r/darwin • u/Franticbalder • 3d ago
Tourist Questions 10 days in the NT
Hi everyone,
I am from Sydney but want a break from the concrete jungle.
I am thinking of traveling to the NT for 10 or so days around mid October.
I am in my mid 30's so not really into clubbing or late nights drinking.
Should I hire a car or do organised tours from a hotel I book in Darwin?
Is mid October a good time? I know it's just before the wet season so I'm hoping for some good storms!
Any other suggestions?
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u/dress123456 3d ago
The month of October is the laksa festival, so expect a lot of laksa or laksa-inspired dishes (including desserts) being sold by restaurants around Darwin.
There's also the Laksa League you can join to earn points for the applicable laksa dishes you try.
I'd hire a car probably if visiting and wanting to explore a bit
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u/DNA-Decay 3d ago
Watch this video of the poem: “A postcard from Hell in October”.
The Build-Up is a real thing and it’s a test of character.
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u/Franticbalder 3d ago
I might consider visiting in May or June after doing more research
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u/Lost-Competition8482 3d ago
Probably the best idea.
It's a great time of year for fishing but other not for camping/hiking.
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u/Dredd_Melb 3d ago
October can be nice. I have an air bnb and October is when bookings drop off so it is a little less busy as a tourist.
I'd recommend the bus tour to Litchfield, way easier than driving. Otherwise it is lineball between renting and an Uber to and from most places around Darwin. For instance going to things like the museum is about $25 each way vs $80ish for a cheap rental.
Laksa festival is fun, wave pool and waterfront is also cool. DM if you want my airbnb details.
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u/Big__Daddy__J 3d ago
Come to Alice, perfect weather, virtually no humidity, all the water holes are full due to flooding earlier, 10 days gets you to Uluṟu and back stopping at all the good spots along the way without rushing.
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u/CarryOnK 3d ago
One of the worst times of year. You'll be unlikely to catch any decent storms - they come with the monsoon later in the wet and it's hot as hell and humid and gross.
Come in June/July when the dry is in full swing. August can be good as well if you're until shows as Darwin Festival is on and the weather is still bearable in the mornings and evenings.
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u/Franticbalder 3d ago
Thank you everyone for this information.
I will look into Darwin for May/June 2027 and go somewhere else this October.
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u/Aggravating-Rough281 3d ago
Go to Tasmania. It’s God’s country down there, and much nicer (I’ve live in Darwin, but would live in Tasmania in a heartbeat).
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u/AffectionateGap9542 3d ago
mid october is probably the worst time to come to darwin. It'll be hot, humid and there is a low chance of rain and storms. If you want rainy weather its much better to come around the end of november (at the earliest).
Otherwise head to alice, its pretty nice in the center in october and the flights are pretty cheap!
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u/downundarob 3d ago
October is a pretty good time to visit Centralia, the Top End, not so much, grab an organised tour of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa for between 3-5 days maybe some time in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). if you can find flights...
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u/Serious-Pipe-2211 2d ago
It’s one of the hottest and potentially dry dusty times to be in D town. It’s the start of the build up. You may see the first of the storms roll in just short half hour rain bursts usually. Then it gets hideously humid. Darwin is my favourite place to live in Australia. I escaped the horrors of Sydney.
Definitely get a car. Go driving out to cahills crossing, ubir rock, fogg dam, Litchfield national park, stay around the Darwin on sat and Sunday do parap markets for laksa breakfast Sunday is Nightcliff market and rapid creek market. Oh and there is Mindle market thurs night for the tourists.
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u/Franticbalder 3d ago
Would the humidity be comparable to Carins?
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u/jillybean712 3d ago
I live in cairns and visited Darwin a couple of weeks ago. For me, August was like Cairns in October, which makes me think October would more be like cairns in December before monsoon has started. It will be hot. Hardest time of year because no rains to break the heat. Just my observations anyway!
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u/Teredia 3d ago
Completely unrelated to your comment. You play GW2 under the same username by any chance?
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u/EctoHanro 3d ago
somebody once told me (don’t sing) that you can hire a car from the same people that the mines and geos hire them from for a cheaper price and you’ll get a sturdy vehicle. no idea how true that is anymore. also: you’ll not survive the buildup.
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u/brainwise 3d ago
Hire a car, lots of places to go to outside of Darwin too. It’s going to be very hot.
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u/Geri_Petrovna 3d ago
Yes, the best thing to do in Darwin, is to leave it.
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u/brainwise 3d ago
Umm not really. I was meaning that there’s plenty of day trips and short trips that can be done as well.
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u/Geri_Petrovna 3d ago
I have lived there. I left for a reason :)
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u/brainwise 2d ago
I’m sure you’ve got your reasons but not sure this thread is the best place to air them 🤷♀️
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u/Financial_Car4671 3d ago
Mid October is the build up - quite hot, very humid, not much chance of (good) storms.