Darwin City Guide - Accommodation, Schools, Attractions

Darwin Snapshot

Darwin is the capital of Australia's Northern Territory and is a cosmopolitan urban area with plentiful dining, shopping and entertainment options. Well-known for its laidback lifestyle, gorgeous beaches, open air markets, botanical gardens and vibrant nightlife, Darwin is a popular vacation destination and an exciting place to further your education. In the city, visitors and residents will find numerous museums, art galleries, monuments and sites of cultural and historical importance. In the surrounding areas, Aboriginal rock art, bush poetry readings, diverse geography, Katherine Gorge, Litchfield National Park, Rock Centre and the expansive Kakadu National Park ensure that there are always cultural festivities to attend and outdoor adventures to be had.

Study Options

Students who wish to study in Darwin have the option of attending Charles Darwin University, offering vocational programs and language programs, as well as a complete university curriculum. The university is centrally located in the city of Darwin, close to the Central Business District, and has a student body of roughly 11,000. Established in 1989, Charles Darwin University is the result of a merger between the University College of the Northern Territory and the Darwin Institute of Technology, and was names Northern Territory University at one time.

Charles Darwin University offers a diverse array of programs and majors, including:

• Education
• Agriculture
• Biomedical Science
• Public Governance
• Information Technology
• Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Environmental Science
• Australian Studies
• Business and Commerce
• Engineering
• Arts
• Humanities
• Social Sciences

Studying at Charles Darwin University provides students with the opportunity to further their education in a unique environment that offers urban, city living, as well as miles of rural land with awe-inspiring natural formations that make the Northern Territory's Top End truly intriguing.

Local Scene

International and domestic students choosing to study in Darwin will never be without something to do on their days off. Whether they prefer visiting museums or trekking through the bush in search of wildlife, Darwin and the Northern Territory offers plentiful outdoor activities, a variety of natural attractions, and a rich, diverse culture and history.

Some of Darwin's most popular attractions include:

• Beautiful beaches
• Aboriginal rock art
• Bush poetry readings
• Outdoor markets
• Many parks and botanical gardens
• The World War II Oil Storage Tunnels
• The Darwin Crocodile Farm
• The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
• The Australian Pearling Exhibition
• The Darwin Aviation Heritage Museum
• Fannie Bay Gaol
• Lyons Cottage
• Crodocylus Park
• Parliament House
• The Cage of Death at Crocosaurus Park

More adventurous students who would like to journey outside of the city to enjoy the many attractions located within a few hours of Darwin will find that there is virtually no end to the long the list of things to do during their stay.

The attractions students will find located throughout the expansive Top End include:

• Kakadu National Park
• Litchfield National Park
• Katherine Gorge
• Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
• Jim Jim Falls
• Gunlom Falls
• Red Centre
• Nourlangie Rock
• Gunwarddehwardde Lookout
• The Museum of Central Australia in Alice Springs
• Wetlands and rainforests

From guided cruises on the East Alligator River to swimming with a Crocodile in the Cage of Death at Darwin's Crocosaurus Park, there are activities available for students looking for a simple, fun weekend excursion, as well as those looking for an exhilarating thrill they will never forget.

Accommodations

Those who study in Darwin at Charles Darwin University will have the choice of both on-campus and off-campus housing options. Students choosing to live on-campus will stay in the North Flinders International House located on the Casuarina Campus. The North Flinders International House is just 13 kilometers from the city's Central Business District and is in close proximity to parks, shopping, cinemas and restaurants, as well as the Casuarina Coastal Reserve and Casuarina beach. Students can choose between full service accommodations with meal plans, as well as self-catering lodgings. Those who choose on-campus living will have access to free laundry facilities, barbecue areas, game and television rooms, a swimming pool and a computer lab.

Students who choose off-campus accommodations can select between homestays with local families, shared houses or apartments, or private houses and apartments. Homestays are often chosen by students who want to experience Darwin life and culture through full immersion and living like a local during their stay.

On-campus housing is guaranteed for students who choose this option and the university is happy to assist students who prefer off-campus housing to find the housing solution that is right for them and will best meet their needs.

Darwin Highlights

Darwin is one of just two major cities in the Northern Territory and is the regional capital. The 80,000 welcoming, friendly residents in this laidback, cosmopolitan city are proud of the diverse influences of Asian, European and Aboriginal cultures that are apparent throughout the city and come alive throughout the year during a number of cultural festivals and art exhibits. The Top End's tropical climate has six distinct seasons that range from very wet to very dry, creating the unique opportunity to have completely different experiences when visiting some of the area's outdoor attractions at different times of the year.

With expansive green spaces, fabulous outdoor markets, multicultural attractions and festivals, plentiful dining and shopping options, a vibrant art scene, pristine beaches and a diverse, welcoming populace, it is easy to see why so many international and domestic students choose to study in Darwin each year.