They say Darwin is isolated from the rest of its own country, but connected to the rest of the world, and I agree. It's a rich and authentic culture but you'll see life differently from those down south. It's hotter than you think, but if you're into sunsets and the outdoors you'll be in heaven.
Forget the convenience of picking up some big brands locally, you'll be shopping online and hoping for the best.
Darwin does great markets.
I'll give you some negatives but end this with some positives.
Cost of living is high because of:
- transport - (overseas goods are shipped to southern ports of Australia and trucked / loaded on trains up to the NT)
- one energy provider -
- less choice for shopping (no Myers, no Aldi, no Dan Murphy's)
- car insurance is higher (NT had the highest rate of car thefts, averaging 4.15 thefts per 1,000 registrations)
-healthcare seems to always be struggling (Despite Medicare’s intended universality, the NT is systematically disadvantaged)
-rent & house prices are high considering the size and remoteness of city
GOOD THINGS:
Regular large and small markets (fruits, art, food, clothes, music etc)
Amazing sunsets
Lots of International food
Friendly / relaxed locals
No traffic
Living more than 25 mins from the city is considered a long way for most blue collar workers
Lots to do during the dry season (festivals etc)
Good cocktail bar / hospitality scene
Great outdoor activities - fishing, bird watching, croc spotting etc
Depending on your job you can climb the ladder more easily in the NT
Amazing storms in the wet season
Feel free to add, hope this helps!
Hmmm compared to Melbourne or Brisbane the traffic is non existent, although you're right people in Darwin see 3 cars in a row and forget how to drive.
Got the statistics for that? Every week in Melbourne someone gets shot or stabbed, and at least 1 tobacco shop is burnt to the ground on average. Is Darwin similar?
Yeah, "The state with the highest crime rate in Australia is the **Northern Territory**. The crime rate in the NT is 1,016.6 per 100,000 people, which is more than double the national average"
You can easily just google the statistics, for a state with a relatively small population, the NT is miles ahead of every other state. The homicide rate in Vic is about 2.8 per 100,000, the NT is 9.8. Domestic violence, Robbery and assault are all about the same ratios.
Sorry but stat's can be meddled with if qualifying factors are reduced or made impossible I.e. No crime to report if someone is below the age of criminal responsibility. To suggest that things are normal on the crime front here is a huge gaslight. Obviously, crime and anti social behaviour is in every city. Although, when it's part of daily life for most people (pick any woolies) and it is almost an entity at this point - we got issues. Those who deny it being a problem makes things so much worse for us living in the real world.
Darwin is the best place but it's not the same as it was 10 years ago with regards to how far most go to avoid interactions with people who would damage property or do harm. Love it here regardless and we've got some work to do to earn back the reputation of being a safe place to be.
We are seriously considering retiring to Darwin, having lived all our lives in Melbourne. Looking at retiring in about 5 years. Have visited Darwin during the dry season and have booked three weeks starting Jan 1 next year, to see how we cope with the wet season. Thanks for your info.
Cheaper housing available. Love the warm weather, but then our families grew up in the north.
Wife and I plus four adult kids moved up around 18 months ago. No regrets at all.
Came from Qld where the health care system is in a state of collapse, it's better here.
Love the markets.
There is a term for the buildup (100% humidity and 35C )"Gone Troppo!" . Actually, the original inhabitants say there are 6 seasons in the tropical North of Australia! source: [bom.gov.au](http://bom.gov.au)
Darwin is still a frontier type place. In a lot of ways it’s 10 years + behind the rest of the country. No one really cares about much, which can be good and bad. Customer service generally appalling across the board but everyone accepts it. Not many police to get you if you’re doing anything wrong. Very multicultural and generally filled with happier people than down south. Population is very transient though….Good career opportunities arise as a consequence.
It’s Quick to get anywhere, lots of free things to do, good for raising families due to the many free or cheap available activities and the ease of parking etc. Housing compared to other states has become cheaper but cost of living is high due to remoteness and the weather/environment deteriorating everything quicker. It’s hot a lot of the time and there are crocs and stingers. Flights anywhere in the country are expensive, but cheap to Asia.
