The Northern Territory's capital and largest city, with a multiracial population of about 86,000, was founded in 1869. Bombed by the Japanese during World War II, Darwin suffered another catastrophe in 1974, when Cyclone Tracy virtually flattened the city. Located on vast Darwin Harbour (on which a cruise is highly recommended), this tropical, modern settlement is a laid-back place. Few reminders of Darwin's history remain, but you can visit the 1883 Fannie Bay Gaol and take a historical walk around the city centre.