What are the best things to do in Darwin, Northern Territory?
The best things to do in Darwin include the Mindil Beach Market, Crocosaurus Cove, WWII sites, Wave Lagoon, sunset cruises and public art walking tours.
For those who haven’t been there, Darwin is often seen as a rough and ready outback city, isolated in the Northern Territory’s tropical Top End. The reality of the northernmost city in Australia and closest Aussie city to the UK doesn’t match that. Sure, Darwin does have an element of blokey Territorians in blue singlets. But there are also strong Asian and Aboriginal influences, with a thoroughly unexpected bohemian streak on the side.
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.
Darwin is usually used as a base for visiting the Top End. It’s somewhere to stop for a night or two before tackling the Litchfield, Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks, or taking the Tiwi Islands ferry to Bathurst Island. If really time-pressed, you can take one of Australia’s best scenic flights in a floatplane before embarking on a croc-spotting air boat tour of Sweets Lagoon.
But don’t treat Darwin purely as a functional base. There are plenty of things to do in Darwin, and many of them are highly distinctive.
Distinctive is the word that best fits Darwin. No-one’s going to pretend that the Northern Territory capital has the same humming urban energy as Melbourne or Sydney. But it is a fun city to hang out in, which doesn’t feel like anywhere else in the world.
The best Darwin attractions
Top of the list of things to do in Darwin should be the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Held on Thursdays and Sundays during the dry season, this market offers a great mix of crafts, locally-made products, street entertainers and food stalls. Then, as the sun goes down, it becomes a communal experience when everyone stands on the beach and watches the sky go orange.
Another classic Darwin experience is Crocosaurus Cove, where you can watch enormous crocodiles being fed. There’s also a massive collection of Australian reptiles in the Reptile House, plus the notorious Cage of Death. This involves getting inside a Perspex box and swimming inside the enclosure of a five metre crocodile. Better to encounter one here than meeting a crocodile in Darwin Harbour, hey?
The best all-rounder cultural attraction is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The section on Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed much of the city in 1974, is particularly poignant and well presented.
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.
Things to do in Darwin, Australia: WWII sites
Darwin also has a fascinating World War II history. The Darwin Military Museum tells the story of the Japanese bombing raids, although the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility does so with more interaction. Expect to find yourself out on the harbour during a raid, courtesy of a virtual reality headset.
The World War II oil storage tunnels, meanwhile, show where the city’s oil was hidden away. The atmospheric tunnels now host a wartime photography exhibit.
Things to do in Darwin, NT: Darwin Waterfront
On the pure fun side of things, Darwin has an array of sunset cruises, while the giant Wave Lagoon is tremendously enjoyable to swim in. Elsewhere in the Darwin Waterfront area, you can play on the inflatables at the Darwin Aqua Park.
Neighbouring Stokes Hill Wharf is home to jet ski tours, the Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise and the Darwin ferris wheel.
Other, more low key things to do in Darwin include wandering down Smith Street Mall. The shopping is merely decent, but there are a series of plaques in the pavement telling the history of the Top End. You can also take a self-guided walking tour around Darwin’s public art.
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.
Top restaurants in Darwin include Hanuman Darwin, the Jetty restaurant and Char.
More on the Northern Territory
21 things to do in the Northern Territory in 2021.
Renting a car in Alice Springs vs car hire at Uluru.
The Larapinta Trail through the Red Centre.
Outback camping in Litchfield National Park.