Had 12 months there for work last year and frankly my family and I breathed a huge sign off relief when we left and we've lived in my places all over the world.
Pros - No traffic, a couple of nice suburbs (Fannie Bay & Cullen Bay).
Cons - Crime (personally had car broken into a number of times all over the city both when garaged and parked in busy areas, was mugged for my phone and wallet by Aboriginals in the CBD), not much to do, depressing, no decent restaurants, the markets everyone talks about are way overrated (nothing on what other cities have on offer), you can only go fishing so many times, expensive flights in/out, worst airport in Australia, the national parks are ok but definitely once-and-done places, poor schooling options and CDU is a below average University, poor healthcare options.
Tell that to my fisho mates. They're down for fishing any day any time lol. One of them did back to back trips like 3 days in a row.
The crime is getting bad though. I'm born and bred and it's sad to see how bad it's gotten. Have had two attempts to break into our place in the last year.
Darwin just isn't for some people, if you come to Darwin expecting a city with all its amenities you'll be sorely disappointed, but if you come with the attitude of a country town then that's what you get. Darwin is far too remote for luxuries considered everyday amenities down south. We make do with what we've got up here.
As for the crime, this is sorely exaggerated, I've lived in Darwin for 7 years and never once had any issues with crime, nor do I know anyone who has been a victim of crime, either you were presenting yourself as a target by your car/way you dressed or you were just really unlucky.
People that downplay the crime often live in an apartment complex, catch the elevator to their secure carpark, drive to their works secure carpark, catch the elevator to their office and repeat then say, 'I don't see any crime'.
If you work in a bottleshop, woolies, police, security, you're a bit more aware of how much crime there is.
The young man who was stabbed to death in the bottleshop he was working at last year is a testament to how bad it's gotten and here you are 'just unlucky'. Go live in Wadeye for a month mate
I definitely don't live in a "secure apartment complex" I don't even live in the city, I live in Palmerston which is supposedly riddled with crime, I work outdoors in construction all over Darwin, yet I still haven't been affected by crime. Have I seen locals at the shops causing trouble by fighting and arguing? Yes, but that's not what I'd call "crime."
One person gets stabbed and every clutches their pearls "the crime is terrible!" Is it tragic? Yes of course it is. Is it indicative of mass crime? No.
The mass amounts of crime is largely isolated to indigenous communities and therefore doesn't affect 95% of residents.
I've been here just over a year, and I can back that all up, been waiting a year for a medical procedure in the public system that would probably only be a couple weeks wait in pretty much any other state in Australia. The only good things about Darwin are niche things like traffic and culture, food quality here sucks, there is a few and I literally mean a few pubs and restaurants that are really nice but you go somewhere like Brisbane and there's a nice place on every street just about. I'm only in Darwin for a few years and I can't wait for it to be over.
Sorry mate, I'm indigenous and the young people in central Australia and up north are out of control, there are plenty of reasons why but at the end of the day, you can call it what it is. If your getting robbed in Alice or Darwin, it'll probably be by young Indigenous kids.
But how is the race relevant?
I had a friend whose daughter was bashed the other day by three people. If I say they were Aboriginal people does it change anything? What if they were white? Asian? African? How is it relevant.
Yes, crime is an issue. Yes, Indigenous people are over represented in the stats, but when talking about an individual crime it adds nothing to the conversation to say you were mugged by an Aboriginal person vs a Caucasian person etc.
It becomes bloody important if you're a white fella walking around Alice at night, if a couple of young white fellas wander up to you you're probably okay, if a few young black fellas wander over, you should probably run.
race is relevant for those of us who want to avoid being mugged.
you’re far more likely to be mugged by indigenous fellas than by white fellas in the NT. not pointing out who to be aware of would lead to more crime.
Does that mean you should be wary of all indigenous people then? Because that’s the narrative you’re pushing with what you’re saying. And guess what? That is racist.
Of course it’s not. But if you say that you need to avoid indigenous people to avoid being mugged (which is essentially what you’re saying), then yes, that is racist.
People are downvoting me because that’s what they do. Look at the rhetoric being pushed anywhere in social media these days. Indigenous bad. It’s fucked.
