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Alumni

Where I Live: Darwin, Australia

May 07, 2026

A person with glasses and a T-shirt smiling while sitting at an outdoor table surrounded by trees.

Kookaburra-loving science grad Peter Le travelled Down Under for sun, fun, beaches and med school.

  • Name: Peter Le
  • UVic degree: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, 2025
  • Current hometown: Darwin, Australia
  • Occupation: First-year medical student
  • How long I’ve lived here: Four months
Silhouettes of people walking on a pier over the ocean as the sun sets.

What brought me here: Sunshine and beaches! I wanted someplace new post-grad. I landed on Australia to start my Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University!

What I like about it: I love how tropical and sunny it is year-round. There are so many cool animals, like kookaburras and wallabies.

A tropical frog sitting on a leaf.
"Cool animals" abound in Darwin. Photo Peter Le

One thing that I wish was different: Sometimes, I do wish they had distinct seasons. Northern Australia swaps between a “wet” and a “dry” season. I miss the falling maple leaves in the Quad at UVic.

Silhouettes of people riding camels on a beach during sunset.

Compared to the last place I lived: Despite being on the other side of the world, there’s a lot of similarity. It’s close to the beach, there’s lots of sun and the nature is gorgeous. The main difference is that it doesn’t get very cold in Australian “winter.”

Favourite activities: Going for sunset walks by Mindil Beach, visiting the night markets on weekends and exploring the national parks (Litchfield and Kakadu).

People walking around a crowded night market.
The night markets at Mindil Beach. Photo Peter Le

Favourite neighbourhood: Nightcliff. The sunsets there are beautiful, and there’s a jetty where you can see coral and rock formations.

Favourite restaurant: Seafood on Cullen (great variety and view of the water)!

Best place to grab a coffee or snack: If you’re downtown, definitely The 1995. Some of my favourite coffee and toasties (Aussie slang for grilled sandwich).

Favourite hidden gems: The Mangrove Boardwalk. It’s a nice walk out into the water that hosts intertidal wildlife—my favourites being mudskippers and fiddler crabs.

Water flowing over rocks into a larger body of water surrounded by green tropical foliage.
People swimming near a small waterfall.
People swimming in a body of water surrounded by rock walls.
Litchfield National Park offers swimming opportunities galore. Photo Peter Le

First place I’d take a visitor: I’d take them swimming in Florence Falls out in Litchfield National Park. You walk down a set of stairs into this open waterhole—naturally shrouded by trees and rocks, with a beautiful waterfall.

Best time of the year to visit: I haven’t been here too long, but I’d recommend May to June—the start of dry season. The weather becomes low humidity, and the coastal breeze feels amazing. But you’ll also avoid the extra tourists crowding the attractions.

Silhouettes of boats in a harbour during sunset.

Best place to chill: The Darwin Waterfront Precinct is relaxing. There are restaurants/café’s nested behind a swimmable lagoon. I like to sit back and watch the boats coming in and out of the marina.

Best place to take in the views: Casuarina Beach. The views are gorgeous like the other beaches. However, this beach is so long and straight that it doesn’t matter where you step foot on the sand.

Best place to people watch: The Mindil Beach Market, for sure. People from all parts of the Northern Territory come by in the dry season. I’d recommend trying out some of the diverse food stalls, grab a seat and watch the crowds pass by.