Darwin in general

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory and it is also the smallest, wettest and most northerly of the Australian cities named by the famous naturalist, geologist and biologist Charles Darwin.

Darwin is the largest city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, with a population of 142,300. It is also the smallest and most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the Top End’s regional centre. The timezone in Darwin is GMT +9:30.

Leading industries in Darwin

Darwin is the main service centre for a wide range of industries headed by mining, offshore oil and gas production, pastoralism, tourism and tropical horticulture. The Port of Darwin is also the main outlet for Australia’s live cattle export trade into South East Asia.

Is Darwin a good place to live in?

Darwin is beautiful and close to nature. The climate is warm and pleasant, with a tropical savanna climate and a wet/dry season – so it’s the perfect for those who enjoy warmer climates and being close to nature.

Accommodation in Darwin for International Students

Which is the best suburb to live in in Darwin?

Suburbs like Nightcliff, Farrar, Wulagi and Fannie Bay are among the top picks for suburbs to live in in Darwin. 

How much is student accommodation in Darwin? And how much is rent in Darwin?

In Darwin you can expect to spend AU$160-AU$250 per week in a share house (usually living with professionals or other students), AU$200-AU$500 per week for managed student accommodation (this price will normally include amenities like 24-hour support and internet), or AU$450-AU$550 per week a room in a residential college (which tends to be located conveniently close to campuses). 

Flatmates and Flatmate Finders are popular sites to find shared accommodation in Darwin and will help you fall on the cheaper end (AU$160) of the rental price. The average cost of living on campus at a university in the Darwin area ranges between AU$300-AU$550 per week (that usually includes food).

Do universities and colleges in Darwin offer dorms?

Yes. Many universities and vocational institutes in Darwin have a variety of different student apartments and dorms both on-campus and off-campus. Make sure to book your dorm room early, since they tend to fill up pretty quickly!

How do I find accommodation in Darwin?

• Flatmates.com.au
• Gumtree.com.au
• Hostelworld.com
• Realestate.com.au
• Domain.com.au
• Reiwa.com.au
• Different Facebook groups

Which accommodation should I select? Who provides accommodation for international students?

Depending on a lot where you would like to stay and if you prefer more hustle-free, easier, campus style of living – or if you prefer to live more independently. Many universities and vocational institutes in Darwin have a variety of different student apartments and dorms to choose from, or you could find a perfect apartment from private markets.

Cost of living in Sydney for International Students

How expensive is Darwin? Is Darwin more expensive than other cities?

Compared to living in a capital city, Darwin can be an extremely affordable city to live in. Accommodation rates are generally lower than in other capital cities.

What is the living cost for international students in Darwin?

The living cost in Darwin for international students typically consists of rent (on campus or off-campus), school fees and other general living costs. You can find many good lunch and dinner deals around the city, as well as sales in supermarkets and retails shops.

What salary do you need to live in Darwin? How much money do you need at the beginning in Darwin?

It is recommended that you should have access to at least AU$3000 when you arrive to Darwin to settle in, and budget around AU$300-AUS400 per week to cover the cost of living in Darwin. The Department of Home Affairs advises that a single international student requires approximately AU$22,000 per year for living costs without working. It is good to remember that this is set as a requirement for a certain lifestyle, which can vary and most students wouldn’t spend as much in one year.

How much is food in Darwin?

The price of basic dining out menu, including a drink, in the business district in Darwin is around AU$15. The prices in the grocery stores are average Australian prices.

Jobs in Darwin for International Students

Depending on your industry, of course, but in recent years Darwin has been named the best city in Australia to find a job, with 2.24 jobseekers per vacancy. So if you’re looking for a new professional opportunity, Darwin could be your best bet for employment.

What sort of jobs can I do in Darwin as an international student?

• Catering and hospitality business
• Retail and warehouse staff
• Office and retail cleaning industry
• Health and aged care
• Car wash and automotive industry
• Painting and construction
• Different office jobs
• And many more!

How much can international students earn in Darwin?

A student on a Student Visa is entitled to earn a minimum wage of AU$19.49 per hour or AU$740.80 per 38-hour week (before tax) for working both on-campus and off-campus during the period of their full-time study. An average pay is usually higher, so you are likely to earn more.

How can an international student get a job in Darwin?

International students in Darwin often work within hospitality, food services and childcare section. However, students are working in a wide range of different jobs. It is essential to look for work in the area that you will be studying in and, therefore, internships are an option to gain work experience and a future paid job.

Is it hard to get a job as an international student in Darwin?