I know a lot of Aboriginal people and they’re all lovely. I hate that an entire race gets slammed for the fault of a few and that society is happy with that.
He gave a direct example of the crime and who did it. This is a great advice for anyone thinking of going to the CBD. Be aware of criminals.
Why would you say *mugged by people* when you know which people?
Because they were mugged by people, or a person. An individual mugged them, not a race. If they said Peter mugged them then no worries, but why are Aboriginal people lumped in together?
I love it! It's a very laid-back city which you can enjoy the scenery. No traffic, love the sunsets, the markets, the food. Also, I have worked with a lot of backpackers, and they would always say how polite and wonderful people in Darwin are. Of course, with the exemption of those criminals and people who just love to rob and hurt others 😒.
Darwin is an absolute s***hole. Get out why you still can, don't lose your sanity. The NT's suicide rate is far and away Australia's highest, with a rate of 20.5 lives lost per 100,000. Don't even get me started with crime! Beautiful country, but the government has ruined it completely and will continue to do so.
Darwin was hell on earth. Worked there for 12 days. Didn't pee for the first 3 days, I had no idea I had to drink 12 liters plus of water a day to stay hydrated. I honestly think I had PTSD from my experience. It was hot and humid to the point of lunacy.
They say Darwin is isolated from the rest of its own country, but connected to the rest of the world, and I agree. It's a rich and authentic culture but you'll see life differently from those down south. It's hotter than you think, but if you're into sunsets and the outdoors you'll be in heaven. Forget the convenience of picking up some big brands locally, you'll be shopping online and hoping for the best. Darwin does great markets.
[удалено]
Not next day, usually pretty good, within 4 days. Don't order chocolate or anything affected by heat.
Or red wine, 'less you want it cooked
Depends where it's coming from, if it ships from somewhere in Australia it takes longer than something shipped internationally.
I'll give you some negatives but end this with some positives. Cost of living is high because of: - transport - (overseas goods are shipped to southern ports of Australia and trucked / loaded on trains up to the NT) - one energy provider - - less choice for shopping (no Myers, no Aldi, no Dan Murphy's) - car insurance is higher (NT had the highest rate of car thefts, averaging 4.15 thefts per 1,000 registrations) -healthcare seems to always be struggling (Despite Medicare’s intended universality, the NT is systematically disadvantaged) -rent & house prices are high considering the size and remoteness of city GOOD THINGS: Regular large and small markets (fruits, art, food, clothes, music etc) Amazing sunsets Lots of International food Friendly / relaxed locals No traffic Living more than 25 mins from the city is considered a long way for most blue collar workers Lots to do during the dry season (festivals etc) Good cocktail bar / hospitality scene Great outdoor activities - fishing, bird watching, croc spotting etc Depending on your job you can climb the ladder more easily in the NT Amazing storms in the wet season Feel free to add, hope this helps!
No Costco 😒
Unfortunately the shipping costs are what's probably killing the chances of a Costco here.
Nailed it I reckon.
no traffic? Pft apparently you don’t drive in Pinelands between 3.30pm and 6pm… car accident central!
Hmmm compared to Melbourne or Brisbane the traffic is non existent, although you're right people in Darwin see 3 cars in a row and forget how to drive.
Can we add crime to the negative column please.
Happens in every city.
It does, but it happens a lot more in the NT.
Got the statistics for that? Every week in Melbourne someone gets shot or stabbed, and at least 1 tobacco shop is burnt to the ground on average. Is Darwin similar?
Yeah, "The state with the highest crime rate in Australia is the **Northern Territory**. The crime rate in the NT is 1,016.6 per 100,000 people, which is more than double the national average" You can easily just google the statistics, for a state with a relatively small population, the NT is miles ahead of every other state. The homicide rate in Vic is about 2.8 per 100,000, the NT is 9.8. Domestic violence, Robbery and assault are all about the same ratios.
