Crab Claw Island: Ferry & accommodation prices

You can visit Crab Claw Island, Northern Territory, on the ferry from Darwin, on a helicopter pub crawl or an overnight stay at the Crab Claw Island Resort.

Crab Claw Island in the Northern Territory is an unusual place, not least because it’s not actually an island for most of the year. It is both a fun place to stay – this is one of the few genuine beach resorts in the Northern Territory – and a popular day trip from Darwin.

For the best rates at Crab Claw Island, book in advance.
alternatively, book your tour from darwin.

Where is Crab Claw Island?

Crab Claw Island is on Bynoe Harbour in the Timor Sea, around 130km by road from Darwin. It can be accessed via 4WD or conventional vehicle, although when tides are high, the track to the resort can be cut off. Hence it gets away with calling itself an island.

Crab Claw Island ferry

Most visitors see Crab Claw Island on a day trip from Darwin. Sealink Northern Territory runs a cruise on the Crab Claw Island ferry which sets off from Darwin Harbour and arrives at the resort for a seafood lunch.

Once there, you’ve got access to the resort facilities, including the pools. Don’t attempt swimming in the sea – you might have crocodiles for company.

This Crab Claw Island cruise costs $189.

Helicopter pub crawl from Darwin

A rather more decadent way to see Crab Claw Island is on a helicopter pub crawl. This tour travels between four remote Northern Territory pubs. The others are the Darwin River Tavern, Goat Island and Noonamah Tavern, and you spend an hour at each one.

These helicopter pub crawls cost from $990.

Crab Claw Island resort accommodation

Of course, the best way to get the full Crab Claw Island experience is to stay overnight. The resort has two pools, but the main attraction tends to be the fishing. There are more than 30 species of fish in Bynoe Harbour, including crab and barramundi. The resort restaurant will cook up what you catch on request.

There’s a big array of accommodation available at Crab Claw Island, starting at the basic end with 17 campsites. There are also beachfront rooms, family rooms, retreat rooms, deluxe villas. Unless you’re camping, a stay at Crab Claw Island costs from around $180 per night.

For the best rates, book online.