Darwin makes list of top 10 cities to visit

Darwin has been listed by Lonely Planet as one of the world's top cities to visit in 2012.

Darwin: great launching point to explore the Top End. (Credit: David Hancock)

DARWIN HAS BEEN named as one of the best cities in the world to visit in 2012, ahead of all other Australian destinations. The Lonely Planet's new travel book on the best things to see and do next year lists Darwin as the 10th best city in the world to visit.

London, home to the 2012 Olympics, is in the top spot, followed by Muscat in Oman, and Bangalore, India. Other cities that came in ahead of Darwin were Cadiz in Spain, Sweden's capital Stockholm, Guimares in Portugal, Santiago in Chile, Hong Kong, and Orlando in the USA.

"It was once easy to dismiss Darwin as a frontier town full of brawling fishermen, dreamy hippies and redneck truckers. With a pumping nocturnal scene, magical markets and restaurants, and world-class wilderness areas just down the road, today Darwin is the triumph of Australia's Top End," the book says.

Not just the end of the road for lost souls

"It's now a hip city to visit rather than just the end of the road for lost souls," the authors write. "When southern Australia is chilling through winter, here it's blue skies, party nights and sleeping late."

Cities in the top ten list were chosen by Lonely Planet's in-house travel experts, based on topicality, excitement, value and that "special X-factor", the company said. Uganda was named as the top country to visit in 2012, followed by Burma, Ukraine, Jordan, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New Caledonia, Taiwan and Switzerland. See the full list of 10 cities and 10 countries.

As well as the famous Mindil Beach Markets, Darwin is close to a host of national parks including Kakadu, and is the closest major Australian city to Asia. Visitor numbers to the Northern Territory have dropped in recent times, with figures showing tourist arrivals falling by 9.5 per cent during the 12 months to June 2011.

NT Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said she was pleasantly surprised to see Darwin on the list, but she wasn't surprised people were impressed by the incredible sunsets, the markets, the nature and the historical sites. "It puts Darwin certainly on the map as one of the best cities," the minister said.

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Kakadu: land of extremes

The Northern Territory’s mix of ancient landscapes, biodiversity and culture guarantee a wealth of unique sights. The incredible Kakadu and Nitmiluk national parks are thronged with birds, animals and reptiles. Wander a bit deeper into the Red Centre and you’ll find the precarious rock piles of the Devil’s Marbles, the deep gorges of the MacDonnell Ranges, the brick red domes of the Kata Tjuta and the most recognised symbol of the outback: Uluru.