The Best Travel Guide to Darwin (UPDATED 2024) | ArrivalGuides.com

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Darwin

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Oceania Australia Darwin

Overview

Darwin The guide was updated: 2024-07-02

Darwin is a thriving, prosperous and multicultural city with lively bars and wide-ranging international cuisine. It is lush, tropical, and the gateway to top-end outback adventures through the world heritage Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Darwin boasts an eclectic cultural mix: Asian music, food, and languages live side-by-side with aboriginal artistry, Australian beach culture, love of the outdoors, and a profound appreciation of cosmopolitanism.

Facts

Population:	139,902
Currency:	Australian Dollar (AUD) $1 = 100 cents
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade: 000
Newspapers:	Northern Territory News: www.ntnews.com.au
Opening hours:	Most shops are open 7 days a week. Generally on weekdays they open 9am–5pm and on weekends 10am–3pm.
Tourist information:	Top End Visitor Information Centre 6 Bennett Street, Darwin (Corner Bennett & Smith Street) +61 1300 138 886 info@tourismtopend.com.au Open Mon–Fri 9am–4:30pm, Sat & Sun 10am–2pm

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Section in Darwin

Darwin is a youthful city with a young and vibrant population, and it is famously packed with young travellers during the dry season. Outdoor living is the norm, and outdoor activities and adventures are the main attractions, with breathtaking natural parks in close proximity. Central Darwin is compact and easily explored on foot, although the suburbs are somewhat spread out.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park

Covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu National Park is Australia's largest terrestrial national park, an awe-inspiring expanse of rugged natural beauty and fascinating ecological and biological diversity. It is also a place of important cultural heritage, as the Bininj Mungguy people have called this area home for thousands of years.

Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is a stunning expanse of lush woodlands and crystal-clear freshwater creeks, waterfalls and swimming holes, where many come to escape the oppressive heat of the summer months. Especially impressive are the enormous termite mounds found throughout the park, as well as the Lost City, an area with rock formations of bizarre beauty.

Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

World-famous Katherine Gorge is located in Nitmiluk National Park, just to the south of Kakadu. The 12-kilometre length of the gorge, surrounded by its 70-metre tall cliffs on either side, is an impressive sight, best enjoyed in a rented kayak from water-level.

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, or MAGNT, is Darwin's premier cultural organisation, showcasing fantastic exhibits and research programs, including maritime and natural history, aboriginal art and a room where you can experience the power of Cyclone Tracy, as well as regular events and performances.

Mindil Beach Sunset Market

Mindil Beach Sunset Market

Epitomising outdoor living, the Mindil Beach Sunset Market is a very popular rendezvous spot for families. There are usually 200 stalls selling Aboriginal arts and crafts, along with musicians and entertainers. It is also a great place to sample a wide range of food from 60 different food stalls, including Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and Greek. Other markets can be found at Parap (Saturday morning), Rapid Creek (Saturday and Sunday), and Nightcliff (Sunday).

Fish The Top End

Fish The Top End

For some rugged outdoor adventure, try fishing for Barramundi, Australia’s most popular game fish. There are countless companies offering diverse types of fishing trips, Fish the Top End being one of the best. This agency offers a wide selection of river and ocean charter fishing.

Crocodylus Park

Crocodylus Park

Crocodylus Park offers a close-up look at one of the world's most feared predators, boasting five croc species, including the Philippine Crocodile, the rarest in the world. Croc feeding demonstrations take place daily, and there is also a small zoo displaying some Australian animals, like kangaroos and dingos, as well as lions, tigers, monkeys, and more.

Deckchair Cinema

Deckchair Cinema

Loved equally by visitors and locals, Deckchair Cinema screens a wide range of films in its lovely outdoor location, right by the waterfront. Movies range from arthouse and independent to family-friendly films. Most years the cinema stays open from April to November.

Aquascene Fish Feeding Sanctuary & Cafe

Aquascene Fish Feeding Sanctuary & Cafe

Every day at high tide for the past 70 years a unique occurrence has taken place: hundreds of fish gather at the shallows by Doctors Gully Road in search of a meal, including milkfish, bream catfish and the barramundi. Aquascene gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the fish, splash around with them and hand-feed them.

Outback & Aboriginal Culture Tours

Outback & Aboriginal Culture Tours

Take part in an extraordinary cultural adventure where you can view unique termite mounds and explore fascinating waterfalls, learn about traditional ways of land management and aboriginal culture. Find a tour that speaks beast to your particular interests and supports small businesses in the local community.

Fannie Bay

Fannie Bay

A mere 5 minutes from the city centre, Fannie Bay is a suburb of Darwin with a ton of activities to offer. There is a small but lovely beach with barbecue facilities and playgrounds, an artificial lake safe for swimming all year, bike trails and a walking path through the mangrove, and the interesting Fannie Bay Gaol Museum.

Cullen Bay

Cullen Bay

Cullen Bay is the home of Darwin’s first Marina and is surrounded by trendy restaurants and cafes. It is the place to to go to catch a harbour cruise, book fishing charters or dive tours in search of marine life and wrecks. Superb sunsets, great fish and chips and a beautiful lawn to sit on. Pet friendly as well.

Brown's Mart Theatre

Brown's Mart Theatre

Brown's Mart is a beloved and iconic theatre and performance space, committed to providing opportunities for local artists to show their craft. Regular performances are held in a building which dates back to 1885 and has since filled many roles until becoming the cultural centre it is today.

Bicentennial Park

Bicentennial Park

The beautiful Bicentennial Park runs along Darwin's central business district between the Esplanade and the waterfront, providing a much appreciated green space in the heart of the city. It is home to several memorials commemorating those deceased in war, it plays host to several festivals each year, and it is a popular location for weddings and events.

Charles Darwin National Park

Charles Darwin National Park

If you don't have the time to visit the larger (but much farther) Litchfield or Kakadu National Parks, Charles Darwin National Park is a convenient alternative. Located a short distance from the city centre, just south of the airport, the area is one of the country's most important wetlands. It showcases 36 mangrove species and holds significant Aboriginal and historical importance.

Darwin Museum Underground WWII Oil Storage Tunnels

Darwin Museum Underground WWII Oil Storage Tunnels

These fascinating tunnels were originally built during World War II in order to protect oil supplies from the Japanese bombings, though they were never used for that purpose. Today, two of the tunnels have been opened to the public and feature a collection of interesting photographs depicting life in Darwin during the war.

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