10 of the best things to do in Darwin

It was less than two weeks since our return from a wonderful trip to Japan and we were off for the long weekend to discover 10 of the best things to do in Darwin.

June was the perfect time for us to head to Darwin as it is the beginning of winter in Perth and Darwin is so warm and sunny this time of year. Unlike most of Australia Darwin has two seasons, wet and dry and most of the year is a consistent 30 degrees. As wet season is November until April and with the monsoonal rains and thunder storms comes intense humidity we were happy to be experiencing a winter getaway in Darwin at the beginning of dry season.

Darwin offers some unique experiences not found anywhere else in Australia. Rich in Aboriginal culture and dramatic history encompassing the tragic bombing during WWII and the devastation by Cyclone Tracey, Darwin today is a modern, multicultural city.

Some might relate to Darwin for its culture, the cuisine or the crocodiles. Others remember Darwin’s wartime history when it was devastated during an enemy attack in February 1942 when Darwin Harbour was bombed. After being rebuilt Darwin was decimated when Cyclone Tracy ripped through the city early Christmas morning in 1974 and within a few hours 66 people perished and over 70 percent of the city completely destroyed.

People all over the world want a glimpse of the famous land down under. And why wouldn’t they? It’s brimming with natural wonders, vibrant cities and spectacular beaches. Australia truly is a country of endless beauty, yet most visitors still tend to focus on the East Coast cities with Sydney and Melbourne top of their list. But if you want to experience somewhere authentic and remote the Top End should certainly be on your list.

Darwin is the capital of Northern Territory and situated on the Timor Sea is the gateway to both Southeast Asia and the Australia outback. Darwin has one of the most multicultural communities and of all the capitals in Australia has the youngest median age. Darwin is unique for being the smallest, most northerly and only Australian capital in the tropics. Most people don’t realise Darwin’s harbour is five times the size of that in Sydney, however the city still retains a small town feel. Situated overlooking the sparkling harbour Darwin was a balmy 31 degrees Celsius when we arrived.

Where to stay

To make it easy to explore Darwin we decided to stay in the city centre and after checking out a range of accommodation online booked at Rydges Darwin Central. Located in the heart of the CBD on Knuckey Street, Rydges is within strolling distance to popular eateries and bars within the CBD and the Waterfront precinct. Our Twin Queen room was a spacious 35sqm, clean and comfortable. The hotel has its own Waterhole Restaurant for breakfast, offers 24 hour room service and in the atrium on the ground floor has a number of eateries offering cuisines ranging from Asian and Italian. It is also nearby to many city sights and is the perfect base for us to explore the Top End.

Tourism Top End Visitor Information Centre

Our first stop was off to the Visitor Information Centre in Bennett Street to get a map and some sightseeing brochures. We discuss our plans, timeline and listen to suggestions from the experienced and friendly staff. Not being a fan of organised tours we had decided to hire a car for 2 days to get out to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks and luckily we walked to the information centre before we booked and paid for the car as not only can they assist creating an itinerary to suit, they provide a booking service for tours, attractions and hire cars. We ended up with the same car we’d been looking at for a cheaper price, with unrestricted kilometres and no excess.

Meander around Mindil Markets

Mindil beach is well known for its popular night markets, famous multi-cultural food, live entertainment and stunning sunsets. The markets are held each Thursday and Sunday in the dry season, March to November. These open air sunset markets are a great place to get something delicious to eat, but be prepared to take a while to make your decision as there is an abundance of choice. The view is as good as it gets, sit on the beach and watch the vibrant sky as the sun descends over the Timor Sea.

There’s something about a WA sunset, they’re amazing and we enjoyed sitting on Mindil Beach enjoying a mango smoothie as the sun slowly set. The glorious sunset seemed more impressive due to the size of beach and calmness of the water, creating a beautiful gold reflection. At the Mindil Markets it is a thing to find a spot on the beach and enjoy a drink or bite to eat, chill and watch the sun go down over the water. Best of all, watching the sunset is one of the best free things to do in Darwin.

Swim in the waterholes at Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is an hour and a half south of Darwin along the Stuart Highway, Australia’s longest highway and is the jewel of the Top End. Pass through the tiny township of Batchelor with its tropical housing, tree lines streets and Austrian Fairy castle. It’s a great place to stock up on drinks, snacks and petrol before you continue through to Litchfield National Park which is one of the best places to explore in the dry season. Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Tolmer Falls are three spectacular rock pools and waterfalls in this amazing natural wonderland. You’ll find swimming holes surrounded by rainforest, cascading waters and tranquil gullies. Hike along the walking tracks and you may come across colonies of bats, panoramic views and natural spas like Buley Rockhole.

Entry to Litchfield National Park is free and a 4WD is not required unless you are visiting the Lost City or Reynolds River Track. There are some spectacular spots in Litchfield National Park, with Sandstone and Quartzite rocks, the dappled light, golden colour of the rocks and the cool, refreshing waters are such a beautiful contrast.

