Car hire Darwin

Introduction

Darwin is a modern, tropical city and the most northern city of Australia. Darwin was destroyed no less than twice: in 1942 by a Japanese air raid and in 1974 by a tropical cyclone. The city therefore has a very modern appearance.

Population

The city has almost 125,000 inhabitants making it the most populated city of the Northern Territories.

Location

Darwin is located in the north of Australia, on a peninsula stretching out into the Timor Sea. West of the city lies Frances Bay, east of Darwin lies Cullen Bay. Darwin is located closer to the capitals of other countries (among others Dili, Port Moresby and Jakarta) than to Canberra, Australia's capital.

Economy

Mining and tourism form the pillars of the economy. The most important mining products are gold, zinc and bauxite. Beneath the Timor Sea are oil and gas supplies. Darwin is visited more and more by both domestic and foreign tourists. Military bases also provide employment.

Airports

Darwin International Airport is situated thirteen kilometers from the city center, near the suburb Marrara. The airport is easily reachable by rental car. Follow Stuart Highway from the center and next Bagot Road and McMillan Road. The way to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Darwin has good public bus transportation, both in the center and to destinations further out. The latter are however less frequent than the bus services in the city center.

Traffic and Parking

One of the best ways to discover Darwin is by rental car. The places of interest are quite dispersed, there are barely any traffic jams and finding a parking space is easy. In the Central Business District you have to pay for street parking. At parking meters you can only pay with coins: you get a ticket which you have to place behind your windshield. There are also several parking garages in and around Darwin's city center.

Hotels

Darwin has a good supply of accommodation. We do recommend booking your hotel room well in advance. The city is an increasing popular tourist destination. In addition, there are quite a few UN soldiers (based in Darwin for their operations in East Timor).

External Sources

For more information about Darwin we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Darwin
• Official website Darwin (English)
• Tourist Information Darwin (English)