What’s on in the NT: It’s beginning to feel a lot like the Dry season

It’s our first real ‘Dry season’ glimpse this weekend – and it’s starting to feel just like it with the addition of the Mindil Markets, and Waterfront Beach Club, writes Kate Dinning.

Mataranka thermal pools in the Northern Territory. Picture: Kate Dinning

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND

It’s our first real ‘Dry season’ glimpse this weekend – and it’s starting to feel just like it with the addition of the Mindil Markets, and Waterfront Beach Club.

Today, check out the Thailand Grand Festival at Civic Park from 11am, for Thai food, workshops, live entertainment, and even Muay Thai.

If you’re looking for a party – Aetheria are holding a doof in the city tonight at Bustard Town from 9pm.

The Darwin Waterfront Beach Club has rolled out the striped lounges and umbrellas by the lagoon again, if you’re looking to really stretch out your long-weekend holiday feeling – and the bar is open from 12pm to 7pm daily.

I love the feeling of Dry season Sundays – when dinner is usually from a food truck, depending on where you want to watch the sunset that evening.

Take your pick from Cullen Bay foreshore, Mindil Beach Markets – or head out to De La Plage for their 10th birthday celebrations at sunset.

SOMEWHERE YOU NEED TO EAT

A selection of Bar Kokomo's food in Darwin city. Picture: Kate Dinning

Our hospitality community in Darwin is small, and our industry is tight knit – but there’s a big group of people within it who don’t let our size define us, and consistently push for it to be better.

I hope that I can give them all a shoutout as I continue this column, because they all deserve it.

So if you’re looking for somewhere you need to eat: add Bar Kokomo on Knuckey St to your list.

We went there for food and drink last week and it was a top tier experience.

The service was lovely, the mango daiquiris are up there with the best, and though it’s a limited food menu, the flavours were bang on.

If you’re looking for menu recommendations: make sure you include the Jamaican chicken, and the cassava fries.

LOCAL TIP

To add to the Dry season fun, Mataranka Thermal Pools, Bitter Springs AND Litchfield Central Valley all reopened for swimming this week.

You’ll find the Mataranka Thermal Pools and Bitter Springs an hour south of Katherine – my locals tip is take a noodle for the float in Bitter Springs.

And Central Valley, the newest site in Litchfield, is directly in the middle of the park regardless of whether you go the Berry Springs or the Batchelor way – so take your pick – and turn down the same road that takes you to the Lost City.

But remember, if you’re going to Central Valley you need to book a site and get the key first – trust me when I say you don’t want to be halfway there and realised you’ve forgotten it… Speaking from experience.