10 Best Things To Do in Darwin
What is Darwin Most Famous For?
The best things to do in Darwin include fun family activities, swimming and sunbathing, vibrant neighborhoods, and lots of history, culture, and nature to explore. Everything you’d expect in a modern, cosmopolitan city. In the “Top End” of the Northern Territories, Darwin is physically closer to Bali and Southeast Asia than Sydney, or any other major Australian city, and this is reflected in its culture, especially its food, and its tropical climate.
Yet it remains relatively undiscovered in comparison to other busier Australian holiday spots, making it a great place to explore and a secret you’ll be eager to share.
What are the best things to do in Darwin?
1. Crocodylus Park
Almost cheek by jowl with crocodiles
Good for: Families, Photo
Crocodylus Park is home to thousands of crocodiles, or “crocs” as you’ll hear them fondly referred to by the locals, from “cute li’l hatchlings to snappy big ‘uns.”
It can seem like the toothy reptiles are everywhere in Darwin, on t-shirts, posters, and signs, but at Crocodylus Park, the real things are always close by. Like on the Jumping Crocodile cruise, where giant crocs leap within a few feet of visitors to gobble down food. They’re so near you can look them in the eye, or gaping mouth, if you’re brave enough. As well as saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, the zoo is also home to lions, dingoes, wallabies, kangaroos, snakes, monkeys, and native Australian birds, including emus and cassowaries.
Location: 815 McMillans Rd, Berrimah, NT 0828, Australia
Open: Daily from 9 am to 4 pm
Phone: +61 (0)8 8922 4500
Crocodylus Park
2. Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Darwin’s history and Aboriginal art
Good for: History, Families, Couples
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory plays an important role in showcasing Indigenous art. It hosts collections of contemporary and traditional art and shares the stories behind the Aboriginal paintings and artworks. The gallery also presents the annual National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Australia’s longest-running set of awards for Indigenous artists.
The museum features an impressive exhibit on the natural history of the Northern Territories as well as displays on Darwin’s history, including its bombing in World War II and its near destruction in 1974 by Cyclone Tracy. One particularly popular exhibit is on Sweetheart, a notorious 780 kg crocodile that used to torment local boaters but is now safely stuffed and on display.
Location: 19 Conacher St, The Gardens, NT 0820, Australia
Open: Daily from 10 am to 4 pm
Phone: +61 (0)8 8999 8264
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
3. Parap Village Market
A vibrant outdoor market in a hip neighborhood
Good for: Food, Shoppers
Parap Village Market is a weekly institution for Darwin natives. It’s popular for its mix of fresh and diverse regional produce, local handmade arts and crafts, and cuisine from all around the world.
The Asian influence is especially apparent, due to the city’s proximity to Southeast Asia, and laksa is a firm local favorite with a mind-boggling number of varieties available, including a shaved ice version. Savor all the distinctive and unforgettable smells, sights, and sounds as you wander through the lively market, trying to blend in with the locals while on the lookout for a bargain souvenir or tasty treat. Enjoy its busy, yet chilled vibe with a constant soundtrack of live music.
Location: 3/3 Vickers St, Parap, NT 0804, Australia
Open: Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm (closed on Sunday–Friday)
Phone: +61 (0)8 8942 0805
Parap Village Market
4. Darwin Waterfront
Aquatic family fun in the center of the city
Good for: Families, Budget, Food
Make sure to bring your “cozzie” (swimming costume) and “sunnies“ (sunglasses) to the lively Darwin Waterfront. It’s just a short walk from popular shopping areas, Smith Street Mall and the Esplanade. Darwin Waterfront is in the heart of the city and offers both relaxing and thrilling aquatic and beach-themed activities.
Set amidst green parklands, you’ll find a beach and swimming area alongside one of the city’s most popular attractions, the Wave Lagoon. Here you can ride out everything from gentle, relaxing swells to waves more than a yard high. Once you’ve dried off you can explore more than 20 places to eat and drink featuring global cuisine like Italian, Korean, Mexican, and Chinese, alongside traditional Australian favorites.
Location: 19B Kitchener Dr, Darwin City, NT 0800, Australia
Phone: +61 (0)8 8999 5155
Darwin Waterfront
5. Mindil Beach
Scenic sunsets and delicious food
Good for: Food, Photo, Shoppers
Mindil Beach is the most famous beach in Darwin and a favorite place to watch stunning colorful sunsets over the Timor Sea. Some are so glorious they’ve even been applauded by spectators.