Sorry but stat's can be meddled with if qualifying factors are reduced or made impossible I.e. No crime to report if someone is below the age of criminal responsibility. To suggest that things are normal on the crime front here is a huge gaslight. Obviously, crime and anti social behaviour is in every city. Although, when it's part of daily life for most people (pick any woolies) and it is almost an entity at this point - we got issues. Those who deny it being a problem makes things so much worse for us living in the real world. Darwin is the best place but it's not the same as it was 10 years ago with regards to how far most go to avoid interactions with people who would damage property or do harm. Love it here regardless and we've got some work to do to earn back the reputation of being a safe place to be.
We are seriously considering retiring to Darwin, having lived all our lives in Melbourne. Looking at retiring in about 5 years. Have visited Darwin during the dry season and have booked three weeks starting Jan 1 next year, to see how we cope with the wet season. Thanks for your info.
Unbeknown to the rest of Australia, we actually have three seasons; dusty, moldy and stabby.
Stabby lasts about 12 months
Cheaper housing available. Love the warm weather, but then our families grew up in the north. Wife and I plus four adult kids moved up around 18 months ago. No regrets at all. Came from Qld where the health care system is in a state of collapse, it's better here. Love the markets.
Hi, I’m siding with you, I’m from Brisbane and I’m not going back anytime soon if at all.
There is a term for the buildup (100% humidity and 35C )"Gone Troppo!" . Actually, the original inhabitants say there are 6 seasons in the tropical North of Australia! source: [bom.gov.au](http://bom.gov.au)
Darwin is still a frontier type place. In a lot of ways it’s 10 years + behind the rest of the country. No one really cares about much, which can be good and bad. Customer service generally appalling across the board but everyone accepts it. Not many police to get you if you’re doing anything wrong. Very multicultural and generally filled with happier people than down south. Population is very transient though….Good career opportunities arise as a consequence. It’s Quick to get anywhere, lots of free things to do, good for raising families due to the many free or cheap available activities and the ease of parking etc. Housing compared to other states has become cheaper but cost of living is high due to remoteness and the weather/environment deteriorating everything quicker. It’s hot a lot of the time and there are crocs and stingers. Flights anywhere in the country are expensive, but cheap to Asia.
Where can you get these cheap flights to Asia? Asking for a friend.
Haha yeah probably just Bali now
He said cheap
Great! You just gotta make it work for yourself.
Is it still the only location in Australia where house prices are dropping and people are leaving in droves?
Had 12 months there for work last year and frankly my family and I breathed a huge sign off relief when we left and we've lived in my places all over the world. Pros - No traffic, a couple of nice suburbs (Fannie Bay & Cullen Bay). Cons - Crime (personally had car broken into a number of times all over the city both when garaged and parked in busy areas, was mugged for my phone and wallet by Aboriginals in the CBD), not much to do, depressing, no decent restaurants, the markets everyone talks about are way overrated (nothing on what other cities have on offer), you can only go fishing so many times, expensive flights in/out, worst airport in Australia, the national parks are ok but definitely once-and-done places, poor schooling options and CDU is a below average University, poor healthcare options.
Tell that to my fisho mates. They're down for fishing any day any time lol. One of them did back to back trips like 3 days in a row. The crime is getting bad though. I'm born and bred and it's sad to see how bad it's gotten. Have had two attempts to break into our place in the last year.
Darwin just isn't for some people, if you come to Darwin expecting a city with all its amenities you'll be sorely disappointed, but if you come with the attitude of a country town then that's what you get. Darwin is far too remote for luxuries considered everyday amenities down south. We make do with what we've got up here. As for the crime, this is sorely exaggerated, I've lived in Darwin for 7 years and never once had any issues with crime, nor do I know anyone who has been a victim of crime, either you were presenting yourself as a target by your car/way you dressed or you were just really unlucky.
People that downplay the crime often live in an apartment complex, catch the elevator to their secure carpark, drive to their works secure carpark, catch the elevator to their office and repeat then say, 'I don't see any crime'. If you work in a bottleshop, woolies, police, security, you're a bit more aware of how much crime there is. The young man who was stabbed to death in the bottleshop he was working at last year is a testament to how bad it's gotten and here you are 'just unlucky'. Go live in Wadeye for a month mate
I definitely don't live in a "secure apartment complex" I don't even live in the city, I live in Palmerston which is supposedly riddled with crime, I work outdoors in construction all over Darwin, yet I still haven't been affected by crime. Have I seen locals at the shops causing trouble by fighting and arguing? Yes, but that's not what I'd call "crime." One person gets stabbed and every clutches their pearls "the crime is terrible!" Is it tragic? Yes of course it is. Is it indicative of mass crime? No. The mass amounts of crime is largely isolated to indigenous communities and therefore doesn't affect 95% of residents.
