Flavours

Darwin

With its diverse mixture of more than 60 nationalities it's not surprising that Darwin offers year-round dining to suit all tastes and budgets.

Choose from fine dining at East Point, the Waterfront and Esplanade, outdoor water side dining along Stokes Hill Wharf, Cullen Bay boardwalk, Fannie Bay and Nightcliff, casual dining along lively Mitchell Street and CBD, fish and chips at Stokes Hill Wharf, Fisherman’s Wharf, Tipperary Waters Marina, Dinah Beach or Cullen Bay and find hidden gems in laneways and arcades. You can even take to the ocean aboard a sunset dinner cruise, the choice is yours.

Top End fresh produce like barramundi, crocodile, buffalo, beef, crabs, prawns, mangoes and Asian produce are brought to life by chefs who aren’t held back by tradition and have the freedom to craft their own flavours.

Transport

Darwin

Public transport

The Territory’s public bus service is managed by the Territory Government nt.gov.au/public-transport. Please note: public transport services do not operate on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Private transport

Taxis and Uber connect Darwin’s airport, The Ghan and cruise terminal with the city.

Car rental

A range of 2WD, 4WD and campers are available to hire with unlimited kilometres at the Top End Visitor Information Centre.

History

Darwin

 Aboriginal people have lived for 65,000 years in the Top End, hunting, fishing and foraging.

In the 1700’s Macassans from Sulawesi sailed to Arnhem Land to collect sea cucumbers. In 1862 John McDouall Stuart made the first European crossing of Australia from South to North and in 1869 a permanent white settlement was established and the grid for a new town (Darwin) laid out.

In 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line which follows Stuart’s route between Adelaide and Darwin was completed. During its construction gold was found at Pine Creek and several thousand Chinese came to find their fortune. The telegraph line and the track (now the Stuart Highway) that followed it opened up the country and towns such as Katherine, Pine Creek, Mataranka and Batchelor sprung up along the line. The Top End was seen as adventurous and so were the people who populated it. Waves of immigration saw Europeans, in particular Greeks; Vietnamese and Indonesians,and 60 nationalities now make up a very multi-national land.

Wander through National Trust Heritage listed houses, take the Darwin City Heritage Walk, explore the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, marvel at the NT Chinese Temple and Museum, the Roadmaster's House and take it in on heritage tours. During WWII, Darwin became the first mainland site in Australia to come under direct attack from the enemy when it was the target of over 64 Japanese air raids, causing huge devastation and many civilian casualties. The Top End played a key strategic role in the defence of Northern Australia and much of its unique military heritage is well preserved. Gun emplacements, oil storage tunnels, bunkers, military airstrips and lookout posts are scattered in and around the city. Most are easily accessible and many are free of charge. Visitors are encouraged to explore this fascinating (and often overlooked) chapter in Australia’s history either independently or on a tour.

Adventure the way you want it

Darwin

You’d expect an eclectic range of attractions in Darwin and you won’t be disappointed.

There’s adventure in spades, everything from water parks, skate parks, cycling, motor cycling, ice skating, go karts, scooters, helicopter and light aircraft sightseeing and of course CROCODILES!

Darwin Harbour is full of exotic fish. Try your hand at mud crabbing, the. harbour has a maze of mangrove inlets that play home to the mighty Northern Territory mud crab which is delicious  eating.

Larger than Sydney Harbour, Darwin Harbour and surrounds has a huge range of recreational activities including; fishing, crabbing, sailing, turtle watching tours, cruising at sunset, bird watching, cycling, fine dining and scenic walks.

Darwin Harbour allows the unique opportunity to see dugongs in the wild as this is where their favourite food can be found. Scenic mangroves and pristine tidal waters surround the harbour and a significant cultural heritage can be discovered.

A great place to start your exploration is the Darwin Waterfront just in front of the CBD with restaurants, bars and cafes. Cool off at the wave pool followed by a sumptuous lunch at the Darwin Waterfront and relax under the stars and watch a movie at the iconic open-air Deckchair Cinema.

On the open water, you can take a cruise to experience one of the Top End’s glorious sunsets and discover Darwin’s cosmopolitan foreshore, embark the ferry at Cullen Bay Marina and take a trip to Mandorah (20 mins) or Tiwi Islands (2 hours), join a fishing charter and get hooked up on some of the tastiest species and even experience a unique tour to turtle nesting sites on Bare Sand Island.

There is plenty to do and see around town or simply relax, recharge the batteries and enjoy the holiday atmosphere. Enjoy outdoor activities – eating, drinking, shopping, movie-going, sailing and visiting the markets. You can eat laksa on the beach at the sunset markets, catch a band at one of many live music venues, cruise the harbour at sunset or relax in a deckchair watching a movie on the big screen under a canopy of stars.