Palmerston is known to be a place best avoided by tourists.

At the Top End of Australia crocodiles are frequently sighted and in great numbers. While there are waterholes that are cleared and patrolled regularly, the only 100% safe place to swim in the Top End is in a swimming pool. Particularly in the Wet Season, when the giant salties are on the move, steer clear of swollen, murky waterways.

Many visitors when driving in Australia’s “outback” DO NOT take the wildlife into consideration. These animals can be very numerous and to hit any at speed can be disastrous or even fatal. The driving distances here are vast with Towns and Road Houses long distances apart and although the areas are sparsely populated, speeding vehicles can have accidents with wildlife and feral animals.

Stinging jellyfish and crocodiles on the beach and coastal areas but if you follow safety precautions you will be safe. From late October to early May Box jellyfish live in coastal waters around northern Australia and many of the Queensland islands. Rarely found on the outer Barrier Reef but in the Northern Territory the stingers are present at all beaches, in Western Australia they’re found along the Kimberley coastline. Beaches will display warning signs and provide bowls of solution for calming stings.

To drive out in the Territory is fantastic. Once you are out of the city Limits it doesn’t take long to be out in the bush. The main roads are fine and the traffic can be dangerous as it can anywhere. Just watch out for the huge road trains that fly along these outback Highways. Sometimes these road trains can have 70 or more wheels under four or five huge long trailers. Always be careful of the last trailer as they tend to “snake” being on the end. Give yourself plenty of time and room to overtake these huge trucks and trailers.

Use a good quality sunscreen (SP30+ rating) or cover up to minimise the risk of sunburn. Northern Australia’s white communities have the world’s highest rates of skin cancer. It also helps to wear a hat with a brim. Sunburn and heatstroke can be serious and people can deteriorate quickly if they don’t take it seriously.

When travelling in the Northern part of Australia locally referred to as the “Top End” it is strongly advisable to carry and use a reliable insect and mosquito repellent, especially in the evenings by the water or the local rivers. Dengue fever has been reported in some parts of northern Australia.

Beware of pickpockets as they tend to operate in tourist areas, keep your belongings secure at all times and be careful if strangers try to make conversation or distract you as it could be an attempt to steal your valuables.

Credit card fraud, cloning cards can be an issue be careful where you use your cards. Also if you are withdrawing money from cash machines make sure you cover your pin and be discreet about the amount of cash you withdraw.

Darwin has per capita the highest crime rate of any Australian city. Crime is a significant social issue in Alice Springs. The main source of crime is Alice Spring’s large unemployed population of Aboriginal residents, who live in camps throughout the town, nearby.

The best time to travel is during the winter months when the temperature is more bearable, many tourists choose this period as they travel round the country.

Darwin Convention Centre

Darwin is hailed as Australia’s gateway to Asia and as such is a thriving business centre where many people flock. The Convention Centre takes 22,900 square metres of space as part of the Darwin Waterfront Complex. It includes 2 auditoriums, 4 halls, 4 meeting rooms and 4 waterfront rooms as well as a café. There are also creative spaces and it the centre caters to many different types of events.

Mindil Beach

Located near Darwin’s central business district, Mindil Beach plays host to the Sunset Markets which operate throughout the dry season of May until October of every year. Hosted in a beautiful tropical setting the Mindil Beach market supports around 300 stalls from small businesses which sell, amongst other things, cuisine from 5 continents to handmade crafts. Alongside the stalls is an array of street performers and music adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The market is held every Thursday and Sunday through operation.

Marrara Stadium

Marrara Stadium, built in 1991, also known by locals as Football Park, is a sports ground and the venue of Australian Rules football and cricket. The stadium has a total capacity of 17,000 with 5,000 seating.

Bicentennial Park

Running the length of Darwin’s waterfront, looking over Darwin harbour, the park stretches from the Northern Territory Parliament House to Doctors’ Gully. Within the park can be found The Cenotaph War Memorial, the Civilian Memorial and The USS Peary Memorial. From the park visitors can access Lameroo Beach as well as Doctors’ Gully fish feeding. Bicentennial Park also provides a brilliant location for many community events such as music concerts and the Festival of Darwin and even weddings.

Lake Alexander

This is a man made site on top of low-lying coastal marsh, officially opened in 1991 for the people of Darwin to use as a recreational space. It’s a 3.5 hectare lake which provides a safe area to swim, which is similar to a natural swimming area. It is very popular in the summer months. Its seawater derives from Fannie Bay.

Skycity

The current building built in 1983 is the venue for Darwin’s only casino as well as restaurants, bars, a hotel, Lagoon Day Spa, gaming, resort and function spaces including a place to watch shows. The casino itself is open 24/7 and offers all of the classic gambling games as well as over 700 electronic gaming machines. The 5 amazing restaurants give visitors to this complex plenty of choice in a range of cuisine. The selection of 8 bars offers people different types of experiences ranging from the Lagoon Bar which is a swim-up, in-pool bar to the Sandbar which hosts live music.

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

This is the main museum for the Northern Territory, and is located in Fannie Bay, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is set in a tropical garden on the Darwin Harbour. MAGNT uses research and a collection of art, history, culture and natural history to showcase Australia in an international context. This is seen through Aboriginal, Southeast Asian and Oceanic art, visual art and material culture. There are 5 major permanent galleries as well as touring galleries, a theatre, shop and café.