Tucked away in the top end of Australia, Darwin is the hidden jewel and capital city of the Northern Territory.
Darwin is the perfect blend of outback meets tropics. From galleries to nature, there’s something for everyone in this exquisite city. It’s cozy and small, not like any other Australian City. It’s more a large village. We liked the vibe of it.
Averaging 30 degrees during the day in winter along with nice and cool nights, this time ( between April and October ) is the best for a visit to Darwin – also the busiest.
Our advice is to avoid the built up season and the wet season from End October / November till April if you can, as this is the time of the year that it’s smoking hot ( temperatures of 40 and higher are completely normal and torrential rainfall ( that sometimes come with floodings ) will often result in closures of national parks and other tourist attractions.
So skip the freezing cold winter down south and come to the top end in Winter!
Let’s take a look at the top things to do in Darwin.
Say G’Day To Some Crocodiles
Crocodiles and the Northern Territory go hand in hand! With crocs roaming rivers throughout Darwin, there’s a lot of beaches which are no swim zones.
Luckily there are other places to see crocodiles up close, without risking your life!
Crocosaurus Cove has the legendary Cage of Death. A right of passage for many, as they get lowered down into water infested with crocs.
Crocodylus Park is another must visit crocodile park. It offers a more family-friendly option.
Go Fishing
Some suburbs of Darwin are perfect for fishing. We loved the suburbs of Casuarina and Nightcliff.
Relax At The Wave Lagoon
One thing you can count on in Darwin, is it’s consistently year-round hot weather. The Wave Lagoon offers the best way to escape from the heat and unwind.
Best of all are the spectacular views from the Lagoon while you can enjoy the real waves from the refreshing water in the Wave Lagoon. Without crocs to worry about, it’s the favourite place for locals to go for a dip, as well as tourists too.
Soak Up Culture at the Museum & Art Gallery
Do you want to admire some stunning pieces of contemporary and traditional art? What about catching up on the history of the NT? Well, at the Museum & Art Gallery, it’s all in one place!
Darwin has a rich and fascinating culture, dating back thousands of years. Becoming enriched in it, will only enhance your trip and add new meaning to it. Top off your visit by relaxing at the cafe which looks out onto the gorgeous waterfront.
Go on a Mary River Cruise of the wetlands
The wetlands of Mary River transform themselves into a landlocked sea with plenty of crocodiles, and exotic birds and fish, during the wet season. Mary River provides cruises all year, and whatever time you go, it’s a wildlife experience you won’t forget.
Explore The Darwin Botanic Gardens
Not too far from the Darwin city centre, the botanic gardens have many twisting walking trails, beautiful waterfalls, and tropical and local flora to admire. This is a very underrated attraction, which is a must visit!
Discover Darwin’s World War II History
In February 1942 there were 300 bombs dropped on Darwin in a siege by Japanese troops. Learn about the history at significant sites like the Defense of Darwin Experience,Darwin Military Museum, and Aviation Heritage Centre.
Go On A Darwin Harbour Cruise
Darwin’s immaculate waters of the foreshore provide the picturesque departure location for a cruise down the Darwin Harbour waterways. Relax while enjoying spectacular sunsets, sample the local food, and marvel at the attractions.
Discover Aboriginal Art & Culture
Darwin and the NT has a deep indigenous history. Get in touch with Darwin’s Aboriginal roots and art. You can visit the Aboriginal Bush Traders, Mbantua Fine Art Gallery, or Outstation Gallery. There is also a Pudakul Aboriginal Culture tour under an hour outside of Darwin.
Visit Chung Wah – Chinese Temple & Museum
Darwin has always enjoyed a strong multicultural flavour. The Chinese Temple and Museum Chung Wah provides a history of over 100 years of the Chinese population in Darwin. As well as a beautiful temple as a place for worship. Chinese New Year is when it comes alive.
Marvel At The Magnetic Termite Mounds
Walk along the boardwalk and platform to take in stunning views of hundreds of two metre high termite-built mounds. They feature tunnels, nursery chambers, and chimneys! Only Australia has ‘magnetic’ termite mounds, named because they align from north-to-south.
Wanna see the real deal of Termite Mounds? Head to Litchfield National Park
Kick Back At The Douglas Hot Springs
There comes a time to relax and unwind, before continuing with your adventures. The Douglas Hot Springs is set in dry woodlands and a range of different temperatures. Native birds and Butterflies add to the tranquil setting.
Chill out on the Beach
When you travel to Darwin, you probably don’t go for the beach. Nevertheless, Darwin has some nice beaches to stroll around on. Mindil Beach, close to Darwin’s city centre and the Gardens is nice, but our favourite was a little out of town at Casuarina Beach.
Indulge On Worldwide Cuisine
The Sunset Markets are a must-see feature attraction. They are based on Asian night markets and offer delightful foods from all around the world. With many different businesses, you will never run out of new foods to try!
Catch a sunset
Western Australia and the Northern Territory sunsets are the best! So many different colours and contrasts. This is our favourite sunset we saw in Darwin.
Explore the NT’s many national parks
The Northern Territory has so much rough and beautiful different landscapes and national parks to offer for every traveller.
As the most popular ones are quite a drive away from Darwin, we recommend staying closer to the National Parks and spend several days around there taking in all the beautiful nature.
Here are our favourite national parks in the Northern Territory ( click on the orange links below to read more )
Mataranka Hot Springs & Bitter Springs
Litchfield National Park
Kakadu National Park
Plan your trip to Darwin
We have created this Darwin Travel Guide for you to make planning and booking your trip to Darwin easy!
Cheap Airfares to Darwin
If you are not doing the big lap or travelling Australia by car, you might wanna find the best flight to Darwin. We use www.skyscanner.com for all our flights. It’s one of the most popular flight search engines and it compares hundreds of airline companies and booking websites. A big plus for us is that Sky Scanner can look for flights in the cheapest month, and it will also automatically look for the cheapest dates in that particular month.
Where to stay in Darwin
There are several holiday parks around Darwin, but there are not many free camping options. We found a few at the time, but probably risked a few fines with those 😉
Definitely have a look at the WikiCamps app for options.
Are you looking for something luxurious like a 5 star hotel in Darwin or perhaps an apartment to share with family and friends ? Agoda offers accommodation in Darwin suitable for any budget or wish list. Check out all hotels in Darwin
Airbnb in Darwin
Airbnb offers many lovely accomodation options in Darwin for any budget.
Book via our special link to get a whopping $$$ discount off your first booking with AirBnb, so you can definitely score yourself a bargain.
Have you booked your trip via Airbnb before? Book your next Airbnb accommodation in Darwin easy and fast right here ↓
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Tours and Transport in Darwin
Are you visiting Darwin for a trip and don’t have your own car? Don’t worry.
Viator offers a wide range of tours and excursions in Darwin for travellers who’d just like to sit back an relax and see the highlights with a professional guide.
You can also book your transfers in Darwin via Viator.
Check out many different tours in Darwin for the best prices right here ↓
Rental Cars in Darwin
Want to discover Darwin and surroundings on your own? Rentalcars.com compares the best car rental companies for you, so you don’t have to search for hours to get the best car rental deals in Darwin. Search now below ↓
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