Darwin Flying Doctor Museum review

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility uses virtual reality technology to tell the story of Darwin’s World War II bombings. This Stokes Wharf attraction is a strange concept, but an engaging one – well worth a couple of hours in Darwin.

To book mobile-friendly tickets for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility, step this way.

For a review, read on.

WWII in Darwin

All is quiet, peaceful, serene until the planes appear on the horizon. Then suddenly, it is carnage. Ships all around start billowing with smoke. Bombs drop out of the sky, dropping into the water narrowly in front of the deck. The Japanese have sprung a surprise aerial attack. Darwin, woefully unprepared, faces destruction.

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

VR at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility

The virtual reality experience at the appallingly-named Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility is a genuinely excellent way of bringing the World War II bombings of Darwin to life. The computer-generated scenes play out in a 360 degree recreation of Darwin’s waterfront. Turn in your seat, and you’ll see something else. Particularly when the point of view switches to an RAAF plane desperately trying to defend the city.

This sortie ends with being shot down in a dogfight. A co-pilot tumbles through the air, the fatal plunge into Darwin Harbour soundtracked by haunting music.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility in Darwin, Northern Territory — The Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility in Darwin makes great use of virtual reality technology. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions.

This highly interactive museum on Stokes Wharf weirdly divides in half. One section focuses on the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Darwin Flying Doctors museum has planes, holograms of nurses explaining their jobs and a live map of all Flying Doctor aircraft in Australia. The other half tackles a part of World War II history that most non-Australians don’t ever get to hear about.

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.

Darwin’s World War II history

Darwin, the most northerly city in Australia, was a key garrison and supply town for the Pacific arena. It was an important base and stepping stone for the Allied forces. It was well defended and fortified in the event of a naval attack, but the Japanese came from the skies. On the 19^th of February, 1942, 242 Japanese bombers flew over Darwin, unleashing carnage and killing at least 292 people. Ships sank, aircraft were destroyed, and much of Darwin’s population was evacuated afterwards.

The museum digs into various aspects of the bombing and aftermath, using all manner of innovative presentation techniques, such as hologram ‘interviews’ with then Prime Minister John Curtin and the Japanese pilot who became the first Prisoner of War on Australian soil.

Tickets for the Darwin Flying Doctors museum cost $28 at time of writing. Mobile-friendly tickets can be booked here.

You can learn more about Darwin’s World War II history at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Smith Street Mall and the World War II Oil Storage Tunnels. Other less history-based attractions worthy of a visit include Crocosaurus Cove, the Mindil Beach Market and Wave Lagoon.

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.