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Darwin

Australia's only tropical capital city and gateway to the Top End, Darwin, on the traditional lands of the Larrakia, gazes out across the Timor Sea. It's closer to Bali than Bondi and certainly feels removed from the rest of the country, which is just how the locals like it.

Tables spill out of street-side restaurants and bars, innovative museums celebrate the city's past, and galleries showcase the region's rich Indigenous art. Darwin's cosmopolitan mix − more than 50 nationalities are represented here − is typified by the wonderful markets held throughout the dry season.

Nature is well and truly part of Darwin's backyard: the famous national parks of Kakadu and Litchfield are only a few hours' drive distant, and the unique Tiwi Islands are a boat ride away. For locals the perfect weekend is going fishing for barra (barramundi) in a tinny (small boat) with an esky (cooler) full of beer.

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Darwin.

  • Market

    Mindil Beach Sunset Market

    Food is the main attraction here − from Thai, Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese and Malaysian to Brazilian, Greek, Portuguese and more − all at around $6 to $12…

  • Zoo

    Crocosaurus Cove

    If the tourists won't go out to see the crocs, then bring the crocs to the tourists. Right in the middle of Mitchell St, Crocosaurus Cove is as close as…

  • Museum

    Royal Flying Doctor Service

    This outstanding museum on Stokes Hill Wharf is the way all museums should be. There's a 55-seat hologram cinema, virtual-reality glasses that enable you…

  • Zoo

    Crocodylus Park

    Crocodylus Park showcases hundreds of crocs and a minizoo comprising lions, tigers and other big cats, spider monkeys, marmosets, cassowaries and large…

  • Park

    Bicentennial Park

    Bicentennial Park runs the length of Darwin's waterfront and Lameroo Beach, which inhabits a sheltered cove popular in the '20s when it housed the…

  • Gardens

    George Brown Botanic Gardens

    These 42-hectare gardens showcase plants from the Top End and around the world − monsoon vine forest, the mangroves and coastal plants habitat, baobabs,…

  • Gardens

    East Point Reserve

    North of Fannie Bay, this spit of land is particularly attractive in the late afternoon when wallabies emerge to feed and you can watch the sun set over…

  • Aquarium

    Indo-Pacific Marine Exhibition

    This excellent marine aquarium at the Waterfront Precinct gives you a close encounter with the denizens of Darwin Harbour. Each small tank is a complete…

  • Museum

    Darwin Aviation Museum

    If you like aircraft and you like 'em big, you're going to love this place. Darwin's aviation museum, about 10km from the centre, has a mammoth B52 bomber…

  • Museum

    Darwin Military Museum

    At this innovative museum and multimedia experience, you can hear personal accounts of those affected by, and those who actively participated in,…

  • Historic Site

    Myilly Point Heritage Precinct

    At the far northern end of Smith St is this small but important precinct of four houses built between 1930 and 1939 (which means they survived both the…

  • National Park

    Charles Darwin National Park

    Available for day-use only, this park protects places of natural and cultural importance, including part of Port Darwin wetland, one of the country's most…

  • Aquarium

    Aquascene

    At Doctors Gully, an easy walk from the north end of the Esplanade, Aquascene runs a remarkable fish-feeding frenzy at high tide. Visitors, young and old,…

  • Tunnel

    WWII Oil-Storage Tunnels

    You can escape from the heat of the day and relive your Hitchcockian fantasies by walking through the WWII oil-storage tunnels. They were built in 1942 to…

  • Aquarium

    Coral Reef by Night

    Hosted by the Indo-Pacific Marine Exhibition, this evening includes a tour of the aquarium, seafood dinner (on biodegradable plates, no less!) and an…

  • Gallery

    Northern Centre for Contemporary Art

    The NCCA is a really small space that shows some changing and challenging exhibitions. It's worth checking out while doing the Parap Village Market.

  • Beach

    Mindil Beach

    Ever popular spot, especially on market days.

  • Museum

    Burnett House

    At the far northern end of Smith St is a small but important precinct of four houses built in the 1930s and now on the Register of the National Estate…

  • Notable Building

    Parliament House

    At the southern end of Mitchell St is the elegantly boxlike Parliament House, which opened in 1994. Reminiscent of Southeast Asian colonial architecture,…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Darwin.

  • Activities

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