Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour, NT
The Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour offers a buffet-style dinner, and extraordinary sunsets over the water. Pick an outdoor seat for the best views.
The Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, provides one of the best sunset experiences in Australia.
Aboard the three-tiered Charles Darwin boat, these cruises combine a buffet dinner with spectacular sunsets over water.
Six amazing day trips from Darwin that will improve your visit
- Litchfield National Park day tour – including jumping crocodile cruise. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Tiwi Islands Indigenous cultural experience including ferry.
- One day or four day Kakadu National Park tour.
- Kakadu scenic flight – with gorges, waterfalls and epic floodplains. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Full day Katherine day tour – including Katherine Gorge cruise.
- Arnhem Land full day tour – with ancient rock art.
Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise location and departure time
Run by Darwin Harbour Cruises, the Charles Darwin dinner cruise boards at Dock 3 on the city side of Stokes Hill Wharf at 5.30pm. The boat departs at 6pm, and sticks to Darwin Harbour, taking in sights including the Larrakeyah Naval barracks, Cullen Bay, Fannie Bay and Mindil Beach.
There’s impressive commentary on the way, which starts an Indigenous overview of the area, looks at crocodiles in Darwin Harbour, then delves into Darwin’s history. You’ll learn how Charles Darwin never actually visited the city that was named after him, plus plenty about the World War II bombings and Cyclone Tracy.
Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise: Inside or outside?
Dinner is buffet-style, and features some great quality local seafood. On most outings there will be around 120 people on board, all on the lower deck. That said, capacity can be expanded for another 40 on the middle deck and 60 on the top deck.
When your booking is reconfirmed by the operator, you’ll be asked whether you prefer to eat inside or outside. Most people choose inside as it is air-conditioned and Darwin can be hot and sticky. Plump for outside, however, and you get prime position at the front of the boat, generally cooled by a sea breeze, as the sun sets.
7 great Darwin experiences to book before arriving
- Swim face to face with an enormous crocodile in the Cage of Death.
- Enjoy the romance of Darwin Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise aboard a traditional fishing ketch.
- Explore Darwin’s food and art scenes on a 3.5 hour walking tour – with lunch or dinner included.
- Flit between Darwin’s top attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
- Combine a wildlife tour with the famous jumping crocodiles cruise.
- Get a history fix on a Bombing of Darwin WWII tour and harbour cruise.
- Get the adrenalin pumping on a high speed airboat or jetski tour.
Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise prices
The Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour costs $119. The company also offers simple sunset cruises without the dinner for $64.
Other Darwin cruise options include a sunset cruise on a smaller boat that stops for fish and chips and the Bombing of Darwin cruise. The latter concentrates on WWII history.
Other things to do around Stokes Hill Wharf include jet ski tours, swimming at Wave Lagoon, clambering over the obstacles at Aqua Park and going on the Darwin ferris wheel.
You can also visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility, which uses impressive tech to tell the story of outback medicine and the WWII bombing raids. Tickets can be booked online.
The Adina Waterfront Darwin provides handy nearby accommodation.
The best places to stay in Darwin
You can check out deals on a wide range of Darwin accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- For luxury on a special occasion: The superior suites with direct lagoon pool access at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
- For the buzziest location at the Waterfront: Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront.
- The one with the best guest ratings: Hudson Parap.
- For affordable city centre apartments with a pool: City Gardens Apartments.
- For the magic combo of quality, price and location: Travelodge Resort Darwin.
More Northern Territory travel
Is there an Alice Springs to Uluru bus?
Do the Guluyambi Cultural Cruise in Kakadu National Park.
Is the Anbinik Kakadu Resort the best value accommodation in Kakadu?
Get booze before entering Kakadu at the Corroboree Park Tavern.
Stay near Katherine Gorge at the Nitmiluk Chalets.