Choose from 32 Fun Things to Do in Darwin
ShowingFilter 21-32 of 32 listings.
Aquascene
It's amazing what a few scraps of bread flung to a mullet can start. That's what a resident of Doctors Gully did in the 1950s, and it didn't take long for the local fish to realize they were onto a good thing. The number of fish turning up for a free meal grew and grew, the word got around, and these days it's turned into Aquascene, a healthy tourist attraction.
Every day at high tide (the tides vary, naturally, so you'll have to check the local paper or contact Aquascene for exact feeding times) a deluge of fish flood into the shallow bay, napkins on, as it were. The original mullet population have been joined by a host of other species including catfish, milkfish and bream.
Practical Info
The fish are now so tame you can feed them by hand and get a good close-up look at the local marine varieties. If you're squeamish about fishy lips or don't feel like getting in the water, there's seating from which you can watch the feeding frenzy.
Address: 28 Doctors Gully Road, Darwin 0800, Australia
Hours: Feeding time at high tide, usually in the morning or afternoon. Closed Dec 25 and during low tides
Admission: Adults: AU$11, Children AU$7
From $ 45
Darwin Cruise Port
Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, is also it's only tropical capital, a city closer to Asia than it is to Sydney. The cosmopolitan city's massive natural harbor is home to Fort Hill Wharf, the Darwin Port cruise terminal, a stop-off point for long, around-the-world itineraries and short, small-vessel cruises along coastal Australia. The markets and cultural festivals of this youthful and highly multicultural city are famous throughout the world.
How to get to Darwin
Located 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) from downtown Darwin and just over half a mile (1 kilometer) from the Esplanade, it's possible to walk to town in around 15 minutes. You'll always find taxis waiting by the pier, and some cruise lines also operate complimentary shuttle buses into the city. Darwin International Airport is located 8 miles (13 kilometers) northeast of the city center.
One Day in Darwin
If you're visiting Darwin during the dry season (May to October), plan to spend your morning in one of the excellent local markets. The Mindii Beach Sunet Markets take place every Sunday and are the largest in the region. Other options include the Parap Village Markets on Saturdays and the Palmerston Markets on Fridays. If you're looking for Aboriginal arts and crafts to take home with you, check out the Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery.
As one of the few Australian capital cities to be attacked during World War II, Darwin has a tumultuous history, one you can explore during an afternoon in the city. The Wharf Precinct, where cruise vessels dock, was the target of Japanese bombing and still has some historic landmarks. The East Point Military Museum displays artifacts and information from the war, as does the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre. Finally you can tour the World War II Oil Storage Tunnels, used to protect the city's oil reserves from aerial attacks.
If you're more of a nature lover than a history buff or shopper, you could opt to spend your day on a visit to Litchfield Park, located about 90 minutes south of Darwin. This natural park draws visitors to its waterfalls, natural plunge pools, giant termite mounts and excellent walking trails.
Port Information
The air-conditioned Fort Hill Wharf is located just a short walk from the city center's shopping districts, where you'll find several ATMs and banks where you can exchange currency. Currency here is the Australian Dollar (AUD).
Address: Darwin, Australia
From $ 27
Myilly Point Historic Precinct
The Myilly Point Historic Precinct is a small group of houses built in the 1930s by the architect B.C.G. Burnett. They are the only remaining examples of this particular pre-war housing style.
The houses are light and breezy in feel, with pale colors. They're raised for ventilation and represent a European aesthetic sunnily adapted to their tropical climate.
The houses were created for top-level civil servants. Burnett House is the pick of the bunch, and is an unusual type of house called a 'Type K.' It took some hits during WWII and Cyclone Tracy, but has since been restored and functions as a museum.
It sits in a heavenly tropical garden. Take a stroll through the house, chat to the volunteers and (on a Sunday) take high tea, complete with scones, on the veranda.
Practical Info
Myilly Point is located in Larrakeyah, north of the city, southwest of the Botanical Gardens and south of Mindil Beach Reserve. It's about a 10 minute walk from the city city center.
Address: 4 Burnett Place, Darwin 0820, Australia
Hours: Open daily. Burnett House Museum open 10am - 3pm
Admission: Free. High tea for two: AU$25
From $ 45
Parliament House
Australia's newest parliament house was built in Darwin in 1994, and has been the seat of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since then. It was designed in a postmodern style and built to suit the tropical climate of Darwin. The entrance features a Northern Territory coat of arms placed at the top of its ceremonial doors.
The building overlooks Darwin Harbor, sitting on the site of the former Post Office and Telegraph Station which were bombed during a raid in 1942. There is a state library, portrait gallery, and a massive Main Hall indoors, and the Speakers Green outdoor. The areas function both as parliamentary and government receptions and public exhibitions. Unique tributes to the symbols of the Northern Territory, such as a desert rose in the reception foyer, are present throughout.
