janine the party queen

The wave pool is fun but quite small.The free waterpark at Leanyer is great for kids.The new waterpark in Palmerston is a bit of a let down....no pool .Mindil and Palmerston Sunset Markets are only on in the dry season May-Oct ish.You also have to remember Darwin is a huge Defence town as well as FIFO and backpackers it can make for interesting times.Visiting and living are two totally different things.Not many tourist attractions and once you have visited them a few times its boring.Litchfield National Park is great but gets very busy.Kakadu is at least a weekend trip its approx. 3 hrs from Darwin to Jabaru then hrs more travelling through the park.Contrary to popular belief wages DO NOT reflect the cost of living up there.Impex have just laid off 1400 from the gas project.Darwin CBD is now just one big construction site since planning permission was given to build high rises.Not much in the way of shopping in the city. Im sorry if you think Im being negative but I believe you need to be prepared.The amount of people that we met up there who have packed up and gone back to the UK and Ireland or changed locations like us was quite shocking.We have moved with Defence to Victoria.Wow what a difference even my cigarettes are $4 cheaper a pack.

I have just left Darwin after living there for 4 yrs.Its not as remote as people think.Massive amount of construction going on New suburbs being built,new shopping centre going into Palmerston.There are some definite downsides to living in the Top End coming from the UK they will be very noticable........the cultural shock......the amount of the not so nice indigenous people.Crime is a major issue.The cost of living is horrendous,rentals are expensive.Please please please do your research carefully.I don't want to be the one to burst your bubble but a couple of weeks holiday WILL NOT prepare you for life in Darwin.

I really do think it dependent on where you live. I waited 10 months for hand surgery,that was Private Health.I had to travel to Brisbane in the end as no one in Darwin could do it. I have been waiting over a year for ankle reconstruction.I am on both the Public and Private systems.

What can I say about Darwin ???? Well Ive been here 3.5 years now.If I am honest I will be glad to leave. As has already been said housing is hugely overpriced.Shopping is very limited.Medical is very hit and miss.Anything too complicated is transferred to other major cities.One of my ops was done in Brisbane my next one is being done in Adelaide. The social issues are very prominent.Crime is on the rise rapidly. Visually the place is stunning.The markets are fun at first but soon become quite boring.You can watch only so many sunsets at Mindil Markets. We are very isolated from the rest of Oz.Flying anywhere from Darwin is very expensive. Electric prices just keep rising with another rise due in January.In 12 months mine has gone from $600 every 3 months to $1200 !!!!! that's 2 adults in a 4 bedroom house with inground spa.

From taking the test to having a private ceremony with the Mayor of Palmerston 3 weeks.That was back in March.

Nice attitude to take !!!!!

​Does this mean I can use mine that was issued in the NT in Cairns.I fly early tomorrow morning and pick up my hire car at 09.30.Only there a week but if I could use my badge it would help a lot.

No good at posting links lol Recently in the NT News some nurses,who were working in a remote township,phoned the RSPCA to report,that the local dogs were so hungry they were eating each other.The RSPCA claimed they could do nothing because it was on Aboriginal land !!!!!! A couple of weeks ago a man was found bonking a pig......no charge because of mental health issues. A few kms up the highway at Noonamah there is a haulage company that transport cattle for slaughter in Asia.The cattle are packed solid in pens.You see the road trains flying down the highway the poor cows are packed that tight you can see them squashed up against the containers.One of the drivers told us it was not unusual to find dead ones when they stopped.

Sadly there is a very seedy under current here in Oz,,Dog and cock fighting happen a lot.Rarely do you see on the news some one has been done for animal cruelty.

Happens alot up here Stacey,little dogs stolen to use as bait dogs.You see posters every where offering rewards,most people know,sadly,they will never see their pets again.

TBH I have no idea ! Everytime some one on here gives advice on this subject I follow the advice and...........no thats not how it works. Mind you I live in the N.T they seem to make the rules up as they go along.

Coles for most things. River Gum butchers Parap Fine Foods for luxury food items,they also have yummy cheeses Target household items.Their Egyptian cotton sheets and towels are lovely. Chemist King for toiletries,they always have specials on The Thirsty Camel for booze Nightcliff markets for funky jewelry and handmade paper,cards and envelopes.Also buy my soap there,handmade goats milk soap. Clothes we buy mainly online,hubby loves Kitbag,but for T shirts,shorts etc we use Target.

I was born a Yorkshire Pudding Brought up a Devonshire Dumpling Grew up in the 4th happiest place Exeter

Genuine ones Easy enough to check on Amazon,Schuh etc.

Personally found Uggs are more expensive over here.They dont have the colours and styles you can get in the UK. When our 12 yr old niece was here last year ,she was told many of the styles are made for export only !!!!