There’s always something happening at the scenic beach, which also hosts community events and, between April and October, the must-see Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Here you’ll find more than 200 stalls encompassing handmade arts and crafts and delicious street food. Locals love the lively atmosphere, street performers, and musicians, all set against a stunning and vividly colored backdrop.
Mindil Beach
6. George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
Famous gardens featuring exotic native and tropical plants
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Historic George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens is noted for its collection of plant life from Northern Australia and tropical species from around the world. Here you can wander through mangroves and rainforest, baobab trees, tropical orchids, colorful heliconias, and many more exotic plants.
For the kids, there is a treehouse, playground, and a collection of plants “the dinosaurs ate” in the cycad garden. You’ll also find Darwin’s largest ornamental fountain and the city’s oldest building, a former church that’s now repurposed as a cafe. Enjoy the relaxing, shaded location at your own pace or with a self-guided multimedia walk. If you want to be sure not to miss anything, join a guided tour, available from the Visitor and Event Center.
Location: Gilruth Ave & Gardens Rd, The Gardens, NT 0820, Australia
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +61 (0)8 8999 4418
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
7. Stokes Hill Wharf
A harbor tour and a stunning sunset
Good for: History, Food, Photo
At Stokes Hill Wharf, you can enjoy panoramic views of stunning sunsets or go on a harbor cruise, or go fishing. Nature lovers can watch fish feeding at night and history buffs will enjoy historic exhibitions on key events in Darwin’s history.
The thriving tourist spot, still a working wharf, is popular with history buffs for its displays on the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which began in 1939, and the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. It’s a favored location for foodies and families with a variety of cuisines to choose from in the food courts. There’s also a playground to keep the kids occupied. During lunch and dinner times, take a free shuttle from the waterfront to get there.
Location: 45 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City, NT 0800, Australia
Phone: +61 (0)8 8999 5155
Stokes Hill Wharf
8. Darwin Lagoon
Safe swimming in the sea
Good for: Families, Budget, Photo
Darwin Lagoon is part of Darwin Waterfront and a recreational saltwater swimming area where swimmers can bathe in peace without worrying about unwanted attention from hungry crocodiles or stinging jellyfish. As well as the free-swimming area, carefully monitored by lifeguards, there’s also paddle boarding and an Aqua Park Challenge obstacle course to take on.
Back on dry land, there’s a beach where you can sun yourself on the provided loungers, dig in the sand, or enjoy a game of beach volleyball. Mobi mats and beach wheelchairs are also available for people with disabilities, as needed.
Open: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm
Phone: +61 (0)8 8999 5155
Darwin Lagoon
9. Berry Springs Nature Park
One of the region’s most scenic swimming holes
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Berry Springs Nature Park is a popular day-trip excursion from Darwin and an opportunity to relax, explore, and swim in a historic nature preserve. The scenic park is about 47 km from the city, so you’ll need to drive or take a tour to get there. Once you’ve arrived you can enjoy shaded picnic and barbecue areas and clear swimming holes surrounded by greenery and teeming with friendly aquatic life, and no crocs.
Bring your mask and goggles to check out the fish below the surface or just let the current float you from one pool to the other. You can also explore the monsoon forest and woodlands on foot. If you’re keen on birdwatching, don’t forget your binoculars.
Location: Berry Springs Nature Reserve, Berry Springs, NT 0837, Australia
Open: Daily from 8 am to 6.30 pm
Phone: +61 (0)8 8999 4555
Berry Springs Nature Park
10. Deckchair Cinema
Movie stars beneath the stars
Good for: Families, Nightlife, Couples
Deckchair Cinema is one of Darwin’s most distinctive and beloved spots where visitors can watch movies in the open air underneath the night sky after taking in a spectacular sunset. The community-run, non-profit cinema is on Darwin Harbour and just a short walk from the city via a well-lit walkway from the city’s esplanade.
The theater is open 7 nights a week from mid-April to mid-November and screens a wide selection of movies including blockbusters, Australian favorites, foreign, popular, classic, and family-friendly films. Odds are it’ll be one of the most scenic places you’ll ever watch a movie, and it will likely make it hard for you to look your local multiplex in the eye afterward.
Location: Jervois Rd, Darwin City, NT 0800, Australia
Open: Mid-April–mid-November: daily from 6 pm to 11 pm
Phone: +61 (0)8 8941 4377
Deckchair Cinema
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