burnett House and its neighbour are some of the few original buildings surviving the WWII bombings and Cyclone Tracy. This one is set high with louvres on large windows and swing doors to help with the airflow. I loved the bedroom with its superb open feel.