h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

hi there,
I would like to go for one year in Australia (most probably Darwin, Northern territory), therefore I would like to have as much information as possible about that country, especially transport, diving, finding a job, darwin ....
Thanks
Anne

It's hard to know where to start...

Darwin is a great place. It's small (about 95,000 people I think), and it's hot and dry from April to October, and hot and wet from November to March. Classic tropical weather. Classic tropical vegetation, too. Darwin was partially destroyed by the Japanese during the second world war, and flattened by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Eve 1974, so the city is mostly quite modern. It's a friendly place, and very multicultural.

The most practical way to get from Darwin to other Australian cities is by air. The railway line to Adelaide only opened this year, and that trip would take a couple of days. It's cheaper to travel from Darwin to Indonesia or Singapore than it is to travel to most other parts of Australia.

Diving I know nothing about.

Getting a job - it would depend on what sort of visa you have, among other things. What nationality are you?

Ivan.

Darwin is a lot of fun, I lived there for 6 months or so many years ago, but i'm not sure i would come all this way and only go to Darwin.

Plenty to see in Kakadu, etc and I suppose it would be okay if you get work, but it is a long way from all the other major regions / cities. Sydney, Melbourne, great barrier reef so you wouldn't be able to do them as a weekend trip.

As Ivan has already mentioned, flying internally from Darwin to anywhere is expensive. If possible, it would be a good idea to arrange your flights before hand.

Work wise, it is a fairly small town, although most of the bar staff seemed to be backpackers when i was there last year.