Life in the Wet at Dundee Beach. Monsoon season has well and truly arrived here in the Top End, and it feels like the rain has been going for days and days. Honestly, it feels like we haven’t seen the sun for about 150 years. The monsoon has rolled in and settled over us, bringing steady rain, wind, and that heavy humidity that soaks into absolutely everything. There’s nothing like monsoon season Northern Territory style!
The wet season up here in the Top End usually runs from November or December through to April or early May, with 1st of May officially marking the first day of the dry season. When the monsoon arrives, it can park itself over us and just keep delivering rain for days on end. Yes, i get the monsoon blues! Hahah I miss that sunshine!
The Garden During Monsoon Season Northern Territory
The garden is hanging in there, but everything has definitely got its feet very wet.
The wind has been giving the orchard a hard time. Our citrus trees keep getting blown over, so I’m constantly out there standing them back up again and trying to keep them stable. During the dry season it’s no issue. The garden is always changing here in the tropics!
We also have a bit of a mystery citrus tree growing here. We’re not quite sure if it’s a lemonade tree, a lime, or a lemon. If you happen to know what it might be from the photos or description, let me know in the comments, because we genuinely have no idea.
Aside from the wind, the garden itself is loving the water. Everything is lush and green, even though it’s incredibly soggy underfoot.
I filmed a quick walk through the garden during the monsoon so you can see exactly what it looks like out here at the moment. From the blown-over citrus trees to the soaking wet orchard and all the lush growth around the property, it gives a real snapshot of Top End life during the wet season. You can watch the video below.
When the Bush Turns Into a Jungle
One of the amazing things about the monsoon season Northern Territory is how quickly the bush transforms.
Out in the surrounding bushland the whole place turns into what honestly feels like a tropical jungle. Vines climb everywhere, wrapping themselves around trees and stretching across the forest floor. Everything is bright green, growing fast, and incredibly lush.
Right now it’s 24°C, which actually feels cold for us this time of year. But even when it’s not raining the humidity is sitting around 94%, which means everything stays damp all the time.
Living With the Damp
During the monsoon, managing moisture inside the house becomes a bit of a daily routine.
The best trick we’ve found is to leave the air conditioners running so the house stays dry inside. We only have two rooms so two ac’s to run. Once for the office and one for the bedroom/lounge room.
We also keep fans running constantly just to keep the air moving and stop that heavy damp feeling settling into everything. I keep a fan on constantly in the kitchen to keep the area as dry as possible. Having an open air kitchen is great until the monsoon (or the bugs) turn up!!
Drying washing, however, is another story entirely. During the monsoon, drying clothes outside is almost impossible. Everything stays damp.
We actually don’t own a dryer, simply because the rest of the year is so dry here that we’d only use it for a couple of weeks. Most of the time clothes dry incredibly quickly in the dry season, so it’s not really worth having one.
But during the monsoon… it definitely becomes a bit of a challenge!
Why the Wet Season Matters
Even though the rain can feel relentless, the monsoon season Northern Territory is incredibly important.
Up here we have two very distinct seasons: the wet and the dry. There are smaller seasonal changes in between, but those two main seasons define life in the Top End.
All the rain we receive during the wet season has to carry the landscape through the entire dry season, when it simply stops raining altogether. It’s almost like someone just turns the tap off one day, and then it stays dry for months.
So while the monsoon can feel intense, this rain is what keeps the country alive for the rest of the year.
Roads and Travel in the Wet Season
Out here around Dundee Beach, the rain can also make getting around a little tricky.
Many of the roads become very wet and soft, and some areas are hard to get through. If you’ve been to Dundee before, you’ll probably know Mermaid Circuit, which can basically turn into a four-wheel drive track during the wet season.
Some local roads can also go under water after heavy rain, so it’s always worth checking road conditions before travelling anywhere in the Northern Territory during the wet season.
The wild weather isn’t just here either. Over in places like Cairns and Cooktown, they’re currently dealing with a low-pressure system as well, so a lot of northern Australia is feeling the effects of this weather right now.
Waiting for the Sun
As beautiful as the wet season can be, I have to admit I’m starting to get a bit of the monsoon blues.
It’s been incredibly wet, incredibly green, and absolutely stunning in its own wild way. But I am definitely ready to see a bit of sunshine again.
Of course, I also know that the moment the sun comes back out, the grass will grow like crazy and I’ll suddenly be spending half my time on the mower and pulling weeds.
That’s life during the monsoon season Northern Territory. Wild weather, lush landscapes, soaked gardens, and a whole lot of waiting for the next sunny day.