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While Darwin is one of Australia’s eight capital cities, don’t expect it to be anything like Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.
For a start, the population of the Northern Territory capital is just 130,000 — and that’s only marginally more than the estimated number of wild crocodiles that reside in the surrounding waterways! Darwin is more an outback country town with coastal aspects, and juxtaposes untouched extraordinary natural wonders, thousands of years of Indigenous culture, and warm weather all year round (which is best enjoyed in the dry season when humidity is low). There’s a fantastic array of activities on offer, but plan your stay carefully; it’s easy to miss some of the less obvious gems.
Here’s a checklist of our top things to do in Darwin on a first visit.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Darwin:
Ten Amazing Things to Do in DARWIN, Australia, 2023 | Ultimate Darwin Travel Guide
Situated in Australia’s remote Top End, Darwin is a travel destination like no other! With its rich Indigenous cultural scene, diverse culinary offering, a turbulent history to explore, and epic natural landscapes within easy reach, you’re in for the holiday of a lifetime.
1. Swim with a crocodile
Crocodiles are a fact of life in Australia’s Top End, and you can see both ‘freshies’ (freshwater crocodiles) and the significantly more dangerous saltwater crocodile up-close at Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of the CBD. Hold small crocodiles, feed young ones, and face your fears in the infamous Cage of Death. Being lowered into a mammoth salty’s watery home in a Perspex cylinder and watching as he sizes you up for his next meal is the closest you’ll get to these incredible animals and live to tell the tale!
2. Learn about Darwin’s wartime history
Few visitors to the city are aware that Darwin was bombed by Japanese forces during World War II, not once, but 64 times from February 1942 to late November 1943. To learn more, visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility at Stokes Hill Wharf. It shares the history of the RFDS, but also offers a compelling virtual reality presentation on the first attack by the Japanese on 19 February 1942.
Nearby on Kitchener Drive (behind the Waterfront Precinct), you can walk through the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels. They were built to replace the naval bunker oil tanks at Stokes Hill, which were destroyed in the first air raids.
Along the walking path that wraps around the Cenotaph in Bicentennial Park, you’ll find plaques commemorating every military unit that has served in the Northern Territory. Further down the path there’s a memorial to the USS Peary, which was destroyed on that fateful day in 1942. The monument is aligned with where the destroyer still lies at the bottom of Darwin Harbour.
3. Explore more of the city’s past
There are plenty of other intriguing, and often gut wrenching chapters of Darwin’s history to explore. A visit to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) at Bullocky Point will give you the broad backstory. Listen and learn from those who lived through Cyclone Tracy in 1974, meet the infamous Sweetheart (a five-metre crocodile that devoured the outboard motors of the local fishermen), and view a vast collection of Indigenous artefacts. Entry is free.
Top 10 Darwin City Sightseeing Tours
More of the past is on display at Parliament House, which was built on the site of the old Post Office and is often referred to as ‘the wedding cake’ (when you see it from the harbour, you’ll understand why). There’s a self-guided tour booklet available in the foyer, but I highly recommend doing the free guided tour if your travel dates line up. It runs every Friday morning from April to October. Book early as places are limited.
The building houses the Northern Territory Library, one wall of which is dedicated to those who lost their lives when the Post Office was destroyed by the bombing in 1942. There are many other historical documents and photographs displayed in the Main Hall.
4. Tap into Indigenous cultural heritage
There are private galleries and retail outlets dotted across the CBD that showcase local Aboriginal art. Mbantua Fine Art Gallery, Mason Gallery, and Aboriginal Bush Traders are all well worth checking out. However, if you want to immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of our First People, consider doing a full-day tour to the fascinating Tiwi Islands. Featured in the hit Australian movie Top End Wedding, the islands are located 80 kilometres north of Darwin (a 2.5-hour ferry ride from Cullen Bay). Interact with local artists and shop for paintings, screen-printed works, and wood carvings. Lunch and a museum visit are included in the cost of the tour.
