What is the best museum in Darwin?

The best museum in Darwin is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. This is largely due to the Cyclone Tracy exhibition and cyclone simulator.

Darwin has several interesting museums. These include the Darwin Military Museum which goes into Australia’s World War II history, and the World War II Oil Storage Tunnels. For something more high tech, plump for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility.

But the best one to pick is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Attractions at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

The single most beloved attraction at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is Sweetheart the crocodile. This 780kg beast developed a penchant for attacking outboard motors at popular fishing spot Sweets Lagoon.

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.

BOOK NOW, PAY LATER

Sweetheart drowned while park rangers attempted to sedate and move him. Afterwards he was stuffed for display afterwards, and he is disturbingly huge. That’s about as close to a saltwater crocodile as any sane human being will want to get. Less sane ones might be interested in the Cage of Death elsewhere in Darwin.

Sweetheart the crocodile in Darwin — Sweetheart the crocodile is the star attraction at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the best museum in Darwin.

Cyclone Tracy experience in Darwin

But Sweetheart is nowhere near as disturbing as the photos of Darwin from Christmas 1974. This was when Cyclone Tracy hit the Northern Territory. Overhead images taken shortly afterwards show a carnage of levelled buildings. The black and white shots show ruined homes. There’s the occasional message of defiance, spray-painted onto a crumbling wall or the boot of a smashed-in-half car.

Another 29 vessels joined the list of Darwin Harbour shipwrecks. Wind speeds of up to 217km/h registered, breaking the anemometer at Darwin Airport. And Cyclone Tracy became the greatest natural disaster in Australian history.

The displays also go into the rebuilding of Darwin in the aftermath of Tracy. New ‘Cyclone Code’ building regulations meant homes had to be built with a bunker. This was usually the bathroom, where families could sit out any future storm.

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory entry price

The best bit of the Cyclone Tracy exhibit is the simulator. Sound recordings taken at the time pipe into a blacked-out room, and the volume and sense of peril are visceral. And it’s why the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory will stay in the memory longer than any other museum in Darwin.

Entry to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is free, although donations are not very subtly encouraged. Visit Australia’s northernmost city on a Thursday afternoon, and you can combine the museum with the nearby Mindil Beach Market.

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.

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.