Having a part-time job is often an essential part of studying abroad and international students are a big part of the job market in Darwin. The Student Visa allows you to work up to 20 hours per week. Make sure you’re realistic about the work you can take on with your level of experience – but try to pick an area that will help you in your career. Jobs that aren’t in your field can still help you gain transferable skills that will be valuable and look great on your resume!

What is the minimum salary in Australia?

The current minimum wage in Australia is AU$740.80 per week, which equates to a minimum hourly rate of AU$19.49. However, usually the pay is higher depending on your field of work. Many hospitality jobs also offer penalty rates.

Transport in Darwin

The rush hours in Darwin are typically in the morning on weekdays, but the traffic is never too busy in Darwin. Friday afternoons can get a bit busier on the roads. To use the public bus network in Darwin, you can purchase a Tap and Ride card or buy single tickets on board. The Tap and Ride card is available for purchase as you board the bus or from bus interchanges. You can also hire vehicles in Darwin, Uluru and Alice Springs. Local transport options include taxis, airport shuttle, bicycle hire and bus networks.

How does public transport look like in Darwin?

Darwin is served by a wide variety of transport. While the city’s main form of transport is private transport on the road network, transport is also available by bus, ferry and plane. The car is the dominant mode of transport for Darwin residents. 

To use the public bus network in Darwin, you can purchase a Tap and Ride card or buy single tickets on board. The Tap and Ride card is available for purchase as you board the bus or from bus interchanges.

Is public transport free in Darwin?

Unfortunately, the public transportation is not free in Darwin. To travel on a public bus in Darwin and Alice Springs, you need a valid ticket or Tap and Ride card.

How much does public transport cost in Darwin?

For single tickets, fares are AU$3 per ride and tickets are valid for 3 hours from purchase. Daily tickets are also available for AU$7, which gives one full day of unlimited bus travel. Tickets can be purchased on boarding the bus, using cash only. Most buses in Darwin travel between bus interchanges.

How to use public transport in Darwin?

To travel on a public bus in Darwin and Alice Springs, you need a valid ticket or Tap and Ride card. You can buy these: on a bus using cash only or at a bus interchange using cash or EFTPOS.

What is the most popular mode of transportation in Darwin?

In addition to getting by with cars, buses are the main mode of public transport in Darwin and are operated by the Northern Territory Government. The buses are usually air conditioned, efficient and maintained to a high standard.

Education in Darwin for International Students

Over 4200 international students from 73 different countries study with Northern Territory schools, vocational education and training colleges, English language colleges and universities.

Is Darwin good for international students?

Darwin is a very good and diverse city for international students. From its high educational standards, nature and wildlife, to its multicultural offering and bold lifestyle, there are many reasons why international students decide to move to Darwin. Darwin is also a very culturally diverse city with around 30% of residents born overseas and a strong indigenous population, making it a welcoming and diverse option for international students.

What are the best Universities in Darwin?

A number of government and private high schools offer intensive English language units along with a range of elective subjects so students can progress to Charles Darwin University (CDU), which is the most famous university in Darwin. You can also enrol in ELICOS and VET courses at institutions throughout Darwin to improve your language and job skills or study at CDU’s Waterfront, Casuarina or Palmerston campus to earn your degree.

What can I study in Darwin?

You can study vocational courses, English courses, both Bachelor and Master’s degrees or PhD for example in fields such as business, education, management, media design, and public health and anything else!

While Melbourne and Sydney attract the majority of international students to Australia, living and learning in a small city like Darwin has plenty of benefits. Having less people in your classes means teachers and tutors can offer a more supportive learning environment and focus on students’ individual needs. The city itself is quite compact so it’s easy to travel from place to place by public transport, bicycle or on foot. Employment opportunities are also high; finding part-time work while you study and boosting your future career prospects are two positive advantages of studying in Darwin.

How good is education in Australia?

The Education Index, published with the UN’s Human Development Index in 2018, based on data from 2017, listed Australia the second highest in the world! Australia is also a leading global provider of education to international students – and, after the United States and the United Kingdom, is ranked as the third-largest provider of international education.

Weather in Darwin

What is the warmest and coldest months of the year in Darwin?

December is the hottest month in Darwin with an average temperature of 29.5°C and the coldest is July at 24°C with the most daily sunshine hours at 10 in October. The wettest month is January with an average of 420mm of rain.

When is the best time to visit Darwin?

The best time to visit Darwin is between June and September. This is when the humidity isn’t too high, the weather is stable, it is slightly cooler and you will be able to get around and do virtually anything you want to do.

Does it rain a lot in Darwin?

The wet season in Darwin is characterised by high humidity, monsoonal rains and storms. Average temperatures range from 24.7 – 32 °C, and humidity can push past 80%. The average annual rainfall is 1727.3 mm and January is the wettest month with an average of 420mm of rain.

