What’s on: Territorians get keen, dry season is just around the corner

There’s been the occasional slight breeze, people are cleaning out their rooftop tents, and the dragonflies are out. With the dry season approaching, Kate Dinning put her must-do list for everyone’s favourite time of year.

Camping at Big Horse. Picture: Kate Dinning

It’s almost here. I have felt the air change in the last week.

There’s been the occasional slight breeze on my morning walk.

I saw someone cleaning out their rooftop tent … And don’t get me started on the dragonflies.

It’s funny, once it ticks over to April, it feels like we all start deciding that the smallest things might be a sign of the impending dry season.

After an average 80 per cent humidity last month and the month before, and overnight lows of 27-plus degrees, I don’t blame any of us.

I’m the first to admit that I love storm season, but when the first yacht comes in to park up in the bay, I can’t help but get a little giddy.

The wet might put our nature on show, but the dry season is when the people of Darwin come alive.

The clear blue skies, cooler nights and hot days amplify one of the best things about living in the NT: being outdoors.

So, what should you consider when planning your dry season?

Firstly: book your campsites online.

Yes, all of them.

Kate Dinning snapped a gorgeous dragonfly as the whispers of the dry season begin to get louder.

And while NT residents don’t need a Parks Pass – as of last year, your visitors will.

So get onto the Parks NT website, and get planning.

I love a good group camp out at Litchfield’s Central Valley, the newest campsite in the National Park.

It’s like camping at Buley, but you’re right on the water’s edge.

Another favourite spot is Walker Creek’s eight private waterside campsites.

You do have to carry all your gear in, so a note when you’re booking, that lower campsite numbers mean less walking.

If you’re heading way over west once it dries out a bit, check out Big Horse Campground just outside Timber Creek – it’s right on the Victoria River, so a great spot for a fish and a 4WD.

A very important note for Territorians though: you can’t swim anywhere nearby.

In Kakadu National Park, Maguk is also a favourite.

There’s a lot of trees and greenery between each site, and it’s a lovely morning walk to the falls.

Remember that Kakadu is an Australian National Park – so you’re going to have to jump on a different booking system.

Mindil Beach markets. Picture: Kate Dinning

Another absolute favourite pastime of mine is the Deckchair Cinema.

Like all Darwin things, it’s just better outside.

Why watch a movie inside when you can watch one by the ocean at sunset?

Their program has just been released for the first few weeks of the dry, and it officially opens on Wednesday – so get in there are book your spots.

While I know we’ve all been sweating it up for the last few months at the Parap and Rapid Creek markets – never miss a Saturday – the thought of an outdoor market or a food truck at the beach in dry season does entice me.

The dry marks the return of the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and a lot of the food trucks along the Nightcliff Foreshore and East Point, so a reminder to start reconsidering this on your list of dinner dates and takeaway options.

And of course, the dry season in Darwin is festival season – If you want to get amongst it all, you could easily fill every weekend from May-August.

In the next few months, choose from BASSINTHEGRASS, the Top End Gin Festival, the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival, Garrmalang, the Darwin Street Art Festival, Supercars Darwin, Sugarbag Festival, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Festival … the list just keeps going – so start adding them to your calendars.

After all that – you could be forgiven for thinking the dry was well and truly here: except of course for the tropical lows that are still hanging about just offshore.

According to the BOM there are increasing signs that two tropical lows could develop over Northern Australia in the next week: one at risk of developing into Tropical Cyclone Olga to the north of WA, and one forming over the Arafura Sea to the north of the NT … I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the dragonflies do.

In any case, I’ll be ready.