Practical Info
Darwin's Parliament House is located on Mitchell Street in the State Square at the center of the city. It is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm, and free guided tours available on Saturday mornings.
Address: Mitchell Street, State Square, Darwin NT 0800, Australia
From $ 33
Ubirr
It’s hard to grasp exactly what you’re looking at when you see the rock drawings at Ubirr. Here, etched before you on ancient rock that springs from the red dirt Earth, are drawings placed here by Aborigines nearly 20,000 years ago. How the drawings have managed to survive for so long is a fascinating geologic story, but it's one that pales in comparison to the stories told by the drawings themselves.
Located in what’s known as the East Alligator Region of Kakadu National Park, Ubirr is a UNESCO World Heritage site that borders on desert magic. In addition to collections of ancient rock art, the site offers sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding flood plains and fields, and includes a sacred “Rainbow Serpent” painting in one of the three different galleries. According to local Aboriginal legend, the serpent was involved in the very creation of Earth surrounding the site, and is regarded as one of the world’s oldest figures of early creation. To access the ancient rock art at Ubirr, follow the short, one-kilometer walking path that takes 30 minutes to complete.
Practical Info
Ubirr is located approximately 30 minutes from the small town of Jubir—which itself is located three hours east of the city of Darwin. The best time to visit it during the dry season, from May through early October, as many roads become completely impassable once monsoon rain starts to fall. Hours of operation from May-November are 8:30am-sunset, and from December-April, in the peak of the wet season, the hours are shortened from 2pm-sunset. For visitors over 16 years old, admission is $25.
Address: Kakadu, NT 0822, Australia
Admission: $25
From $ 193
Warradjan Cultural Centre
Located at the heart of the Kakadu National Park, the Warradjan Cultural Centre is devoted to telling the stories of Kakadu’s traditional landowners – the Aboriginal people (known locally as Bininj or Mungguy) who have inhabited the region for more than 50,000 years.
For visitors to Kakadu, the cultural center offers an important insight into the park’s history and its deep Aboriginal ties. Fascinating multi-media exhibitions focus on the lives of the ancient clans, the role of the tribal elders, hunting techniques, bloodlines and marriage rights, as well as the effects of white settlement and the recent history of the park. There’s also a gallery of Aboriginal arts and crafts and a gift shop on-site.
Practical Info
The Warradjan Cultural Centre is located in Kakadu National Park, around 300km east of Darwin and is open daily from 9am-5pm. Entrance is free.
Address: Kakadu Highway, Kakadu NT 0822, Australia
Hours: Open daily 9am-5pm
From $ 196
Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre
An access point to the wildlife and natural landscape of the Northern coastal wetlands, this area is significant to the Aboriginal Limilngan-Wulna people. The Window on the Wetlands Visitor Center grants visitors the historical and cultural insight they’ll need to fully experience it. There are dozens of displays detailing the unique ecology of the Northern Territory wetlands, as well as European and Aboriginal history. Seasonal changes are the key to understanding the wetlands, as they are both wet and dry at different points in the year and the wildlife has to adapt. Exhibits are educational and highly interactive.
Parks and Wildlife staff here can also assist with where to visit and what you’re likely to see. From the center you can get an overview of the Adelaide River plains and wetlands. You can see for miles, particularly with the use of binoculars.
Practical Info
Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre sits high up on Beatrice Hill (also known as Ludawei.) It accessible from Darwin on the Stuart and Arnhem Highways, about a 60 kilometer drive. Once you arrive, there is a parking lot (though the climb to the visitor’s center is steep!) Entry is free and the Visitor’s Center is open daily from 8 am to 5:30 pm.
Address: Beatrice Hill, Arnhem Highway, Humpty Doo NT 0836, Australia
From $ 104
Lyons Cottage
Facing the sea, Lyon's Cottage was - at the time of its building - the first stone house built in Darwin for 30 years and is the only surviving example of colonial bungalow architecture in the city. It's made from locally quarried stone and now houses a museum.
It was built in 1925 from the same porcellanite stone used to construct many of Darwin's major public buildings, including Fanny Bay Gaol and Government House. The architecture of the house is similar to many that the British built in other colonies such as Singapore and Malaysia.
It came through the bombing of Darwin without damage, although it was occupied by the US army. Ironically, Cyclone Tracy saved its life. It had been sold and scheduled for redevelopment, but after the cyclone it was repaired and became today's museum, featuring local and early European history.
Practical Info
Lyon's Cottage is located on the southwestern edge of the city center, just near Bicentennial Park.
