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Australia

Darwin Popular Tours and Trips – Where to Go and What to Expect

  • Adventure

Darwin, tropical, multicultural with the Australian wilderness has a diverse range of tourist attractions. Visitors can be bewildered what to pick, where to go and how much time is required for each attraction. Here’s a breakdown of the types of tours and trips offered as well as estimated time needed for each attraction.

Darwin is an ideal location to acquire original, authentic Aboriginal art and souvenirs as well as find out more about Aboriginal culture. Darwin is home to a substantial Aboriginal community with 24% of the population Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

ABORIGINAL CULTURE, ARTS & CRAFTS & ABORIGINAL ROCK ART – WHERE TO GO WHILE VISITING DARWIN?

Injalak Arts Centre entrance, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia @Injalak Arts
Injalak Arts Centre entrance, Kakadu National Park @Injalak Arts

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

Kakadu National Park, aboriginal rock art, original, timeless representations of Aboriginal rock art together with several well known Aboriginal galleries where local artists own and manage their creations.

Time required – minimum 1 day (10 hours) – this involves ⅓ of your time spent travelling to and from Darwin

Kakadu National Park Tours

TIWI ISLAND

Tiwi Island owned and operated by local Aborigines, the tropical islands offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the locals. Meet local artists and listen to stories about Aboriginal culture.

Time required – minimum 1 day (10 hours) this involves 4 hours travel on a ferry

Tiwi Islands Tours

Tiwi Island Art Design Studio where artists run workshops, original art works are available for purchase. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Tiwi Island Art Design Studio where artists run workshops, original art works are available for purchase
Marrawuddi Arts and Culture, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia @Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation
Marrawuddi Arts and Culture, Kakadu National Park @Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation
  • Darwin has a number of commercial galleries with extensive Aboriginal arts and crafts. For a unique, curated piece you will need knowledge to sieve through the offerings.

 

  • Aboriginal inspired souvenir shopping. Darwin is an ideal destination to acquire a coveted reminder of your Australian holiday.

Darwin Culture & History Tours

Darwin’s Royal Flying Doctor gift shop, Darwin Military Museum, Darwin MAGNT Museum & Art Gallery have authentic, manufactured in Australia souvenirs. Budget conscious tourists look for tea towels, fridge magnets and T-shirts.

Check who is managing the tour, is there an Aboriginal guide and/or experienced local who has in depth knowledge. This information is readily available on the tour provider’s website. Still not sure pop into Aboriginal Bush Traders Charles Darwin Mall, Darwin CBD or the Darwin Visitor Centre and ask.

 

WHERE TO FIND AN AUTHENTIC CROCODILE SOUVENIR IN DARWIN?

Darwin and Australia’s Top End is an excellent spot to source crocodile souvenirs. The Northern Territory has the largest crocodile population in the wild, estimated over 100,000 croc predators. There are a number of commercial crocodile farms. For more information check out Crocodiles – A Face to Face Encounter – Best Bits

Croco Tours & Activities

Crocodile jumping out of Adelaide river, near Darwin city, Northern Territory, Australia @Spectacular Crocodile Cruises
Crocodile jumping out of Adelaide river, near Darwin city @Spectacular Crocodile Cruises

 

AUSTRALIAN SCENERY, DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES, WHERE TO GO WHILE VISITING DARWIN?

Beyond the vibrant multicultural Darwin vibe is the dramatic landscape of the Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge, Litchfield National Park waterfalls, extraordinary termite mounds and sandstone cliffs. Kakadu National Park wetlands, crocodiles and soaring red tinted cliffs.

shutterstock_1560624656 Litchfield National Park termite pillars, Northern Territory, Australia
Litchfield National Park termite pillars

LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

Litchfield National Park is a powerhouse of awesome scenery, Imagine waterfalls cascading into a series of rock pools, Australian monsoon forests and extraordinary massive termite mounds.

Time required. A minimum of one day (10 hours), a long day with several hours allocated to travel to and from the park ex Darwin.

