Wiki Australia - Your Australian Online Travel and Resort Guide

Darwin, the Northern Territory’s vibrant capital, is a city with influences that are as much Asian as they are western. A city with dozens of nationalities sharing an easy-going lifestyle, Darwin is located on a peninsular with the sea on three sides. It is a place unvisited by winter where the weather can usually be described as either balmy or sultry. Darwin is well appointed, possessing most of the amenities expected of a much larger city. Watching sunsets and storms are something of a local pastime, and after a cleansing rain shower you can almost hear things growing.

Try a delicious jackfruit curry, sip a fresh mango smoothie, or sample some crocodile jerky at one of Darwin’s weekend markets. Regular markets are located throughout the city, but the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are perhaps the best known. Operating every Thursday and Sunday evening between May and October, there are music and dance performances, art and craft stalls, and an eclectic mix of international dishes. Local restaurants also offer delicious cuisine – sit back and enjoy local favourites, like succulent mud crabs or barramundi. A great way to experience Darwin Harbour is to board a sunset cruise and drift by the scenic foreshore.

There are many attractions within easy reach. Browse the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Hand-feed huge milkfish and even barramundi at Aquascene in Doctors Gully, see hundreds of crocodiles at Crocodylus Park, or stroll along the historic city walk to see many of Darwin’s historically significant sites. Darwin is a great base from which to explore the surrounding region and the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, which is located 250 kilometres from Darwin.

Beyond Darwin

The tropical Top End is dramatic, vibrant and friendly, and offers a range of experiences. Darwin, the Northern Territory’s cosmopolitan capital, is a great place to begin exploring. The city offers a range of accommodation and facilities, and is a popular holiday destination, thanks to its relaxed charm and proximity to the region’s iconic natural wonders.

Half an hour south of Darwin is Berry Springs Nature Park, a swimming and recreational area and the popular Territory Wildlife Park is just next door. Operating on the nearby Adelaide River, regular jumping crocodile cruises provide the chance to see saltwater crocodiles propel themselves from the water. Further south along the Stuart Highway is Litchfield National Park, a great place to cool off beneath cascading waterfalls and view attractions such as unique magnetic termite mounds, monsoonal rainforests and tumbling rocky waterholes. World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is 250 kilometres from Darwin on the Arnhem Highway.

To the north of Darwin are the Tiwi Islands where visitors can share in the culture of the Tiwi people. Take an organised tour and purchase some local art and crafts, chat with some of the local Tiwi ladies over a pot of billy tea, or fish the clear waters surrounding the islands.

Fishing is a popular Northern Territory pastime, with Darwin and Bynoe Harbours offering excellent fishing. The Daly River, the Mary River wetlands and the Victoria River are among the fishing hot spots while Dundee Beach and Mandorah Beach boast stretches of sandy coastline.

Add Your Insight

Share your inside knowledge, whether it be good places to stay or eat nearby, unusual places to visit in the area and any other information about this destination that does not normally appear in brochures or websites.

Darwin Images