DRY VERSUS WET

If it’s winter down south, it’s party time in Darwin. From about May to September hordes of tourists, interstate family members and federal politicians flock north to enjoy the dry-season warmth and outdoor events like August’s Darwin Cup and the Darwin Festival. But off-peak visitors are rewarded with unique sensory experiences. The Larrakia people, traditional custodians of the Darwin region, call these times Dalirrgang or build-up; Balnba, rainy season; Dalay, monsoon; and Mayilema, “knock-em-down” season. Here are three reasons to love the wet season.

The pace. Languid, humid days and nights encourage everyone to stop and smell the frangipani.

Chill out, have a beer by (or in) the pool, catch a breeze and a meal by the sea. Everywhere’s less crowded and the queues at the markets are shorter.

The weather. The build-up creates a powerful longing for rain; storms are welcomed with something akin to euphoria. Thunder roars, lightning flashes across the sky, steam rises from the roads and office workers kick off their shoes to dash barefoot across the wet streets.

The landscape. The thirsty land comes to life. Billabongs spill onto their floodplains and rivers tumble into roaring waterfalls. It’s lush and fertile and a thousand shades of green.