Darwin & Surrounds 3 Day Itinerary

Breakfast with a view

Begin your adventure with breakfast at the Darwin Waterfront. From high end restaurants to laid-back cafés and bars, there’s something for everyone. Make sure you pack your bathers so you can go for a swim at the Wave Pool or Recreation Lagoon. Paddle, swim or play in these manmade waterways with waves up to 1.7 meters generated at regular intervals. Both areas are safe for swimming and protected from stingers.

Go face-to-face with a croc

After lunch, make your way to Crocosaurus Cove located in the heart of Darwin on Mitchell Street. Here you’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the largest reptile on the planet, the saltwater crocodile, and learn about a variety of fish and reptile species at the aquarium. There is a twice daily crocodile and fish feeding show not to be missed. And, if you are feeling particularly brave, climb into the Cage of Death for a face-to-face encounter with one of the largest saltwater crocodiles in captivity. It’s the ultimate adrenaline rush!

Sunset and Shopping at Mindil Market

Darwin’s popular Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are held every Thursday and Sunday evening between April and October. The region’s incredible multicultural mix is well represented at the market’s arts, crafts and food stalls. Enjoy free entertainment by magicians and buskers, then take your pick from the food stalls and enjoy your dinner barefoot on the beach watching an iconic Darwin sunset.

If the markets aren’t scheduled for tonight, head to Cullen Bay Marina instead where you can watch the sun go down with takeaway fish and chips.

Tiwi Islands

Take a trip across the water from Darwin to find a unique haven. With a thriving Aboriginal arts culture, fishing lodges, coastal landscapes with breathtaking sunsets, the Tiwi Islands promises to be a destination like no other.

The Tiwi Islands comprise of two main islands – Bathurst and Melville, which are 80 kilometres north of Darwin. Most of the residents are of Aboriginal descent and you’ll meet some of them on cultural and wildlife tours.

The people on Tiwi Islands are famous for their traditional lifestyle, stunning artworks, vibrant fabrics and textiles, plus an exuberant passion for football. Take a day tour from Darwin to the Tiwi Islands to find out why it’s nicknamed the ‘Island of Smiles’.

Settle in for a movie under the stars

Unwind tonight with a flick at the Deckchair Cinema, which can be found at the Waterfront. The open air cinema screens Australian, popular, family, foreign and classic films during the Dry season (April–November). Make the most of the experience and relax under the stars while enjoying their onsite bar and food stalls.

Back to nature

If you feel a need for some R&R today, you can’t go past Berry Springs Nature Park (usually open May-Nov), located just 47 kilometers south of Darwin. Used as a recreation camp for armed forces personnel during the war, today it’s a popular spot for a barbecue and a dip in the clear freshwater pools. If you bring your goggles along you’ll be able to spot native fish and other aquatic life.

Get active this afternoon and check out one of the bushwalking tracks or learn more about the wartime history of Berry Springs Nature Park at the interpretive center.

Go wild at Territory Wildlife Park

Discover the local wildlife at the nearby Territory Wildlife Park where you can take in a famous birds of prey show or hand feed the whip rays and barramundi in the Oolloo Sandbar. Wander through treetop aviaries, around a natural lagoon and through the aquarium to see animals, including Graeme the saltwater crocodile.

Dinner with a view at the wharf

Return to Darwin and head to Stokes Hill Wharf in the Waterfront Precinct. This is a popular spot for fishing with the locals, and is dotted with restaurants, eateries and retail shops. It’s also the location to depart on a Darwin Harbor sunset cruise, jet ski tour or airboat adventure.

Finish the evening with some fresh local fish and chips and find a spot to watch one last iconic Top End sunset – if you’re lucky you may even spot some dolphins in the water below. Relax at the wharf while you reflect on your Darwin adventures.