What are the seasons in Darwin?

Darwin has only two different seasons, the ‘wet’ and the ‘dry’. Plan ahead with this information on temperature and rainfall. Darwin, the tropical capital of the Northern Territory experiences the typical Wet in November–April and Dry in May–October.

Culture in Darwin

The NT is home to some amazing wildlife and in Darwin you can come face-to-face with a crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove. There are also lots of places to swim and cool off, like the Wave Lagoon on Darwin Waterfront and Howard Springs Reserve where turtles, wallabies and native birds linger around the rockpools.

Other activities include the Deckchair Cinema which offers free outdoor movies between May and October, the Greek Glenti in June and the weekly markets at Nightcliff, Mindil Beach and Parap.

The Top End has a unique blend of outback, beach and urban landscapes. You could be studying at CDU’s Casuarina campus near the beach one day and hiking through Kakadu National Park the next.

Is Darwin a global city?

Darwin is a multicultural city with around 30% of residents born overseas and a strong indigenous population, making it a welcoming and diverse option for international students. There are dozens of groups and organisations you can network with, many of which come together for the Darwin Waterfront Harmony Soiree in May to celebrate the cultural richness of the Northern Territory.

What are 4 interesting facts about Darwin?

• In Darwin you won’t be surrounded by skyscrapers, it is warm all year round (the average temperature is 30+°C) and you’ll be living in Australia’s “youngest capital city”.
• Darwin is the largest city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, with a population of 142,300. It is also the smallest and most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the Top End’s regional centre.
• Darwin’s proximity to South East Asia makes it a link between Australia and countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. 
• The greater Darwin area is the ancestral home of the Larrakia people.

What is Darwin famous for?

Darwin city is famous for its incredible wonders including both Kakadu and Litchfield National Park. While Charles Darwin himself never set foot in the city, it was christened in honour of the famous naturalist. The moniker was bestowed by his former shipmate Lieutenant John Stokes, the first European to observe Port Darwin in 1839.

What is Darwin famous for food?

Prawn and crocodile laksa! Coconut laksa is a favourite around Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as here in Darwin.

Lifestyle in Darwin

Why is Darwin a liveable city?

Darwin with its enviable natural environment and wildlife will make it definitely a liveable city!

Are there many clubs and restaurants in Darwin?

Darwin has 21 pubs to choose from. Darwin’s population is the most youthful of any major cities in the country so there is no shortage of great pubs, bars and nightclubs. Regardless of age you’ll find a watering hole to suit your purposes. Also, with the abundance of fresh tropical fruit and nectars you’ll be delighted with mouth-watering cocktail lists and tropical wines. 

How to spend your free time in Darwin?

While saltwater crocodiles and dangerous stingers like box jellyfish and Irukandji pose a threat in the ocean, there are plenty of swimming holes around Darwin where it is perfectly safe to take a dip in the dry season. Alternatively, two man-made beaches in the Waterfront Precinct –the Wave Lagoon and Recreation Lagoon – offer family friendly swimming all year round.

Darwin has also more than 20 museums and art galleries, as well as independent exhibitions, a booming theatre scene, the outdoor Deckchair Cinema and a throng of colourful markets (including the must-do Mindil Beach Sunset Markets), which offers enough to keep the most culture lovers happy.

You can also have an up-close encounter with the animals of the Top End at the Territory Wildlife Park, 45 minutes from Darwin. The many attractions are spread around a 4km loop road with free shuttle trains connecting them. Visit the cool nocturnal house and aquarium, walk through treetop aviaries and stroll around the lagoon. Afterwards, call in at the adjacent Berry Springs Nature Park for a swim in the springs and a picnic on the lawns.

What can I do in Darwin at night?

Set up some chairs or simply sit back on the soft sands to enjoy Darwin’s brilliant sunset over the waterfront. With multiple spots to choose from, including Mindil Beach, East Point Reserve, and Cullen bay, you can take your pick and choose the quietest for a truly relaxing sunset. See the sky glow with brilliant colours, reflecting against the calm waters of the coast to enhance the area in orange light.

Instead of doing a mere day trip out to the national parks why not stay out there for a night? With a range of different camping spots on offer, including rough patches nestled within the bushland, to large caravan sites, Kakadu and Litchfield National Park are where it’s at. Travel in the morning and spend a whole day travelling to and from each attraction. Spending the night barbequing your dinner and toasting marshmallows over the fire.

Skip the Netflix for the night and see a film amidst the city sights. Darwin’s deckchair cinema offers an outdoor cinema experience of the latest and greatest films available. Bring some dinner or snacks for a truly marvellous picnic while you enjoy the movie!