Moonshadow Villas

Breezy and beautiful tropical Top End villas, with a touch of Balinese style, set within lush palm-filled gardens in sultry Darwin

From the personal welcome chalked on the blackboard to the fragrant scents of sandalwood and the ambient Asian sounds emanating from the garden, a stay at Moonshadow is marked by memorable touches from the moment you arrive.

Step inside your stylish spacious villa (the door's open, music and lights are on) and you’ll discover cold beer and bubbly in the fridge, plus a welcome basket of goodies to get you going in the morning: tropical fruit, fresh bread, scrumptious Australian jam, and a selection of coffees for the espresso maker. There are fresh flowers, local travel magazines scattered about, and in the bathrooms handmade soap and natural toiletries.

This may be self-catering, but owners Moya and Peter (who also have the Escape for a Break apartments in the city) live near by and are on call for restaurant tips or anything else you need. Clothed in tropical foliage and invisible from the street, Moonshadow feels very private: you would hardly know there were other guests around, except at the (shared) plunge pool with its little waterfall. Spacious and Zen-like inside, these villas - each sleeping 4-6, but not too big for a couple - make a refreshing change from Darwin’s dull hotels; they're ideal if you’re resting after a long haul flight, acclimatizing before venturing onto Bamurru Plains or Kakadu, or just dipping into Darwin's museums, malls and marina life.

Highs

• We loved the Asian-meets-Top-End décor: teak furniture and Javanese wedding dolls alongside corrugated iron walls, louvered windows and breezy wooden verandas
• A wonderful retreat from the heat thanks to shaded decks, a shared plunge pool and gardens of towering palm trees, orchids, and ferns, with jasmine and bougainvillea dripping down the walls
• Luxurious amenities, from hi-tech audio-visual equipment to colossal bathrooms with rain showers and gorgeous towels
• The well kitted-out kitchen is perfect for cooking up a feast of fresh seafood
• A short walk from Mindil beach, the Botanic Gardens and the adjacent golf course

Lows

• For most of the downtown attractions (shops, museums, restaurants), as well as the marina, you'll need to drive - or endure a sweaty 20-minute walk
• The plunge pool is small (but still a welcome relief after a sticky day’s sightseeing in the monsoon season)
• The lack of on-site concierge, room service or housekeeping won’t suit everyone - though a cheery maintenance manager comes by most mornings
• It's not cheap, but you can save a bit of money by self-catering