Things to do in Darwin – Australia

Things to do in Darwin

The Northern Territory’s capital and its surrounds makes for an excellent choice of destinations for those looking for urbanised Australia that still has plenty of history and stays in touch with the country’s tra***ional roots. Sitting on a lovely coastal aspect facing the Timor Sea and serving as the ideal gateway to the many natural wonders of the NT’s interior, Darwin is famous for a number of distinctive traits.

Aquascene Darwin
Location: 28 Doctors Gully Rd, Darwin, NTWhile Darwin isn’t exactly brimming with activities that are fun for the kids, there are a few notable exceptions, and one spot in particular – fish sanctuary Aquascene, a staple part of the city’s history for a long time that has been continually improved over the years. Situated on the Esplanade by the water, it’s a unique way of being able to feed fish straight from the wild – something which is quite rare, and a great way to get up close with nature uninhibited by glass or overly-commercial surroundings. The fact that you can actually touch the fish is a bonus as well, and this degree of closeness provides some top photo opportunities of the various fish species of differing colours, shapes and sizes. Various fish species can be found in the waters here, depending on both the tide and the time of year, and even rays occasionally make their way in with the rest of their aquatic friends looking for a bite to eat. It’s an experience that never fails to put a smile on the faces of children both young and old – those as young as a few years of age all the way up to teenagers are the ideal demographic to bring here, and if you’re travelling with little ones in tow this should definitely be an essential stop on your Darwin itinerary. Adults can also take away something from the experience, however – it’s enjoyable to simply see the large quantities of fish interact with one another, while the feeding process is also accompanied by commentary on the different fish types and their habits, adding a hint of education to the proceedings.Some of the species that can be found include mullet, milkfish, catfish, bream and even Barramundi, with the occasional huge grouper also joining the pack and dwarfing its fellow swimmers. Aquascene is open only during a limited window of the day when the tide is high and the fish are at their hungriest (typically between 3 – 6pm although this may vary; be sure to check times on your particular day of attendance.When you arrive, you pay for entrance per person and then are provided with plenty of free food for the fish once inside. How much mileage you’re able to get out of your time here will vary; while it’s obviously not going to be of great appeal to those who have no interest in feeding fish – this is the sole focus of the attraction – the fact that it’s an easily accessible and unique way to spend a few hours in Darwin city that kids will love makes it a must for parents traveling to the NT’s capital. There’s also a great little souvenir shop that’s a good place to pick up a trinket or two commemorating your trip to the city. TIP: as Aquascene also has a nice little grassed area, bring along some (human) food, kick back and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere for a break in between feeding sessions to help extend the experience.

Go Birdwatching in the Mangroves in Darwin

Join this half-day tour that takes in a monsoon forest, rocky coastline, savannah woodland and a two-kilometre walk through mangroves and along a boardwalk to the mudflats. The tour includes pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation and the use of binoculars and spotting scopes to help you see exotic species like honeyeaters, flycatchers, kingfishers, finches, ****atoos and drongos.

Crocodylus Park
Location: McMillans Rd, Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NTIt’s a recurring theme that many of Darwin’s attractions involve crocodiles in some fashion, whether it’s in the wild or controlled captivity, but Crocodylus Park is an attraction that showcases the crocs while also balancing things out with a variety of other animal species as well. Despite its name, this is much more of an overall “zoo” or “wildlife park” than just a crocodile-based spot, Things to do in Darwin and as such it’s a great place for those who have an interest in all parts of the animal kingdom. Sure, there are a ton of crocs of varying ages and sizes – everything from 30cm long babies all the way up to titanic 4.8m adults can be found here – but it’s the likes of the big cats, monkeys, Aussie native wildlife and other species that round out the experience and help to separate Crocodylus Park from some of the other local animal attractions and tours. Located just outside the Darwin city centre (approx. 15 minutes drive), the park is packed to the brim with crocodiles in a range of different pens – there are even specialised breeding pens with matched males and females, which makes it interesting to see the juxtaposition of sizes, and the keepers will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Crocodile feeding time is an obvious highlight, with a smaller-scale “jumping for food” activity that features the crocs springing out of the water for their food. For more detailed croc-related information, Crocodylus Park also has a crocodile museum that offers plenty of background info on how the crocodiles evolved, behave and coexist.One of the newer and more enjoyable highlights of the park is their recently-added boat cruise – navigating its way through a man-made lagoon, the water-borne tour offers a great way to get acquainted with not only the crocodiles outside of their regular enclosures, but also a range of regional NT bird life, trees and plants which are all explained in detail by the cruise guide. There’s some fantastic insight to be had on the Northern Territory’s complex ecosystems in general here, and it’s a must do if you are visiting the park.Rounding out the offerings here is the great little zoo section featuring the other non-crocodile animal varieties – there’s a surprising amount of diversity here, with plenty of rarer reptiles, playful monkeys, as well as Aussie favourites like emus and kangaroos. It’s the big cats that are the undisputed stars of the show here, and they’re simply amazing – tigers, ocelots and even the newly-added and extremely beautiful white lions are wonderful to see close up, and the ability to come near to them makes it possible to come away with some great photos of these majestic creatures. Opportunities for some “hands-on” encounters are also possible, with visitors getting the option to hold a baby crocodile, or perhaps drape a snake around your neck! In all, if you’re looking for an easy-to-access showcase of crocs augmented with some other animal types, then Crocodylus Park makes for a great all-rounder.

