Darwin City Sightseeing Tour by Coach

This comprehensive Darwin City Sightseeing Tour by Coach with Museums is a great way for first-time visitors to cover all the must-sees and get an insight into life in this remote Australian city from a well-informed local guide. And you’ll do it all in your air-conditioned coach!

Following guest pick-ups from selected hotels and the central CBD meeting point, you’ll set off for a 4.5-hour tour of the city. Sit back, relax and enjoy as your guide provides engaging live commentary on this multicultural urban centre. Darwin may not be big, but it has a surprising number of heritage sites, and you’ll learn about key chapters in its history like the Bombing of Darwin during WWII and the destruction caused by Cyclone Tracy in 1974 — the remnants of which can still be seen in places.

City sights covered on the tour include historic Government House (which dates back to 1870), the distinctive Parliament building, the Supreme Court, Stokes Hill Wharf, and the Darwin Waterfront. You’ll see beautiful St Mary’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, which bears the scars of Tracy. Only the historic porch, built in 1944, remained after the storm.

The tour also passes surviving remnants of World War II like the old Oil Storage Tunnels — which you may like to return to and visit at another time. See Darwin’s strong Chinese heritage displayed around the Cavenagh Street China Town precinct, and drive past the Smith Street Mall and along Mitchell Street with its many bustling cafes and restaurants.

As the tour progresses, you’ll also soak up the sublime natural beauty of the region. See gorgeous Mindil Beach and Fannie Bay, and visit the lush George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. If you’re lucky, you may even see wallabies feeding in the grasslands.

You’ll gain an even more in-depth understanding of the city’s history during your visit to the excellent Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, which is a highlight of the tour. See the amazing Cyclone Tracy exhibition and meet the infamous ‘Sweetheart’ — a 5.1-metre-long saltwater crocodile. In the 1970s, Sweetheart became notorious for attacking local fishing boats and ultimately ended up on permanent display at the museum!

A visit to the Darwin Aviation Museum is also included on the tour. Aircraft on display include a rare B-25 Mitchell Bomber, a replica Spitfire, and a Royal Australian Navy helicopter that was used in the clean-up in the aftermath of Tracy.

All in all, this Darwin City Sightseeing Tour paints a comprehensive picture of the city’s unique culture and history of resilience. It’s a must-do!