Address: 74 The Esplanade, Darwin 0801, Australia
Hours: Open daily 10am - 3pm. Closed Jan 1, Good Friday, Dec 25, Boxing Day
Admission: Free
From $ 45
Bicentennial Park
This expansive park runs the length of Darwin's waterfront, looking down onto the Darwin Harbor and Lameroo Beach. It stretches south from the Northern Territory Parliament House down to the Doctor's Gully area. It is a large outdoor space popular for holding local festivals, including May Day and the Darwin Festival, as well as many weddings. It is a great place to simply take a stroll and enjoy the scenery in Darwin, with paths often shaded by tall tropical trees.
The park is also home to several war memorials, including the Cenotaph War Memorial, the Civilian Memorial, and the The USS Peary Memorial (which sunk in the Darwin Harbor.) Memorial plaques commemorate the stories of those who have served their country, both Australians who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin and Aboriginal men and women who helped defend the Northern Territory coastline.
Practical Info
Bicentennial Park is located along the Esplanade in the city center of Darwin. It is a short bus ride or walk from the CBD (central business district.)
Address: Esplanade, Darwin NT 0800, Australia
From $ 28
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands sit about 50 miles off the north coast of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory, and the chain is made up of 11 individual isles. The largest are Melville – the second largest island in Australia behind Tasmania – and Bathurst, the fifth largest of Australia’s islands.
It is believed that this string of islands has been inhabited for the past 7,000 years by the Tiwi people, which led to them being named an Aboriginal Reserve in 1912. Like at Arnhem Land, another Aboriginal Reserve, visiting these islands requires an invitation or an escort, as well as a permit. The islands are governed mostly by the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust and the Tiwi Land Council.
The island communities are renowned for their art, particularly for their wood carvings of birds. Fabric creations are also common and made in a similar fashion to Indonesian batik prints.
The wilderness of the Tiwi Islands is not to be outdone by that on the Northern Territory mainland -- Melville Island is particularly known for its swimming holes at Taracumbie and Tomorapi Falls, and the islands are full of charming secluded waterfalls and dense rainforest areas.
Practical Info
Accommodations on the Tiwi Islands are limited, so the easiest way to acquire some is through the booking of a multi-day tour. Most visitors do return to the mainland at the end of the day, but options like the Munupi Wilderness Lodge are available for those who would prefer to stay.
Address: Darwin, Australia
From $ 259
Qantas Hangar
When Qantas was established in 1920, it started with an airplane used primarily for joy rides that sometimes delivered the mail. Just 14 years later, in 1934, the city of Darwin had become integral to air service between Australia and Europe, that Qantas airlines—with its multiple planes—ordered construction of a steel air hangar set right on the outskirts of Darwin. It was used by Qantas, as well as Guinea, which ran regional flights down to Adelaide, though that all changed when the Japanese bombed the city in 1942. Heavily damaged by Japanese bombs, the hangar was fixed, sold, and passed to multiple different businesses, before the Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club signed a lease on the building in 1999. Today the hangar holds cars—not aircraft—beneath its 20-foot roof, and has gradually become the ultimate “man cave” escape when visiting Darwin. Here you’ll find engines, classic cars, and even an old-fashioned steam train, and the hangar is a popular stop on small group scooter tours of the town.
Insider Tip: When wandering around the Qantas Hangar, keep an eye out for pieces of the hangar that are marked with orange spray paint, which denotes sections of the building that were damaged in the WWII bombing of Darwin.
Practical Info
Though the hangar is open for public visits, there are “Open Days” around February 19th and the first Sunday in September, when hundreds of people descend on the hangar to chat about airplanes and cars.
Address: 22 McDonald Street, Parap, Northern Territories, Australia
Hours: 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm Sunday
From $ 33
Nourlangie
Nourlangie, also known as Burrunggui, is an escarpment in Kakadu National Park filled with over 20,000 years' worth of Aboriginal history, making it a site of extreme cultural importance. Burrunggui, an Aborigine word, refers to the higher parts of the rocks, while the word Anbangbang references the lower parts. The rock art and archaeological details here illustrate the social and environmental history of the Top End area.
There are many ways to experience the heritage of Nourlangie, including following the mile-long circuit trail that winds through what was once a home for the Aboriginal people during wet seasons. Indoors, the Anbangbang Gallery showcases the art of an Aboriginal artist who repainted his works in 1964 to restore much of their original vibrancy. Those who visit Nourlangie during the months of June through September can hear stories of the area's cultural significance from rangers in the area.
Practical Info
The rock art at Nourlangie can be seen all year-round, though it’s highly suggested that you coincide your visit with the months in which the rangers give cultural talks. The Bowali Visitor Centre at the entrance to Kakadu National Park helps visitors make the most of their Kakadu experience and is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.
Address: Darwin, Australia
From $ 196