Cruise Around Darwin Harbour

Discover the history, intrigue and natural environment of Darwin Harbour on four different nature-focused tours. See the local marine habitats, shipwrecks, mangroves, sites of cultural significance and learn what happened when World War II came to Darwin. You may even be able to meet nesting or hatchling turtles on the Turtle Tracks tour between April and October.

Visit the Mindil Beach Market at SunsetSample a range of exotic cuisines and pick up beautiful handmade craft pieces at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Every Sunday and Thursday night, crowds gather on the shore of the Arafura Sea to watch the sun slip below the horizon, Things to do in Darwin browse hundreds of stalls and enjoy the buskers. You can also grab a massage while you’re there.

Jumping Crocodiles with Adelaide River Queen Cruises


Location: Arnhem Hwy, Wak Wak, NT (just under 1 hour’s drive from Darwin)Not to be confused with a destination in South Australia, the greater Darwin region’s Adelaide River is a body of water that’s especially notable for one main feature – its inhabitant salt water crocodiles. If you’ve looked at a postcard for Darwin and the NT depicting a massive croc jumping out of the murky water to grab some food, then this is the place it was likely taken. These massive creatures have existed for millions of years and are surprisingly agile, a fact that you’ll get to see up close and in person during a cruise with local operator Adelaide River Queen Cruises on one of their “jumping crocodile” cruises. Located just under an hour’s drive to the east of Darwin city, it’s a great starting experience to get yourself some raw and uncut exposure to the Northern Territory’s wildlife. While they’ve become something of an icon of the Northern Territory as a whole, it’s easy to take Australia’s crocodiles for granted before seeing them in person – they’re efficiently designed natural killing machines, and on this tour you’ll be separated from them by only a few centimeters of glass, at best (depending on your choice of cruise itinerary). Conducted a board a purpose-built and comfortable vessel, the tours are conducted by a friendly and knowledgeable crew and head out from Darwin for a journey that’s as educational and informative as it is scenic and entertaining – you’ll likely come away with a whole new degree of knowledge and respect for the crocs after the trip.These crocodiles aren’t the zoo-tamed variety, either; they’re completely wild and thus act only on instinct, yet they are respected and understood enough by the Adelaide River Queen staff to make for a highlight while care is taken not to disturb their natural environment. The Adelaide River is home to over a staggering 1,600 crocodiles in total, so you’ll no sooner be out on the water before you’re experiencing your first croc encounter – all it takes is the boat staff dangling some food on a (sufficiently long!) stick to trigger the crocodile’s urge to “go for it” and launch themselves out of the water for a quick and massive bite to eat. This display of power is both fearful and awesome, and should you get your timing right you’ll come away with one of the most iconic holiday snaps of your trip to Darwin.The croc-based entertainment on the cruises is augmented by some insightful and interesting commentary on not just the crocodiles but the surrounding waters and ecosystems as a whole, while other wildlife such as eagles and kites can often be seen circling above. Combine all of the above with a very reasonable base price, and you’ve got an experience that blends sightseeing and information with a display of natural ferocity that puts most zoos to shame.

Crocosaurus Cove and the Cage of Death


Location: 58 Mitchell St, Darwin, NTHad enough of crocs on this list yet? While it’s possible to feel a sense of “crocodile overdose” when looking at tourist places to visit in and around Darwin, each of them tend to have their own unique focus on the creatures. Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of the city takes this theme and kicks things up a notch by being the only place in Australia that allows you to dive with a fully-crown crocodile with its pants-wettingly-named Cage of Death experience. Situated right in the middle of the city’s main shopping district, it’s an excellent time-saver for those wanting to get close to crocs without leaving the city or heading further afield.

