Darwin In The Wet Season – Why The Locals Love It

Over the wet season Darwin delights adventurous souls and nature enthusiasts with its labyrinthine waterways, mangrove communities, biting barramundi and abundant mud crabs.

As a Darwin local, I find Northern Territory’s capital offers nature-based experiences over the rainy months like no other. But if the great outdoors is not your jam, Darwin over the wet continues to dish up its bucket list items – like swimming with crocodiles – and local favourites, such as grazing at the markets (rain or shine).

What is the wet season?

Darwin has two seasons – wet and dry. The wet season (Australia’s summer time) is characterised by high humidity, monsoonal rains and storms. Average temperatures range from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius.

When is the wet season in Darwin?

The rainy season occurs from November to April.

Top reasons to visit Darwin in the wet season

Rob Woods, guide and owner at Ethical Adventures tour group, sums up the top reasons to visit Darwin in the wet season: “Everything’s greener, the animals are happy, the plants are happy!"

an aerial view of the Darwin Walking Tour - Botanic Gardens — Green is the colour of Darwin in the wet season. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Nature lovers, rejoice. Over the wet season electrical storms create a dramatic brilliance and charge the night skies. Exotic trees, like the Poinciana, burst into colour, making it a perfect time to visit the Darwin Botanic Gardens. Saltwater crocodiles are active, with males travelling big distances to find a suitable mate. And meanwhile, at backyard dinner parties across Darwin, conversations are drowned out by the crawk-crawk-crawk of gorgeous green tree frogs.

a top view of crocodiles in Darwin Crocosaurus Cove — The wet season in Darwin coincides with the crocodile breeding season. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Traditional owners of the Darwin area, the Larrakia people (who recognise seven main seasons) call these months Balnba (season of the first rains) and Dalay (monsoon season).

a Darwin Walking Tour in the Botanic Gardens — Explore the gardens on a walking tour. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

1. George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens

Dripping with flowers, lush and green – the gardens are at their best in the wet season. Start at the tranquil lily pond, before exploring the orchid house, waterfall and the mangrove community.

the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens — Stroll along the lush greenery in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. (Image: Tourism NT/Nick Pincott)

For an escape from the rain, head to Eva’s Café in the heritage listed Wesleyan Church for some of Darwin’s best coffee and breakfast.

an old couple having breakfast at Eva’s Café, George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens — Take a break at Eva’s Café. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

2. WW2 Tunnels Darwin

Exploring the WWII oil storage tunnels with its 100 wartime photographs is a unique adventure when the rain is thundering outside. Incredibly, these tunnels near Darwin’s Waterfront Precinct were hardly known until 1992, when one was opened as a tourist attraction for the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin. Still today, the tunnels leak from the vast underground water supply, which adds to the adventure.

two students walking along the Darwin Waterfront Precinct — WW2 Tunnels Darwin are situated near the waterfront precinct. (Image: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)

3. Mud Crabs at Mindil Beach

Larrakia coastal walk takes you from Mindil Beach onto a boardwalk, through natural mangrove forest and up to Bullocky Point. In the wet season there’s plenty of crabs around, so make sure you pause on the boardwalk to look down at the creek.

Chase the sunset on Mindil Beach. (Image: Mindil Beach Markets/Kevin Phan)

Keep your eye out for painted poles indicating the uses of various Larrakia coastal plants. From here, keep walking to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

a look inside the Museum and Art Gallery NT — The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is home to scientific and cultural collections. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

4. Barra are biting – it’s the perfect time for fishing in Darwin

The build-up months (October to December) can produce the best fishing of all the seasons in the Top End. Increasing cloud cover and rainfall ignites the barra action, especially in the saltwater estuaries and the lower tidal river reaches. During the monsoonal rains (January to mid-March) barra can take a bit more hunting, but they are usually on the bite in the mangrove creeks and estuaries around Darwin Harbour.

