Where “Top End” Comes From
“The Top End” is the name for the northern part of the Northern Territory, including Darwin, Kakadu and Arnhem Land. It has a tropical climate with a wet season and a dry season.
The southern part of the Territory is known as the Red Centre.
“We’re heading to the Top End for the dry season.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Aussies use it for travel plans and weather talk in northern Australia.
In Real Life
The Top End is a tropical region where the year is split into the Dry and the Wet instead of four seasons. The Dry runs roughly from May to October, with sunny, less humid weather that suits visiting. The Wet brings heavy rain, thunderstorms and sometimes flooding, and the humid weeks before it are known as “the build-up”. Darwin, Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land are all in the Top End.
Quick Questions
When is the best time to visit the Top End?
Most visitors go in the Dry, roughly May to October, when it’s less humid and more roads are open.
What is the Wet?
The tropical wet season, roughly November to April, with heavy rain, storms and high humidity.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: TOP END.
In conversation:
- The Top End is hot and humid.
- We spent July in the Top End.
- Crocs are common in the Top End.
Good to know: The Top End has two main seasons: the dry and the wet. The wet season brings heavy rain and storms.
See also: Outback, Saltie and Freshie, Billabong
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