Darwin is the perfect place for those who want to study and work in Australia away from large crowds and with a very tropical style. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know!
Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, and it is located on the shores of the Timor Sea, which has turned it into a strategic trade point with Asian countries, such as China and Indonesia. Just imagine, from Darwin you can get to Bali with just a 6-hour flight.
With almost 150 thousand inhabitants, it is the most populated city in the north of Australia, but at the same time, it is the least populated capital in Australia. Curious, isn’t it?
Despite being a capital, in Darwin you won’t see big skyscrapers, nor will you feel the hustle and bustle of Melbourne or Sydney. On the contrary, living here is getting on the train of the easy life. The tropical climate, warm all year round, invites you to relax and enjoy outdoor life at a much calmer pace.
Even so, Darwin, the great unknown compared to other Australian cities, is a very appealing option for those who want to live their adventure in Australia out of the beaten path. Here you will get to know the wildest version of this country, full of Aboriginal history and multiculturalism.
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Since it is a less demanded city by international students, in Darwin you will have the chance to save quite a lot of money on accommodation. Prices vary slightly depending on the neighborhood, but in general, you can rent a single room for about $250-300 AUD and a shared one for $200-250 AUD.
As always, at Dingoos we recommend that you book a hostel for your first nights in Australia and from there begin your search. And remember that if you come with us, you won’t have to worry about anything; we will take care of managing your first nights of accommodation for you.
The most popular means of transport to get around Darwin are the bicycle and the car. There is also a public bus service, called Darwinbus, which works very well and is not bad at all in terms of price:
And if you are a student, you get a 50% discount on the fare, not bad at all!
Also, in Darwin you can call a taxi or an Uber.
If you want to take a trip outside Darwin, keep in mind that trains do not reach here. So, you’ll have to think about driving your own car, van, or taking a plane.
What you spend each week on groceries will depend a lot on what you like to eat or if you prefer going out for dinner instead. Still, in Darwin you will be able to do your weekly shopping for about $80-100 AUD. Even if you are good at looking for offers or have an Aldi or an IGA nearby—the supermarkets with the best prices—you’ll probably end up saving a few more dollars each week.
As for eating out, you can have a meal at a cheap restaurant or a fast-food chain for about $18 AUD.
A dinner at a good restaurant will cost you around $50 AUD.
Darwin has a reputation for being a place with a very good nightlife atmosphere. Its cafés and bars have large terraces where you can enjoy chatting with friends on warm evenings throughout the year.
In addition, many festivals and outdoor events are held here, such as the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival, the Glenti Festival, and the fun Beer Can Regatta, a very entertaining event where participants have to build boats using only beer cans.
The weather in Darwin is tropical, which means it is warm and, during part of the year, very rainy.
In Darwin you will enjoy the beauty of the tropical climate: the unexpected rains that refresh the atmosphere, the lush vegetation, the water flowing down as waterfalls and streams after each storm…
The wet or rainy season coincides with the Australian summer and goes from November to April. During this period it usually rains torrentially quite often, although the temperature remains between 25°C and 33°C.
The dry season goes from May to October, and you will recognize it by the bright, warm, and sunny days. At night the temperature drops to a pleasant 21°C, which is great for sleeping well.
Darwin offers very good study opportunities for international students. You can choose between English courses, VET courses, TAFE, or even university studies.
To be able to study in Darwin, you will only need to enroll in a course and school approved by the Australian government, take out travel insurance, and apply for your student visa.
The good news is that at Dingoos we can help you with all the procedures thanks to our free services. Write to us and a Dingoos Guide will help you plan your study trip.
In addition, with the student visa you will be able to combine study and work in Australia. Keep reading!
Just like in the rest of Australia, in Darwin you will enjoy a high salary no matter what job you do. And if you don’t get it, run away! You are probably being scammed.
Here, the hourly wage for a waiter goes from $21 AUD to $25 AUD. If you come with a student visa, you will be able to legally work 24 hours a week, so you will easily be able to make between $420 AUD and $500 AUD.
