Travelling to Darwin in February / March 2012

I've camped in a tent in Darwin in January. It was a fair dinkum sweat box :-) A nice place though, not what I expected. We gladly retreated to an air conditioned cabin after a few nights. Tenting up the centre in January was very hot as well but not as humid. Cheers

Hi mate,

As you say, the weather up here is unpredictable this time of the year. The time you suggest is also a very common time for cyclones, its the rain they dump that really shuts everything down.

I really wouldn’t recommend camping out, its going to be hot and humid with periods of torrential rain and the few hundred mossies that would like nothing else but to share the camp with you, and as you would likely be the only ones camping out there, your there only meal. It can be done, I Do it on many occasions however would only do it for necessity eg, fishing.

Your best bet is to wait until your up here and visit the local tourism office and see what’s available. Even call now and get some ideas as to what is available during the wet and perhaps make some bookings. Kakadu does shut down but I know that they do a lot of scenic flights and just during or after the wet it can be an amazing sight, so perhaps you could book for something like that? Jabiru usually is accessible all year round, only the northern access road (Arnhem highway) can become flooded and impassable at the Adelaide River if this happens you need to take the long way around via Pine Creek.

Litchfield, depending on rain amounts will most likely be closed to swimming however I believe you may still be able to visit certain spots.

The main roads should remain open, only occasional stream rises could close them for a short while but they usually run off pretty fast. If you do sniff a low or cyclone though then you better watch weather reports as its really unpredictable as to what can and will flood. Katherine is usually a safe spot to be if your worried about getting stranded.

I would also suggest that you bring some recovery gear as if you go off the road, your likely to encounter boggings, just keep off the black soil and you'l be fine!

Good travels,
Tom

Unless there's a major Cyclone you won't have any problems, trucks and vehicles are up and down the Stuart Hwy day and night right through the wet season, come and enjoy.

.

Thanks Mike, Tom, Motherhen and Serendipity !

As the businessmen Im taking are paying for my fuel, my food, my accommodation ánd best of all - my beer, I will be quite happy roughing it in an air conditioned motel or similar ! Don't want to make you too jealous but I'm actually getting paid to do this trip as well - somebody has to do it ! I have over 20 years experience in outback travel, 4wdriving and bush skills and probably close to 40 years experience getting stuck in pubs so whatever happens I'm sure I will be prepared. All your advice has been taken on board and is greatly appreciated !


All the best


Gazz

It would make more sense to take a plane, quicker and cheaper and also avoid the heat.. Michael