Top Tours & Activities in Litchfield

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

Kakadu National Park is an Australian wildlife bonanza. Wetlands teaming with birds, crocodiles and timeless Aboriginal rock art located in the stunning headlands of the park.

Time required. A minimum of one day (10 hours), a long day with several hours allocated to travel to and from the park ex Darwin.

Top Tours & Activities in Kakadu

Sunset over the floodplains of Ubirr, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
Sunset over the floodplains of Ubirr, Kakadu National Park
Jabiru birds feeding in Mary River wetlands national park, Northern Territory, Australia
Jabiru birds feeding in Mary River wetlands national park

MARY RIVER WETLANDS

Mary River Wetlands tours. Birdlife, crocodiles with a short time spent at the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. Plenty of opportunities to observe wildlife in a natural setting.

Time required. A minimum of one day with 4 hours allocated to a river cruise. Mary River cruises are only 1 ½ hours drive (one way) from Darwin making this a viable option for visitors short on time.

Mary River Wetlands Wildlife Cruise

DARWIN EAST POINT RESERVE

Darwin East Point Reserve, an extensive park and reserve with monsoon bush walks, the Darwin Military Museum and playgrounds is a great way to get outdoors in Darwin. The park is a stop on the Darwin Big Bus Hop On & Hop Off route.

Time required. Allow one day to explore the East Point Reserve, Darwin Military Museum outdoor exhibits.

East Point Reserve Tours

Darwin Military Museum WWII vehicles in an authentic tropical setting adding to the story, Northern Territory, Australia
Darwin Military Museum WWII vehicles in an authentic tropical setting adding to the story

IS IT EASY TO GET TO NITMILUK KATHERINE GORGE FROM DARWIN?

Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge boardwalk to second gorge, Northern Territory Australia
Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge boardwalk to second gorge

There are day tours from Darwin to one of Australia’s premier scenic attractions, Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge, however you will be spending considerable time travelling due to the sheer distance (341 km one way). NZJane recommends you allocate a minimum of one night (two days) in Katherine.

Top Tours & Activities in Katherine

 

WHAT IS THERE TO DO FOR KIDS IN DARWIN?

Darwin is packed with diverse attractions for kids from a water wave pool to weekend markets crammed with foodie treats and kids budget souvenirs and even crocodiles at Crocosaurus. The museums, Royal Flying Doctors, Military Museum and MAGNT offer specific kids programmes sure to please a younger audience. Check 31 Reasons to Visit Darwin and start planning.

Reasons to Visit Darwin

Royal Flying Doctors Museum Darwin 45 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City NT 0800, Northern Territory, Australia
Royal Flying Doctors Museum, Darwin

 

AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES, WHAT IS ON OFFER IN DARWIN?

Darwin Harbour Afternoon Cruise, mangroves, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia @Sea Darwin
Darwin Harbour Afternoon Cruise, mangroves, Darwin @Sea Darwin

Darwin offers plenty of adventures for active tourists. Off road 4WD tours, sailing tropical waters, deep sea fishing, hot air balloon rides, camping in remote outback wilderness areas, jet skiing the Darwin harbour and food and feast tours with Aboriginal guides. Let Darwin locals introduce you to their backyard.

Activities In & Around Darwin

 

AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE & HISTORY, IS THERE ANYTHING INTERESTING TO DO IN DARWIN?

Darwin and the Top End offers visitors a vivid recreation of the bombing of Darwin (WW II), superb contemporary museums and opportunities to find out more about Aboriginal culture and history. Check out Darwin heritage trails, where to go for further information.

Darwin Culture & History Tours

Aboriginal pictograph, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
Aboriginal pictograph, Kakadu National Park

A minimum time required to explore Darwin is three days with a quick day trip to one of the nearby national parks, a day on the Darwin Big Bus Hop On and Off and a day browsing and feasting your way through the Mindli and Parap weekend markets. A whistlestop tour with perhaps the wish you had longer.

Darwin has two major seasons, the wet and dry. Darwin is a tropical climate. Visit Darwin between May to early October.

 

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