TAKING IT FROM THE TOP

First-time visitors to Darwin, the Northern Territory’s capital, can be forgiven for thinking they’ve fluked the best night of the year. The Mindil Beach Night Markets are a magnet for tourists and locals during the dry season (April to October) and on Thursdays and Sundays, crowds gather on the beach to watch the sun sink spectacularly into Fannie Bay. Repeat visits, however, confirm that the sun and sea perform their splendid duet practically every night. After the show, patrons head to the food stalls to sample everything from croc and kangaroo burgers from the roadkill stall to sizzling Indonesian satays, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Chinese and many more offerings.

At other times of year, the various waterside clubs provide similar sunset vantage points and cold beverages and counter meals are traditional offerings at the palm-fringed beer gardens of the Trailer Boat Club, the Ski Boat Club and the Sailing Club. Closer to Jakarta than it is to Canberra, and strongly influenced by