Travelling to Darwin from Sydney - is October too hot?

In the Topend there is usually only intermittent rain until Dec/Jan but the heat and humidity will be on the rise in October. No problems in an Aircon vehicle.

Hi Chris
It will most definately be warm and getting more humid at that time of year and if you are from Sydney you will really feel it, however the cyclones can come at anytime and that should be your only concern as main roads are usually open most of the year.
It isn't really the best time to travel to the top end as it almost certainly rains on a daily basis.
January through to about April can be the worst months
But hey, who can tell with any accuracy what the weather is going to be like next week, let alone next year
Cheers Poppy
P.S. I lived in Darwin for a while now in Townsville

We visited Darwin in September a few years ago. It was bloody warm ! My family spent 3 days in an airconditioned shopping centre. Spent a fortune on drinks for the kids on the way up.
But we loved Darwin. Hot yes but a great place to visit.

Barring an exceptional cyclone event such as the one which drowned Katherine a few years ago all main roads are open through the wet.

We visited Darwin, Katherine, Alice in the last week of Sept and 1st week of October last year. No rain - hot @ 40 degrees in Katherine Gorge with a hot wind blowing. Nothing distressing if you are used to it though.

At the moment its pretty cold...I had to put a T shirt on just before because's dropped suddenly to about 20 degrees....

October in Darwin will be getting in to the worst of the build up. Its not the heat, its the humidity. What that means is that even when you stand in the shade it won't feel cool.

But don't let that encourage you, the cloud formations and the lighting storms are definately a sight to see. You should be right for rain, it will threaten to rain every day, and you will think its going to, but if generally it won't...

The roads will be fine, and you will still probably get to see much of Kakadu or Litchfeild if thats what you want.

Dog

I was in the north in mid December 2003 which was a beginning of wet season. You have a rare chance to see for example roaring Gunlom Falls in Kakadu NP. At the end of December areas like Gunlom Falls, Twin Falls, etc. are usually closed.

OZs usually do not north in Summer because it´s too hot. We (Central Europeans) do go there for the same reason. Go there. It is worth.

Cheers

Lech

Chris,

temperature is about the same as it always is (30- 32 degree celsius)- it is the humidity that is up.

If you pace yourself it is a good time to go - a lot of people stay away for 'fear' of the heat.

Keep water intake up and avoid running around at high noon and you will be sweet.

Rains - you will be unlucky , come october everyone is hanging for rain, but it 'normally' is November before it gets serious in any way (at least lately - thanks 'El Nino').

I agree with the previous correspondant that it is a long trip for 3.5 weeks , hope you get to see something!

Cheers

MT
Former NT resident