Darwin
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By Bus
Darwinbus operates a network of local services. The main business and shopping centres of Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston are best served, but there are also local services to all suburbs. The city terminal is in Harry Chan Avenue near the Bennet Street end of Smith Street Mall. For information call 08 8924 7666 or pick up a timetable at the City Terminal.
A popular option is the Darwinbus tour card. The card allows inclusive travel and is purchased in day units. Insert the Tourcard face down when entering the bus.
By Train
The top end now has it's first rail link, the Alice Springs Darwin railway line opened in 2004 and The Ghan (132 147) runs a weekly round trip between the cities.
By Airport
There are flights to Darwin and Alice Springs with Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin from all majorAustralia destinations. It is also possible for overseas visitors to use Darwin as an entry or exit point for Australia. Qantas along with a few other Asian carriers have international flights.
Darwin Botanic Gardens
Located just a couple of k's from the CBD and close to Mindil Beach and golf links and playing ovals, these gardens are a popular place at any time of the year.
The gardens started as a site for experimenting with economically viable plants in 1886, when Darwin was only 16 years old. Labour was supplied by prisoners, mainly Aboriginal, with the occassional European and Chinese ander the direction of father Maurice and then son Nicholas Holtze.
Water fall at the Darwin Botanic GardensGardens Waterfalls
Nearly 90% of the gardens were destroyed by cyclone Tracy in 1974. However with the wet tropical climate and determined work by curator George Brown, by 1979 the gardens had 20% more plants than before the cyclone.
East Point Military Museum
The East Point Military Museum was opened in 1969, as an artillery museum, established by the Royal Australian Artillery Association. Located in an old war bunker, it was Darwin`s first museum. Exhibitions include artillery, various armoured vehicles, Japanese weapons, and history of the Japanese bombing of Darwin. It also houses part of the Territory Arms and Armament Collection.
State Square
State Square includes many fine public buildings. There are free tours of Parliament House at the weekend. The Northern Territory Library is housed in the same building and is open every day.
Indo Pacific Marine
Indo Pacific Marine at Stokes Hill Wharf precinct is a marine environmental and educational resource centre. There are day and evening tours of the Centre's live coral reef and the many creatures that inhabit it.
Darwin City Rainforest
The easy way there if you are on foot is to walk down behind the bus stop outside the YWCA in Mitchel St.
A short walk takes you from a busy street to a long stairway leading to a dense forest area.
Follow the wooden walkway through the jungle to emerge at the location of the fish feeding tourist centre.
A rusty harbour buoy stands guard, carrying a memorial plaque for the WW11 Catalina Squadron.
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