A day out in Darwin

Top things to do in Darwin

• Darwin Military Museum

  A$20 · East Point · about 90 min

  The Defence of Darwin experience.

• Crocosaurus Cove

  A$40 · CBD · about 120 min

  Huge saltwater crocodiles in the middle of the city.

• Museum and Art Gallery of the NT

  Free · Botanic Gardens · about 90 min

  Cyclone Tracy exhibit and Sweetheart the crocodile.

• Crocodylus Park, with a driver

  A$40 · Knuckey Lagoon · about 150 min

  Hire a driver or take a taxi 15 minutes out to see feeding at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm.

• WWII Oil Storage Tunnels

  A$10 · Waterfront · about 45 min

  Cool tunnels built after the 1942 bombing.

• Bicentennial Park and the Esplanade

  Free · CBD · about 45 min

  Clifftop parkland and war memorials along the harbour edge of the city.

• Mindil Beach Sunset Market

  Free · Mindil Beach · about 150 min

  Thursday and Sunday sunsets with food stalls and buskers.

• Waterfront lagoons

  Free · Waterfront · about 120 min

  Free swimming lagoon; the wave lagoon costs a little.

• George Brown Botanic Gardens

  Free · Botanic Gardens · about 75 min

  Tropical gardens with baobabs and waterfalls.

• Deckchair Cinema

  A$20 · Waterfront · about 150 min

  Outdoor films by the harbour in the dry season.

Free things to do in Darwin

• Mindil Beach Sunset Market (Mindil Beach): Thursday and Sunday sunsets with food stalls and buskers.
• Waterfront lagoons (Waterfront): Free swimming lagoon; the wave lagoon costs a little.
• Museum and Art Gallery of the NT (Botanic Gardens): Cyclone Tracy exhibit and Sweetheart the crocodile.
• George Brown Botanic Gardens (Botanic Gardens): Tropical gardens with baobabs and waterfalls.
• East Point Reserve wallabies at sunset (East Point): Wallabies graze along the coast at dusk.
• Bicentennial Park and the Esplanade (CBD): Clifftop parkland and war memorials along the harbour edge of the city.
• Nightcliff Jetty and foreshore (Nightcliff): Sunset walks on the jetty and a long seaside path. Don't swim: crocs and stingers.
• Nightcliff Markets (Nightcliff): Sunday morning food and craft market.

Where to eat

• Dinner at the Waterfront (Waterfront, around A$50): Restaurants by the lagoon.
• Laksa at Parap Village Market (Parap, around A$15): Saturday market famous for its laksa.
• Sunset dinner at Cullen Bay (Cullen Bay, around A$55): Marina restaurants with sunsets.
• Lunch in the Smith Street Mall area (CBD, around A$22): Cafés in the CBD.
• Mad About Coffee (Parap, around A$6): A Parap staple many locals call the best coffee in Darwin.
• Eva's Cafe (Botanic Gardens, around A$20): Coffee and breakfast in the George Brown Botanic Gardens.
• Laneway Specialty Coffee (Parap, around A$25): Brunch and specialty coffee in Parap.
• Hanuman (CBD, around A$55): Thai and Indian favourite for decades.
• Pee Wee's at the Point (East Point, around A$110): Fine dining with sunset over the harbour.
• Darwin Ski Club (Fannie Bay, around A$30): Plastic chairs, beer and the best sunset in town.
• Rapid Creek Markets (Rapid Creek, around A$15): Darwin's oldest market: laksa, tropical fruit and green papaya salad on Sunday mornings.

Step-free and pram-friendly ideas

• Crocosaurus Cove · step-free · pram-friendly
• Waterfront lagoons · step-free · pram-friendly
• Museum and Art Gallery of the NT · step-free · pram-friendly
• Darwin Military Museum · step-free
• George Brown Botanic Gardens · step-free · pram-friendly
• East Point Reserve wallabies at sunset · step-free

Access information can change. Check with the venue if access is essential.

Day trips from Darwin

Typical weather in Darwin

Approximate long-term averages, not a forecast.