5. Make for the markets
With Darwin’s multicultural population and close proximity to Asia, markets are a key part of the city’s lifestyle. The famous Mindil Beach Sunset Market operates every Thursday and Sunday from late afternoon during the dry season (the end of April to the end of October). There are hundreds of stalls selling arts, crafts and international cuisines. Head for the beach with your choice of meal to watch the big red orb sink slowly into the azure Timor Sea.
In contrast, the Parap Village Markets — held every Saturday morning — are a ‘locals’ market’. Shop for fresh fruit and veggies, sample the wares of gourmet providores, and linger over a coffee and famous ‘Mary’s laksa’ for breakfast or brunch.
6. Splash down at the Waterfront
Darwin’s sandy beaches and tranquil harbour look inviting, but they’re home to crocodiles and stingers. Apart from your hotel swimming pool, the Waterfront Precinct is the only safe place to enjoy a splash. Body surf at the Wave Lagoon (highest wave is 1.7 metres), laze by the Recreation Lagoon pool and beach, test your skills on the watercourse, or partake in a free game of basketball or beach volleyball on the professional courts. The precinct comes complete with an array of cafes and restaurants.
7. Do a sunset cruise
The perfect way to see out any tropical Darwin day is on a sunset cruise from Stokes Hill Wharf with a glass of bubbles in hand. Fully licensed Darwin Harbour Cruises offers a buffet dinner cruise on a large tri-level boat. Opt for dinner and sparkling wine on board a luxury catamaran with Sail Darwin, or board the smaller ketch Cape Adieu for a seafood dinner cruise. Drinks can be purchased from the bar.
Top 10 Darwin Harbour Cruises & Sailing Trips
For something a little different, Sea Darwin runs a 90-minute Fish ‘n’ Chips Sunset Cruise in a small canopied run-around. It pulls ashore at Cullen Bay to pick up the fried feast, which guests enjoy en route back to the wharf.
8. Catch an outdoor flick
As night falls during the dry season, the big screen at Deckchair Cinema flickers to life with new releases, cinema classics, and foreign films. Operated by the Darwin Film Society, this popular outdoor cinema is located between the Waterfront and Esplanade, and overlooks Darwin Harbour. A light dinner and drinks are available for purchase before the main movie.
9. Feel the pedal hit the metal
Those with a need for speed will have it met on an airboat ride around Darwin Harbour. You’ll zip across mudflats and through coastal mangroves, spotting crocodiles, huge barramundi, and myriad birdlife along the way. Expect to get down and a little dirty!
10. See stunning natural landscapes
You should spend at least a day (or more if you have the time) exploring further afield in the Top End. A visit to Litchfield National Park — 90 minutes’ drive from the city — offers the opportunity to swim in cool, crocodile-free swimming holes beneath plunging waterfalls. Book a guided tour from Darwin and let a local take care of the driving, while you focus on soaking up the natural splendour.
Top 10 Darwin Day Tours, Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine Gorge
Kakadu National Park can also be done as a day trip from Darwin, but it’s a big drive. If you prefer not to travel quite so far, Wetland Cruises’ 2.5-hour cruise on Corroboree Billabong offers a similar experience to Kakadu’s Yellow Water Cruise. Part of the Mary River National Park, the billabong is home to crocodiles aplenty and prolific birdlife — from tiny jacanas and kingfishers, to large jabirus, brolgas, ibis, sea eagles, and more.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.northernterritory.com.
Browse our range of Darwin tours and experiences here. We offer a Best Price Guarantee.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to do in Darwin? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Remember to be ‘croc-wise’ wherever you choose to swim in the Top End. Obey all safety signs and directions.
Cover image: Tourism Australia. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Nannette Holliday was obviously born to travel — Holliday is her real name. A former TV and radio presenter, Nannette’s globetrotting has earned her the nickname ‘International Woman of Mystery’ amongst friends, while also providing a rich library of experiences to draw on creatively. Many are woven into her first novel: The Sting of Fate, and Nannette is currently working on the sequel. When she’s not drafting chapters for herself, Nannette writes for a variety of magazines, and even ghostwrites books for other people. It all helps keep her in the manner she has become accustomed to — indulging in world travel, fine food and great wine!
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