Located in the middle north of Australia in the Northern Territory, north of Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, is the cosmopolitan city of Darwin.
While most travelers will always have Sydney and Melbourne on their list of must-see destinations when visiting Australia, Darwin seems to be one of those iconic Australian places that everyone wants to visit, but only the lucky few actually make it to.
One of the reasons for this is the perception that it will be a lot of effort to get to the Top End to explore. We always hear classic ‘NT only’ stories that make us want to see it for ourselves, but it can seem so far from the East Coast that many people don’t make the effort.
Truth is, it’s only a short plane flight away, and it’s worth a detour to see what this historically rich and culturally diverse city has to offer, even if only for a couple of days!
Darwin is a capital city, which means that you can get direct flights from any other Australian capital city in Australia and many other regional hubs. If you are planning to go, keep checking flight prices until you get a good price. Once there, you must watch the sun set over the water, visit the local markets, and take a day trip to one of the incredible national parks that lie on the doorstep of Darwin.
Once you’ve landed on the higher end, what is there to do? A lot of!
Market to market
Locals and tourists flock to Mindil Beach Sunset Market every Thursday and Sunday to enjoy some of Darwin’s best food as they watch the sun sink into the Arafura Sea.
After wandering the market stalls, you’ll see swarms of people, skis in tow, arrive at Mindil Beach to settle down for a great night out with your companions. Along with the delicious food, there are also stalls selling jewelry, art, and fashion. Plus, there’s a rotating selection of musicians to keep you entertained well into the night.
On Saturday mornings, Parap Village Markets is the place to meet the locals, stock up on fresh produce, and find some unique local crafts.
If you’ve woken up feeling a little fuzzy from the night before, breakfast from one of the food trucks could kickstart your weekend. Mary’s Laksa Van is one of the best known local favorites. “Oddly enough, the best for breakfast on a Saturday is laksa!” Laughs Lauren, who recently moved to Darwin and immediately made her visit to the markets on a Saturday morning. “No matter how hot it is outside, order some chili, you won’t regret it,” she says.
You never smile at a crocodile
Along with the barramundi, buffalo, and birds, visitors to the Northern Territory will see a crocodile at some point. Whether your love has grown while watching Crocodile Dundee or Crocodile Hunter, seeing these amazing reptiles up close should be on your “to do” list.
And incredibly, they are as dangerous and unpredictable as those “seen on television.” Don’t make the mistake of thinking that crocodile fever has been touted as a tourist lark; These crocs are the real deal!
Adelaide River Queen Cruises offers the experience of seeing a crocodile leaping ! Your professional guides lure the greats out of the murky water in front of your eyes. Have your camera ready …
If your heart is not out for crocodiles in the wild, then Crocosaurus Cove is the best option. It features the world’s largest exhibit of Australian reptiles and offers crocodile feeding experiences, as well as the cage of death, where you spend 15 minutes inside a protective enclosure underwater with beasts around 5 meters long.
Finally, if you can’t get enough of the feeding frenzy, Aquascene is the place to go. For a few hours each day, schools of milk fish, sea bream, barramundi and others enter Doctors Gully with the tide to feast on fresh bread. Check the website for daily fish feeding times as it changes with the tide.
A little bit of history
Darwin has a lot to offer besides incredible wildlife. In fact, this diverse and interesting city has played an important role in the international war. For unique insight into Darwin’s role in WWII, go to WWII Oil Storage Tunnels.
Just steps out of town, at the Wharf compound, the tunnels pass under the Darwin Cliffs and offer a well-informed tour complete with historical information explaining their purpose.
They have recently been updated on the occasion of the centenary of the Gallipoli landing and the 70th commemorative anniversary of the bombing of Darwin.
To expand on what you learn in the tunnels, head to East Point and visit the Darwin Military Museum. It has a large collection of Australian war memorabilia, including uniforms, artillery and vehicles. Here, you can learn all about the incredible role Darwin has played in the global war. For example, did you know that the Japanese carrier forces that attacked Darwin in February 1942 were also the same forces that attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941?
They dropped more bombs on Darwin than on Pearl Harbor; it remains the largest single attack ever carried out by a foreign power in Australia.
Of course, after such a sobering dose of reality as you explore Darwin’s story, you may be ready for a change of pace!
For a cool but dry place to spend a few quiet hours, check out the Botanical Gardens. Spread over 42 hectares and harboring accumulations of tropical plants, as well as centuries-old trees that survived Cyclone Tracy, which swept through the city on Christmas Day 1974.
“The surprising thing is to see the trees that were struck by Tracy, but still survived,” marvels Nigel Hengstberger, who spent time wandering the gardens during a recent visit to Darwin.
“Some lie almost horizontal. You can see the fight they raised and it’s amazing that they are still there!
Raising feet
After wandering the many markets, trying to get that perfect wildlife photo, and taking in all the history, it’s definitely time for some well-deserved R&R. What could be better than settling in at twilight for a classic movie at the Deckchair Cinema?
Operated by the Darwin Film Society, the cinema operates during the dry season (April to November) and shows a selection of family films, as well as Australian and international dramas, comedies and classics. You can bring your own picnic, or grab some movie snacks from the kiosk.
Another great way to relax is at Wave Lagoon, on the shore. Given the Top End’s endless summer, this is a popular hangout all year round (except on Christmas Day). There is only a small entrance fee, but you can stay and rest for as long as you like.
If you’re looking for a free excursion, check out the nearby Recreation Lagoon. It is a protected entrance from the great ocean, with mesh screens in place to prevent marine stingers from entering the area. Even with these guards in place, stingers are checked regularly, making it an ideal place for you to dip your toes in the water. It is also patrolled by lifeguards.
The wonderful thing about this lagoon is that although it is artificially built and maintained, it has been built to support a natural ecosystem, including fish, algae, and even Cassiopeia jellyfish. They all play an important role in maintaining a healthy marine environment.
Don’t be surprised if you feel something scaly and slimy brush against your leg; It’s just a big fish! They are in the lagoon to eat the jellyfish, which serves as an organic way of keeping the numbers low.
