Darwin - History
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.
Darwin - Adventure
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.
Darwin - Connection
Connection to country
Darwin
The Larrakia people are the traditional owners of the Darwin region. Their country runs from Cox Peninsula in the west to Gunn Point in the north, Adelaide River in the east and down to the Manton Dam area. Many popular sites around Darwin also hold specific meaning for Larrakia people, such as Stokes Hill, Mindil Beach, Rapid Creek and Casuarina Beach.
Darwin beckons you to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle. The climate is no hotter or more humid than nearby Asian destinations such as Bali and Singapore, with year-round temperatures averaging around 32˚ Celsius.
The city is made up of a number of precincts. The Waterfront and harbour are a few minutes’ walk from the CBD. Stokes Hill Wharf, WWII relics, cafes, restaurants and bars will entertain you.
Children will enjoy the lagoons and parkland. This area is the home of our Convention Centre.
The CBD is compact and easy to walk. Call into the Top End Visitor Information Centre and grab a map, there’s even a heritage walk or we can organise a tour so you are sure to learn all about
Darwin’s past. There are cafés, bars and pubs, with vivid street art splashed across tall buildings and nestled in laneways. Shops here stock special gifts for you to take home as memories of the Top End, shop keepers will share their secrets on what’s special about Darwin.
Cullen Bay and Mindil Beach are great spots to relax and enjoy the spectacular sunsets from a bar, café or the beach. Take a drive along Darwin’s northern beaches, Parap, Fannie Bay, Rapid Creek and Nightcliff, and then explore it all again from a different perspective on a harbour cruise or heli flight.
Take a trip down to Litchfield National Park, The Peninsula Way, Tiwi Islands or further afield.
Darwin is the place to enjoy fresh seafood, go fishing for the catch of a lifetime, watch the sun set while cruising Darwin Harbour and party at the lively clubs and bars.
Wetlands - Creatures
Curious creatures and wildlife
Wetlands & Wildlife
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve Located 66km east of Darwin on Arnhem Highway. These wetlands are an amazing haven for the Top End’s wildlife right on Darwin’s doorstep. Like Kakadu, this reserve is enriched by the continued connection held by its Wulna Traditional Owners.
Djukbinj National Park
Located 80km east of Darwin along the Arnhem Highway near Leaning Tree Lagoon turnoff.
Open daily (seasonal). 4WD only.
Part of the Marrakai Plains, Djukbinj National Park contains a portion of the catchment area and drainage for the Adelaide River. Consequently, the abundance of water year-round assures the park’s importance as a favourite feeding and roosting site for a wide variety of water birds including magpie geese, egrets, jabiru and brolgas.
Mary River National Park
Located 150km east of Darwin along the Arnhem Highway.
The wide expanse of the Mary River National Park protects part of the Mary River catchment, where floodplains, billabongs, woodlands, paperbark and monsoon forest provide visitors with excellent opportunities for observing wildlife, fishing, four-wheel driving, bushwalking, camping and photography. A drive along Point Stuart Road offers the opportunity to experience the Mary River system from Couzens Lookout, Brian Creek Monsoon Forest, Jimmy’s Creek Monsoon Forest, Point Stuart Coastal Reserve and Mistake Billabong, which are easily accessible.
Wetlands - Adventure
Adventure the way you want it
Wildlife & Wetland
Adelaide River jumping crocodile cruises
Adelaide River off the Arnhem Highway.
Just an hour and 15-minute drive from Darwin towards Kakadu is the Adelaide River. Here, a number of operators offer jumping crocodile cruises providing the opportunity to get up and close to see the mighty prehistoric crocodile propel itself out of the water for an easy meal.
Corroboree Billabong
108km east of Darwin off the Arnhem Highway. Open April to December. Partly unsealed road.
Take a leisurely drive from Darwin to Corroboree Billabong, a popular fishing location. With water birds and woodland wildlife, along with crocodiles to keep you company whilst you fish, you will have a pretty good chance of catching that elusive ‘barra’ or saratoga. Be amazed as some of Australia’s largest saltwater crocodiles drift lazily past. The billabong is also home to wild buffalo and an abundance of birdlife.Seasonal public access to a boat ramp is provided.
Rockhole Billabong
Rockhole, about two hours' drive from Darwin, is another access point to the channels of the Mary River system, a hugely popular spot for barramundi fishing. Located off Point Stuart Road in the Mary River National Park, Rockhole is an excellent stepping-off point from which to enjoy a day's fishing or exploration of the tranquil surrounds.
There is a boat ramp on site making easy access for those with their own boat, but for those who don't, the Mary River Wetlands Cruise departs from the Rockhole.
Shady Camp
Point Stuart Road – 50km north off the Arnhem Highway.
In 1987 a barrage was constructed at Shady Camp on the Mary River to stop saltwater penetrating into the wetlands, the meeting of fresh and saltwater here offers some of the best barramundi fishing in the Top End. Mullet converge to feed on algae washed down by the stream of fresh water at the end of the wet with barramundi and other fish following to feed on the mullet. This area of the Mary River has the highest density of saltwater crocodiles in the world. Be Crocwise.
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