Hike at Kakadu National Park

Three hours east of Darwin along Arnhem Highway is Kakadu National Park where you’ll find some of the world’s best natural beauty and enjoy an iconic Aussie experience.  Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park and is World Heritage listed for both its environmental and cultural values. To visit this Australian bucket list gem you’ll need to stop at Bowali Visitor Centre on the way to purchase a $40 pass per adult, before you enter the National Park which will take your breath away. Offering many experiences like bush walking, bird watching, cruising and swimming, four wheel driving, scenic flights and more, our time was limited so we chose to visit the Yellow Water Billabong and wander through an open air Aboriginal Art gallery.

Yellow Water Billabong in the heart of Kakadu National Park is a must-see in its own right. Listed as a World Heritage region it is between Jim Jim Creek and South Alligator River. At 20,000 square kilometres and almost half the size of Switzerland, Kakadu is Australia’s largest National Park. The shores are lined with paperback forests and fresh water mangroves covered with waterlilies and the wetland consists of river channels, floodplains and swamps. Bursting with native flora and fauna, the best way to experience with this natural wonder is cruising the calm waters. The calm waters come to life with brolgas, sea eagles, kingfishers and saltwater crocodiles and the shores and mangroves home to about a third of Australia’s bird species along with wild horses and buffalo.

Kakadu is also home to one of the largest and oldest indigenous rock art (gunbim) collections anywhere in the world. The oldest Aboriginal art at Nourlangie (Burrungkuy) in the outdoor galleries are up 20,000 years old and illustrate stories of their ancestors, dance, hunting and their spiritual heritage. At the Anbangbang Gallery is Namarrgon (lightning man) and animals and fish. The park offers ranger guided tours where they explain about the area and Indigenous people.

We learnt how art is an important part of traditional Aboriginal life and how the people paint to record events, illustrate stories as well as for enjoyment. Some of the paintings have religious power and influence the success of a hunt. It is hard to put into words the feeling of visiting such a powerful place.

It might have been Steve’s birthday but I also got to enjoy the celebrations as we spent the most amazing day at Kakadu National Park amongst the landforms, rock art and wetlands

Discover the Street Art

The streetart in Darwin is so vibrant and easily found wandering around the city centre lanes. One of the cool things to do in Darwin is discovering the amazing life sized murals. Emerging artistic talents showcase their culture with gigantic artworks. Each painting tells a unique story of Darwin’s culture and history. Discover a fiesta of colour and explore funky cafes that showcase the unique history. Many of the colours represent the colours of the Top End, the soils, the alluring crystal blue waters and the pinks and purples of the spectacular sunsets. The bright colours feature in some of the artworks depicting the local flora like the Sturt Desert Rose and the iconic Pandanas.

Aboriginal art has a strong focus in Darwin too. In Austin Lane two spectacular pieces are showcased. One immortalises Geoffrey Gurrunul Yunupingu and includes lyrics from his iconic songs. Nearby is a collage of aboriginal faces of the local Larrakia people with one eye Chinese representing the cross culture of Darwin. Another in West Lane is a huge mural of a Tiwi Island Sista girl. Sistergirl is the indigenous term for transgender woman and Tiwi Island is leading the way, showing acceptance to the LGBTIQ+ community. Embedding the support and preparing for a Darwin Pride festival a $12,000 rainbow pedestrian crossing was installed on the intersection of Knuckey and Smith Streets in Darwin’s CBD.

Eat at a Multi-Award winning restaurant

Given Darwin’s proximity to Asia it’s a given that Indian, Malaysian and Thai foods dominate the market food scene. But who would have through we would find an award winning restaurant that uses fresh, local produce to prepare beautifully presented Spanish, Mediterranean and North African inspired cuisine in Darwin?

As we were walking along Knuckey Street on our first afternoon in Darwin there was something about Moorish Café that caught our eye and enticed us to go in. And that was before Steve saw the sign advertising Watermelon Heaven, a gin, elderflower and cold pressed watermelon cocktail mixed with lime and cucumber. I opted for my favourite, a Toblerone and it did not let me down. As we sat by the window sipping our cocktail we agreed we’d like to come and have a meal here before we left. Looking around we could see the restaurant had earned many awards and the staff confirmed for 17 consecutive years the restaurant has been winning awards and is considered one of Darwin’s best restaurants.

The following evening we had one of the best food experiences in Darwin and enjoyed 7 of their tapas dishes with a big jug of sangria and dessert. Our choices ranged from Spicy Calamari, Paprika & Garlic Banana Prawns, Seared Scallops with Pomegranate dressing, North African Meatballs, Roast Pumpkin with Figs and Blue Cheese, Truffle Mac & Cheese and of course Patatas Bravas. Dessert was Turkish Delight Ice Cream with Strawberries & Chocolate Sauce. This place has won awards consistently for the last 17 years and now we know why.