Fishing over the wet season gives you the opportunity to win big. The Northern Territory Government’s Million Dollar Fish has tagged barra to catch worth $1 million (make sure you’re registered before you go fishing).

a man out fishing in Darwin Harbour — Try your luck and catch some fish in Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)

5. Mangoes at Darwin’s markets

It may be wet season but there are still markets to explore. Head to the Rapid Creek Markets on the weekend for tropical fruits and fresh juice; or check out Parap Village Markets to try one of Mary’s award-winning laksa soups.

mangoes on display at Parap Village Markets — Pick fresh mangoes at Parap Village Markets. (Image: Tourism Australia/Nicholas Kavo)

Over at Nightcliff Markets, locals dine on warm Nutella crepes and fresh rice paper rolls. From late October onwards, mangoes are plentiful -but be warned, you might find the mango smoothies and mango sticky rice a bit addictive.

Mary's Laksa in Parap Village Markets — Don’t miss out on Mary’s award-winning laksa soups. (Image: Tourism NT/Matt Cherubino)

6. Fly over the waterfalls

Heavy rains mean the waterfalls in Litchfield National Park and Kakadu are at their most impressive, particularly from November onwards. One of the best ways to see them and get an appreciation for their size and power is by stepping aboard a scenic flight.

an aerial view of Jim Jim Falls — Jim Jim Falls looks spectacular from above. (Image: Tourism NT/@helloemilie)

For wet season guides check out Ethical Adventures’ Pure Litchfield tour or take a private tour with Venture North to Litchfield, Katherine and Kakadu.

a group of people visiting a waterfall during Ethical Adventures' Litchfield National Park tour — Tour the majestic sights at Litchfield National Park with Ethical Adventures. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

7. Flix in the Wet

For a perfect wet season night out head along to the Darwin Entertainment Centre to catch a show, such as Jessica Mauboy or The Teskey Brothers, or a movie as part of Flix in the Wet . You might want to dine next door at Hanuman, one of the best restaurants in Darwin before trotting off to one of Darwin’s top city hotels for a night cap.

food at Hanuman restaurant Darwin — Dine next door at Hanuman. (Image: Tourism NT)

8. Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve

One of the most accessible places to see the wetlands and wildlife over the wet season is at Fogg Dam, a 45-minute drive from Darwin. A haven for water pythons, freshwater turtles and birds, Fogg Dam is famous among naturalists for having one of the world’s highest biomass of predator (water pythons) to prey (dusky rats) ratio.

9. Wetland View Top Centre

For a stunning panoramic view of the Adelaide River floodplain, head to Wetland Top View Centre , an hours’ drive from Darwin on the way to Kakadu. Run by Aboriginal-owned tourism venture Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours , the two-level visitor centre building, constructed to represent the form of a dancing brolga, is complete with amenities, cafe, and interactive display with the top-level viewing deck providing an uninterrupted view of the wetlands.

Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.

Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.

Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.

1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole

Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park , just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole

Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole , open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park — Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)

3. Tour the Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands , a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!

Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).

A creative moment shared inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing space. — Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)

4. Dine in Darwin

Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets , Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets .

Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.

A bowl of Laksa. — Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)

5. Up close with Uluṟu

The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.

There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.

A closer look at Uluru and uncover its ancient stories, sacred sites, and striking natural beauty – one of the most iconic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)

6. Drive the Red Centre Way

From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.

Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.

SEIT Outback Australia is a small group touring specialist offering exciting, adventurous, exclusive and specialised iconic, pioneering and cultural touring in the Red Centre of Australia, giving you the time to learn, absorb and relax in the heart of Australia.<br /><br />This innovative tour company focuses on providing clients with the ultimate interpretive touring experiences with a range of products and customised touring itineraries for small groups and bespoke private charters.<br /><br />The company bases its philosophies from the key words of Spirit, Emotion, Intellect and Task (SEIT). — Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)

7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa

Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa . This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).

Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.

The Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta is one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the Northern Territory, especially at sunrise when the domes glow golden. — Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)

8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges

Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm , Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen .

Soaking in the serenity of Ormiston Gorge, these two travellers enjoy one of the most scenic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)

Start planning the NT road trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com

Darwin in the wet season – why the locals love it