“Situated right in the middle of the city’s main shopping district, Crocosaurus Cove is an excellent time-saver for those wanting to get close to crocs without leaving the city or heading further afield.”
The attraction features some of the largest captive saltwater crocodiles in the country, which are interesting and impressive to look at, but it’s the Cage of Death that makes Crocosaurus Cove a standout. So what exactly does this experience involve? Those looking to take part will don goggles and enter a transparent glass cylinder, which will be gradually lowered into a pool with one of the “big” crocs, coming literally face-to-face with one of these awesome beasts. Over the next 15 minutes, you’ll be able to tread water as the creatures approach the glass – it’s a sensation of wonder and helplessness that makes it easy to forget you’re completely safe! Those of less daring temperaments can still stand by and Things to do in Darwin observe the Cage of Death, and it’s amusing to watch other people’s reactions as they get close up with the crocs.Along with the crocodiles, there’s also an interesting and quite large reptile enclosure for seeing other types of animals and providing a temporary break from any possible croc-fatigue, with the largest display of native Aussie reptiles in the world. Some of these also include multiple varieties of the deadliest snakes on Earth, which can be both impressive and intimidating to see close up! This is rounded out by a range of lizards, turtles and frogs that tend to prove popular with kids as well. VIP tours are also available that can take you for a more in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how the park is run while being able to hold animals and see how the attraction operates.Add to this the quality keeper talks, fish feeding and great souvenir store and cafe and there’s everything you’ll need to enjoy a very Darwin-style wildlife experience all within a short walk from the majority of Darwin accommodation. Educational, entertaining and efficient, time-starved travellers and those wanting to take part in a more extreme and personal crocodile experience should be sure to give Crocosaurus Cove a look.

Darwin Aviation Heritage Centre


Location: 557 Stuart Hwy, Winnellie, Darwin, NTWhile it’s all well and good to read about wartime history in books or on information brochures, it’s another thing entirely to see the scale of some of the tools of war in person. As with its Defence of Darwin Experience listed above, the combination of wartime involvement along with a location on the far north coast of Australia has made aircraft more important to the city’s history than many other parts of the country (for both good and bad). The Darwin Aviation Heritage Centre is a living showcase of many of the major aircraft that have formed the backbone of this slice of history, and contains multiple aircraft direct from their time period that are still in tip-top con***ion. With a multitude of award-winning displays – and the planes themselves – this is a spot that will serve as a dream for aviation and history buffs.

“With a solid and deep mix of Australian, American and Japanese planes and their parts as well as a dizzying amount of information to watch, read and digest, it’s easy to spend several hours at the museum soaking it all in.”
The stars of the show are the diverse array of aircraft themselves, and there are planes of all kinds and design purposes on display here: from the centrepiece of the massive B-52 bomber (it’s one of only two spots in the world outside the USA to contain such an aircraft) to Spitfires and smaller Tiger Moth biplanes and everything in between it’s a veritable archive of some of aviation’s best and brightest from the past 100 years. The B-52 is truly massive – it’s amazing they could fit it inside the hangar – with this type of plane having been used as a veritable “flying fortress” during its years of operations, and it towers over the rest of the small surrounding aircraft. It isn’t all military however, as passenger and recreational planes and helicopters are contained here, too, and all of these tend to be a hit for young boys (what young man doesn’t have aspirational dreams of becoming a pilot?).Other displays, such as tributes to the iconic Australian Royal Flying Doctors service, aircraft involved in the Vietnam war and plenty of other miscellaneous engines and well-curated knick-knacks make for a comprehensive exhibit that’s lovingly maintained and kept in good con***ion, which requires a salute to the efforts of the volunteer staff who help keep things up to scratch. While it may be seen as more of a “men’s” exhibit, the museum goes out of its way to remind us of the part women have played in aviation history, with a section dedicated to female pilots and their many contributions to landmarks in flight lore. Everything on display here is very well documented and curated, and staff are always on hand to provide further detail.With a solid and deep mix of Australian, American and Japanese planes and their parts as well as a dizzying amount of information to watch, read and digest, it’s easy to spend several hours at the museum soaking it all in. Easily accessible from the centre of Darwin by bus (take the number 8), and just a short and cheap trip from most accommodation, the Darwin Aviation Heritage Centre is well worth visiting even if you’re not especially interested in planes. As an added bonus, given the relatively small entrance fee, it’s also one of the most cost-effective attractions in the greater Darwin area – particularly for one that has such rare exhibits on display.