Also, during the vacation period you will be allowed to work full-time (48 hours/week), so you will even be able to save or enjoy a little trip getting to know other cities in Australia.
With your student visa and once you arrive in Australia, you will only need to apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) in order to get your first job in the country.
Most of the most in-demand jobs for students in Darwin are related to the service sector, more than enough to cover your stay while you study and work part-time.
In any case, if you have a good CV and a good level of English, you will always be able to apply for more qualified jobs.
These are the most in-demand jobs for students in Darwin:
Studying in Australia is not the hardest thing in the world, but it’s not as easy as waking up one day on a whim and saying, “today I feel like going six months to the other side of the world, I’m going to pack my suitcase.”
Australia is a very safe country, with unstoppable economic growth for more than 25 years and where there are plenty of opportunities and advantages for all those who want to come to grow professionally and personally.
Our goal is to make everything crystal clear for you from the beginning, so that you know at all times what you are going to find on the other side of the world and you don’t get any surprises. Ready?
At Dingoos we are experts in Australia and we will accompany you every step of the way to help you decide which visa suits you best. And once you are clear about it, we will help you with all the procedures so that getting it is so easy that you won’t even notice.
Darwin is full of places you can’t miss. As a good city of contrasts, it combines lush nature with architectural icons from different historical periods:
Just 80 kilometers from Darwin are the impressive Wangi Falls, in the heart of Litchfield National Park.
Perfect for taking a selfie for posterity and for swimming in its natural pools. Thanks to the direct sunlight, the water is at the perfect temperature!
In 3 hours you can get to Kakadu National Park, recognized as a World Heritage Site thanks to its vegetation and the animal diversity that inhabits it. It is perfect for getting lost along its trails and entering its wetlands in search of crocodiles and beautiful exotic flowers.
If you feel like living a real adventure, get ready to enter the depths of the Australian Northern Territory in search of saltwater crocodiles. From Corroboree begins the route that will take you to discover the wildest and most unforgettable side of Darwin.
If you are one of those who think that there is no better way to end the day than watching a beautiful sunset, you can enjoy the best sunsets on the coast of East Timor from Mindil Beach. In addition, during the day you can enjoy a market where Aboriginal art and local food are sold.
Thanks to Darwin’s history and its historical role in trade with Asia, its harbor is one of the city’s most iconic places. Many excursions still leave from here, and you will also be able to see giant sea turtles while walking along its docks.
Since we know it is very difficult to choose a destination in Australia, we want to help you by sharing with you the advantages and disadvantages of living in each city.
Sydney is the most universal Australian city, a big city that never sleeps and where you always discover something new that leaves you in love.
Melbourne is one of the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. The only bad thing about going is coming back, but you can always find a way to stay forever.
Great weather all year round, kilometers of beach, and buildings so tall that it’s impossible not to be left hanging in the clouds with your mouth open. Welcome to surfers’ paradise!
A haven of peace on the shores of the Pacific, the cradle of Australian bohemian life. A place that more than a place is a way of living life.
The capital of the state of Queensland and the third largest city in Australia with two million inhabitants. A very manageable city with good weather all year round.
The great capital of the west coast, a city that, since it is not so touristy, perfectly preserves the essence of Australia. The best sunsets in the country are here.
An urban tropical paradise, surrounded by nature and with just 120,000 inhabitants, which is also close to a thousand places you can’t miss.
A subtropical paradise without big buildings or urban overcrowding, perfect for walking and seeing koalas and surfing near dolphins.
Life on the beach, better life! The Australian Sunshine Coast is perfect for you if you are a calm person and can’t imagine living in a big city.
Living in Adelaide is not only living in the fifth largest city in the country and the capital of the state of South Australia: it is also living in one of the most beautiful, organized, and cultural cities in the world.
Hobart is the oldest city in Australia. A lively place, with stunning landscapes and many corners to discover.
Canberra is the capital of Australia. A quiet, family-friendly city, very well integrated and surrounded by lots of nature. In addition, it is the seat of the Australian Parliament.
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