The coconut palms are swaying in the sunset, and the smell of sizzling satay and spicy noodles is in the air. Darwin’s Mindil Beach Sunset Market is where you can sample flavours of the Asia-Pacific and local art and craft in a vibrant, tropical setting.

Held every Thursday and Sunday in the dry season months between May and October, this vibrant market is something of a Darwin institution. The locals start arriving at dusk, armed with tables, chairs, rugs and kids and settle on the beach or the grass to watch the sun sink in a blaze of colour and the stars to appear.

Like <a href=”http://www.australia.com/en/places/darwin1.html”>Darwin</a>, these markets are melting pot of cuisines and cultures. People from more than 50 nationalities live in Darwin and more than 30 exotic national flavours – including Aboriginal, Islander, Thai, Indonesian, Chinese and European – are showcased in the tasty food stalls at Mindil Beach.