By the time we left our senses were stimulated, our palates pleased and our bellies full. It’s not often you come across a restaurant of this calibre without it being on recommendation, so the mere chance of stumbling past was so fortunate. If you’re heading to Darwin do yourself a favour and enjoy a meal here.

Self guided walking tour

The city is very flat and extremely easy to get around so we suggest you take yourself around the city centre and discover Darwin’s quirky charm. Head off on a self-guided street art tour of Austin Lane and West Lane and visit some cool pubs and bars along Mitchell Street for a drink or a bite to eat. Stop by the quirky and vibrant Air Raid Arcade and found some big eye ball lights. We got distracted at Warehouse 73 Emporium with their exotic shop full of beautiful Moroccan, Mexican and Guatemalan wares.

Another hidden gem is in the Smith St Mall in the Star Village arcade where you can find some good vintage boutiques.

Check out some of the central churches, see the cool shade structure in Cavanagh Street, Town Hall Ruins, Christ Church Cathedral, Supreme Court, Government House, Parliament House, Bicentennial Park, Darwin Cenotaph, Deckchair Cinema, WWII Tunnels, Darwin Skywalk Lookout, Darwin Wave Pool and Stokes Hill Wharf.

Relax at the Waterfront

Spending time at the popular waterfront precinct area is a top thing to do for families in Darwin with several beaches, a wave pool and free swimming lagoon and is close to Bicentennial Park. Thriving restaurants, shops and parklands along the waterfront are a great place to hang out and the area is also home to the cruise terminal. The area also houses many apartment towers and the convention centre.

Ride the Hop-On Hop-Off bus

An open top double decker bus is a great way to get around Darwin and includes 11 stops around the city while commentary will teach you about the history, culture and nature along the way. Commencing at the Tourist Information Centre you will be taken to Crocosaurus Cove, Doctor’s Gully (Aquascene Fish Feeding), Cullen Bay Jetty, Myilly Point Heritage Precinct, Mindil Beach, Casino, Botanical Gardens, Museum and Art Gallery, Military Museum, Parap Markets (only Saturday), Stokes Hill Wharf, Waterfront Precinct and Fort Hill Wharf (Cruise Ship Terminal).

Catch a film at Deckchair Cinema

You can find the Deckie as the locals call it via Damoe Ra walkway, stairs down a rainforest wall near Parliament House or via the Waterfront. There you can enjoy a movie under the starlit skies in a cool grove shaded by pandanus and other trees. Being on the edge of Darwin Harbour on a patch of remnant forest this little piece of heaven is the perfect spot to enjoy a glorious top end sunsets before the film. Delicious hot dinners are served before the movie and a bar provides some liquid refreshments so take some cash along. The cinema can seat 400 people and has 250 deckchairs and grassed area to bring your own cushions, beanbags or picnic blankets.

We recommend booking your tickets in advance online or take your chance on tickets being available at the Box Office from 6.00pm when the gates open as they are not open to purchase earlier. Unfortunately when we were in Darwin they were screening Top End Wedding but we didn’t know until we arrived that it was a sold out show so we were disappointed we missed out experiencing a night at the Deckie in person. But there is always next time right?

Magnetic termite mounds

Standing over 2 metres tall and some an impressive 4 metres high are the Cathedral Termite Mounds, the work of local termites. These tombstone like mounds emerge from floodplains standing upright like magnetic compasses. Each one hundreds of years old and built by tiny ants, they are a marvel of nature. Aligned north to south to minimise the exposure to the sun, these natural cooling elements have influenced tropical architectural design. The mounds are complete with arches, tunnels, chimneys, and insulation and nursery chambers. But don’t make a special trip out to see the mounds, catch them on the way to Litchfield National Park.

So there you have it, 10 of the best things to do in Darwin and the laidback feel of the outback made travelling in Darwin so easy. When it comes to the landscapes, culture and of course the food, Darwin makes for a very unique destination. The rich Top End landscape provides a backdrop for an epic roadtrip, whether it be on a tour or self-driven, it’s a great place to explore the amazing views from high on a cliff top and along the many hiking trails. The diversity this area offers a truly unique experience with gorges, wetlands, rainforests and clifftops.

Darwin is a cosmopolitan city with a thriving cultural life and a fantastic destination for nature lovers. Our trip to Darwin was unforgettable, especially when our short time spent basking in sunshine and enjoying the warmth ended suddenly with a stopover in Adelaide where it was a brisk 10 degrees Celsius. We arrived to find everyone was rugged up in their winter woollies and slight drizzle of rain, a huge difference to our previous 3 days where it was a constant 30 degrees.

There’s a whole heap of things to do in Darwin we didn’t get a chance to discover, like the museums, galleries, Fannie Bay Gaol, Berry Springs and of course all the crocodile experiences.

But lucky for us, cheap flights are always available with Jetstar who fly into Darwin daily and even have specials from time to time where you fly to Darwin and return for free.

Where would be the first place you’d head to in Darwin? Did these cool and fun things to do in Darwin entice you to plan a trip?

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The authors travelled courtesy of Jetstar Australia

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