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Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is just 4 kms from the city centre and houses stunning permanent collections of Aboriginal art. It is also home to a Cyclone Tracey exhibition which details the tragic events of the 1974 Christmas Eve cyclone that devastated Darwin. The Museum’s oceanfront café serves good coffee and is also a popular choice for brunch.
Cullen Bay Marina
Cullen Bay Marina is a hotspot for harbour side dining. It includes a variety of eateries ranging from à la carte restaurants to sidewalk cafés. You can stroll along the beach or just sit and watch the sunset over the water. Many sunset cruises, dive boats and fishing charters operate from the marina.
Historic City Walk
Take a Historic City Walk that incorporates 17 historically significant sites and buildings on a stroll around the city. Included is the British Australian Telegraph house (Lyon's Cottage), the Wharf Precinct, Myilly Point Historical Precinct and the new Parliament House. Itineraries are available from the Visitor Information Centre located in the city centre.
Shopping
Start at Smith Street Mall in the city centre then branch out into the surrounding streets. Travellers will find a range of shopping experiences including local galleries specialising in Aboriginal art or speciality shops selling world-class pearls and crocodile-skin products.
Mindil Beach Sunset Markets
The colour and movement of Darwin's Mindil Beach Sunset markets provide a feast for all the senses. As the sun disappears behind the Timor Sea, up to 200 stall holders, musicians and street performers converge near the shore to make the most of the city's balmy nights and holiday vibe.
The city of Darwin has the most youthful population in Australia, which gives it a distinctly optimistic vibe.
The weather is always warm with a year round average of 32 degrees celsius, and is best described as balmy (from May to October) or sultry (from November to April).
Exploring the compact central business district by day is best done on foot, or aboard a jump on and off tour bus. The city can also be circumnavigated on a bicycle following a designated path that meanders through the lush esplanade that skirts the CBD and provides great views over the harbour.
At night you can immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of the pubs and nightclubs that dominate the city’s nightlife hub on Mitchell Street, dine at Cullen Bay or try your luck at the casino on Mindil Beach.
Local restaurants serve dishes from all over the world along with authentic Northern Territory cuisine like mud crabs, barramundi, buffalo, kangaroo and crocodile. You can choose from silver service fine dining, an al fresco meal with a harbour view, or a platter of local seafood at Stokes Hill wharf.
Local restaurants serve dishes from all over the world along with authentic Northern Territory cuisine like mud crabs, barramundi, buffalo, kangaroo and crocodile. You can choose from silver service fine dining, an al fresco meal with a harbour view, or a platter of local seafood at Stokes Hill wharf.
On weekends the city is scattered with open air markets at Parap, Nightcliff and Mindil Beach. Here you’ll find an array of stalls serving cuisines from all over Asia and locally made arts and crafts. There are also performances from musicians and artists, a variety of street theatre, traditional bush poetry and even free stock-whip cracking lessons.
Darwin Harbour’s healthy population of barramundi and other tropical fish make it a world-class fishing destination and its turquoise waters set the scene for the more relaxed option of a sunset cruise.