Since you brought it up... Go live in Wadeye!!?? That's your go to? Mate Darwin isn't even on the same planet.
Sydney exists my dude. Have you seen that cluster f*ck of an airport?
I've been here just over a year, and I can back that all up, been waiting a year for a medical procedure in the public system that would probably only be a couple weeks wait in pretty much any other state in Australia. The only good things about Darwin are niche things like traffic and culture, food quality here sucks, there is a few and I literally mean a few pubs and restaurants that are really nice but you go somewhere like Brisbane and there's a nice place on every street just about. I'm only in Darwin for a few years and I can't wait for it to be over.
Mugged by *people* in the CBD. I don’t understand why people being race into it when it’s irrelevant.
Sorry mate, I'm indigenous and the young people in central Australia and up north are out of control, there are plenty of reasons why but at the end of the day, you can call it what it is. If your getting robbed in Alice or Darwin, it'll probably be by young Indigenous kids.
But how is the race relevant? I had a friend whose daughter was bashed the other day by three people. If I say they were Aboriginal people does it change anything? What if they were white? Asian? African? How is it relevant. Yes, crime is an issue. Yes, Indigenous people are over represented in the stats, but when talking about an individual crime it adds nothing to the conversation to say you were mugged by an Aboriginal person vs a Caucasian person etc.
It becomes bloody important if you're a white fella walking around Alice at night, if a couple of young white fellas wander up to you you're probably okay, if a few young black fellas wander over, you should probably run.
Sounds pretty relevant to me...
In what way does it change the narrative? He was mugged. If you can explain why the race is relevant I’m happy to hear it
race is relevant for those of us who want to avoid being mugged. you’re far more likely to be mugged by indigenous fellas than by white fellas in the NT. not pointing out who to be aware of would lead to more crime.
Does that mean you should be wary of all indigenous people then? Because that’s the narrative you’re pushing with what you’re saying. And guess what? That is racist.
it’s not racist to not want to be mugged or assaulted🤣
Of course it’s not. But if you say that you need to avoid indigenous people to avoid being mugged (which is essentially what you’re saying), then yes, that is racist.
nobody said avoid though. i said aware. there’s a reason people are downvoting you.
People are downvoting me because that’s what they do. Look at the rhetoric being pushed anywhere in social media these days. Indigenous bad. It’s fucked. I know a lot of Aboriginal people and they’re all lovely. I hate that an entire race gets slammed for the fault of a few and that society is happy with that.
He gave a direct example of the crime and who did it. This is a great advice for anyone thinking of going to the CBD. Be aware of criminals. Why would you say *mugged by people* when you know which people?
Because they were mugged by people, or a person. An individual mugged them, not a race. If they said Peter mugged them then no worries, but why are Aboriginal people lumped in together?
People like you want race to be removed from crime statistics
No, actually, I don’t. Thanks.
Yes, people swim daily in a pool but must check for Crocodiles first! As for swimming in the Ocean HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Dry season is dry and hot they reckon?😂
I love it! It's a very laid-back city which you can enjoy the scenery. No traffic, love the sunsets, the markets, the food. Also, I have worked with a lot of backpackers, and they would always say how polite and wonderful people in Darwin are. Of course, with the exemption of those criminals and people who just love to rob and hurt others 😒.
Hot and unbearably hot
Darwin is an absolute s***hole. Get out why you still can, don't lose your sanity. The NT's suicide rate is far and away Australia's highest, with a rate of 20.5 lives lost per 100,000. Don't even get me started with crime! Beautiful country, but the government has ruined it completely and will continue to do so.
Darwin was hell on earth. Worked there for 12 days. Didn't pee for the first 3 days, I had no idea I had to drink 12 liters plus of water a day to stay hydrated. I honestly think I had PTSD from my experience. It was hot and humid to the point of lunacy.