Darwin or Canberra?

[Troll]

I am currently in the Defence Force and have been informed that next year I have to vacate Sydney and have a choice between an office job in Canberra or an operational posting based out of Darwin for the next two years.

All my friends and family are based in NSW so Canberra would be the most convenient in that respect but I have never in Darwin and I might never get the oppurtunity again. In my head Canberra is a cold frigid place full of beurecrats and tree hugging hippies while Darwin is a stiking hot isolated colony full of alcoholic hillbillies, rough women, troubled aboriginals and lots of crocs.

Accurate? Also is it worth having a Falcon in Darwinor is it going to cook, get bogged and then stolen?

[sarrge2001]

Come to Darwin. Keep the Falcon.

[Vincenzo]

Visited Darwin in 1978 and came back to live in 1980 - still here. I was born and raised in Canberra.

We're not all hillbillies, the women are not rough just straight forward, yes there are a lot of drinkers here and yes sometimes there can be problems with the locals.

If you're in to museums, car shows, club drives and cheap living then stay south. If sport, fishing, boogey board wake riding on croc infested billabongs is your idea of fun then come and say hello.

[Jim Goose]

Everyone i know whos been posted to Darwin has always enjoyed the town.
Plus they have a nice racetrack too!

Housing is bit difficult apparently and prices are a bit dearer however.

Im planning a visit there soon I hope....

[pottery beige]

NT rocks.. doesn't have cold.. just wet or dry..

[Bossxr8]

Darwin for sure.

[Pepscobra]

Darwin would be my choice. Imagine what your weekends would be like... Camping, fishing, 4WD'ing... Could be great.

[v gate]

darwin all the way. see ya up there when the lng project starts

[ms700]

Canberra isnt full of tree huggers.

But its friggin cold. At ngiht it gets down to minus 5 or 6 most mornings. If you leave your car outside you usually have to scrape the ice off the windscreen beforee you leave in the mornings.

[Bunyip04]

I'm posted up here, have been for awhile, i recommend it, as do a lot of guys that have had a grope about coming here and never actually been, turn out to love it!! Unfortuantely, the Ford car scence is non existant...

[jimmyxr6t04]

I love canberra, it isn't all bad.. Whilst cold in the morning, the days are usually pretty good.

It's unfortunate that so many people have such a negative view of Canberra! I couldn't think of anywhere better to live, especially to bring up the kids...

The traffic is easy to deal with, even with traffic you can get from one side to the other in 30-45mins... Makes driving a thirsty V8 even more enjoyable! I'm guessing Darwin would be similar though!

The coast is within an hour or so, as is the snow. Sydney is only 2.5-3hrs away. The Brindabellas are close by for some awesome 4x4 tracks, as is corin forest...

Each to their own i guess, the more people that hate Canberra, the better... Hopefully it will never get as cluttered as some of our other major cities!

[Troll]

Thanks for the replies I'm definitely leaning towards Darwin if nothing else than to stay at sea rather than rot in an office in Canberra

[duaned]

Originally Posted by Troll

Thanks for the replies I'm definitely leaning towards Darwin if nothing else than to stay at sea rather than rot in an office in Canberra

By your own admissions there, you have now already made up your mind!

[Bunyip04]

Originally Posted by Troll

Thanks for the replies I'm definitely leaning towards Darwin if nothing else than to stay at sea rather than rot in an office in Canberra

Just out of curiosity, what is your job?

[MITCHAY]

It obviously depends on what what you prefer to do in a job really regardless of where it is.

Canberra. It is big but not too big and small but not too small and that's what I like the most.

And yes normally it is very cold in winter and hot in summer but lay your bets where it lands now. It was not hot at all last summer.

[Ben73]

Based on the city and climate alone I'd say Darwin.
But Canberra is near NSW, and I like NSW so that is why I would probably choose Canberra

[windowlicker]

Years back I was in Darwin for 3 weeks (enjoyed Larrakeyah pool...) and it was fun, crocodile parks, B52 museum, and sailing clubs etc... Robertson 1st Armoured.. and then Bush went into Iraq... anyway, if the aircon units ever went down or the beer ran out for more than a day, I reckon the airport would be fully booked.

Canberra has had a mild winter and last 2 summers were mild too (I reckon 8 days in total over 30deg). High av income. Grt malls, clubs and schools. SUMMERNATS. Cops I've met are very nice, credit to the force, and friendly even. Cops in Darwin on the other hand...

[EDManual]

Theres nothing to do in Canberra. I go there for a few nights every month, have been for a few years. Seems people go out for dinner...and thats all.
Everyone is so boring, however there are lots of roundabouts for some fun cornering.

The only good thing about canberra I can see is the sign saying you're leaving on the way out!

The coast is about 90 minutes away so thats ok, but Batemans Bay is just full of retired folk, and fishing is not very good (compared to most estuarys on NSW south coast far away) unless you are into Game fishing. There is some good rock fishing though at places like Depot Beach and Durras.

[Bunyip04]

Originally Posted by windowlicker

Years back I was in Darwin for 3 weeks (enjoyed Larrakeyah pool...) and it was fun, crocodile parks, B52 museum, and sailing clubs etc... Robertson 1st Armoured.. and then Bush went into Iraq... anyway, if the aircon units ever went down or the beer ran out for more than a day, I reckon the airport would be fully booked.

Canberra has had a mild winter and last 2 summers were mild too (I reckon 8 days in total over 30deg). High av income. Grt malls, clubs and schools. SUMMERNATS. Cops I've met are very nice, credit to the force, and friendly even. Cops in Darwin on the other hand...

sorry

I was armoured for the last 2 years, you a tankie?

[Troll]

Originally Posted by Bunyip04

Just out of curiosity, what is your job?

I'm a Communicator in the Navy. I've mostly served on warships out of Sydney but am keen to give small boats a try up north. Wouldn't mind Balikapapan Class but it's the Armidales that are getting all the action.

[windowlicker]

Hi ya Bunyip, no I was RACT chocky getting shown around. I loved the acres of pavers...

[GhiaEB]

+1 for Darwin. You can always fly back for holidays. It's only 2 years. Experience parts of Aus that others can only dream of.

[Bunyip04]

That's right, 2 free flights are year with RLLT. Big plus.

Originally Posted by windowlicker

Hi ya Bunyip, no I was RACT chocky getting shown around. I loved the acres of pavers...

Yeah bloody oath, i was a truckie there.

[JC]

I've never been to Darwin, but have lived in Canberra since 1979 (interspersed with a few stints overseas), so I'd vote for Darwin while you're still young - plenty of time left in the rest of your career to do a desk jockey job in Canberra.