Tiwi Islands

Darwin

DESTINATIONS australia darwin Do & See Tiwi Islands

Tiwi Islands

The ‘Island of Smiles’ — Bathurst and Melville, which lie across the water 80 kilometres north of Darwin — proudly offers you thriving Aboriginal arts culture, fishing lodges and tours, pristine coastal views with breathtaking sunsets. Take a day trip from Darwin or stay overnight to enjoy island life just a bit longer. The people on Tiwi Islands are famous for maintaining traditional lifestyle, producing stunning artworks, vibrant fabrics and textiles.

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Indo Pacific Marine

Indo Pacific Marine offers educational tours of a manmade exhibit with a living coral ecosystem, which is entirely self-sustaining and requires no feeding, filtration or water changing. The aquarium displays the beauty of different marine environments and wildlife, including living coral, clown fish, seahorses and the lethal box jellyfish.

Kakadu National Park

Covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu National Park is Australia's largest terrestrial national park, an awe-inspiring expanse of rugged natural beauty and fascinating ecological and biological diversity. It is also a place of important cultural heritage, as the Bininj Mungguy people have called this area home for thousands of years.

Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is a stunning expanse of lush woodlands and crystal-clear freshwater creeks, waterfalls and swimming holes, where many come to escape the oppressive heat of the summer months. Especially impressive are the enormous termite mounds found throughout the park, as well as the Lost City, an area with rock formations of bizarre beauty.

Katherine Gorge

World-famous Katherine Gorge is located in Nitmiluk National Park, just to the south of Kakadu. The 12-kilometre length of the gorge, surrounded by its 70-metre tall cliffs on either side, is an impressive sight, best enjoyed in a rented kayak from water-level.

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, or MAGNT, is Darwin's premier cultural organisation, showcasing fantastic exhibits and research programs, including maritime and natural history, aboriginal art and a room where you can experience the power of Hurricane Tracy, as well as regular events and performances.

Mindil Beach Sunset Market

Epitomising outdoor living, this is a very popular rendezvous for families. There are usually 200 stalls selling aboriginal arts and crafts along with musicians and entertainers. It is also a great place to sample a wide range of food from 60 different food stalls including Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, and Greek. Other markets can…

Fish The Top End

For some rugged outdoor adventure, try fishing for Barramundi, Australia’s most popular game fish. There are countless companies offering diverse types of fishing trips, Fish the Top End being one of the best. This agency offers a wide selection of river and ocean charter fishing.

Crocodylus Park

Crocodylus Park offers a close-up look at one of the world's most feared predators, boasting five croc species, including the Philippine Corocodile, the rarest in the world. Croc feeding demonstrations take place daily, and there is also small zoo displaying some Australian animals, like kangaroos and dingos, as well as lions, tigers, monkeys, and more.

Deckchair Cinema

Loved equally by visitors and locals, Deckchair Cinema screens a wide range of films in its lovely outdoor location, right by the waterfront. Movies range from arthouse and independent to family-friendly films. Most years the cinema stays open April to November.

Every day at high tide for the past 60 years a unique occurrence has taken place: hundreds of fish gather at the shallows by Doctors Gully Road in search of a meal, including milkfish, bream catfish and the barramundi. Aquascene gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the fish, splash around…

The Didgeridoo Hut

This aboriginal-owned and run shop, workshop and art gallery is about half an hour by car down the Arnhem Highway from Darwin. Exquisite examples of this fascinating handmade aboriginal instrument are for sale, and can be seen in the production process. There is also authentic aboriginal artwork on display, making great souvenirs and gifts.

Outback and Aboriginal Culture Tours

Take part in an extraordinary cultural adventure where you can view unique termite mounds and explore fascinating waterfalls, learn about traditional ways of land management and aboriginal culture. Find a tour that speaks beast to your particular interests and supports small businesses in the local community.

A mere 5 minutes from the city centre, Fannie Bay is a suburb of Darwin with a ton of activities to offer. There is a small but lovely beach with barbecue facilities and playgrounds, an artificial lake safe for swimming all year, bike trails and a walking path through the mangrove, and the interesting Fannie…

Cullen Bay is the home of Darwin’s first Marina and is surrounded by trendy restaurants and cafes. It is the place to to go to catch a harbour cruise, book fishing charters or dive tours in search of marine life and wrecks. Superb sunsets, great fish and chips and a beautiful lawn to sit on.…

Brown's Mart Theatre

Brown's Mart is a beloved and iconic theatre and performance space, committed to providing opportunities for local artists to show their craft. Regular performances are held in a building which dates back to 1885 and has since filled many roles until becoming the cultural centre it is today.

Bicentennial Park

The beautiful Bicentennial Park runs along Darwin's central business district between the Esplanade and the waterfront, providing a much appreciated green space in the heart of the city. It is home to several memorials commemorating those deceased in war, it plays host to several festivals each year, and it is a popular location for weddings…

Charles Darwin National Park

If you don't have the time to visit the larger (but much farther) Litchfield or Kakadu National Parks, Charles Darwin is a convenient alternative. Located a short distance from the city centre (just south of the airport), the area is one of the country's most important wetlands, showcasing 36 mangrove species, as well as holding…

WWII Oil Storage Tunnels

These fascinating tunnels were originally built during World War II in order to protect oil supplies from the Japanese bombings, though they were never used for that purpose. Today, two of the tunnels have been opened to the public and feature a collection of interesting photographs depicting life in Darwin during the war. Daily May–September…

Darwin Entertainment Centre

Darwin Entertainment Centre was recently renovated and is now better poised than ever to host world-class performances. The Darwin Symphony Orchestra appears there regularly, and the centre also hosts major international artists and theatre performances.

The Ghan (Train Ride via Alice Springs to Adelaide)

The entire trip of 2000 miles (3220 km) starts in the tropics of the Northern Territory, in Darwin and leads you through the red desert and Alice Springs, all the way to the green and plentiful province of South Australia and its capital Adelaide. The trains are comfortable and equipped with a dining car; many…

The ‘Island of Smiles’ — Bathurst and Melville, which lie across the water 80 kilometres north of Darwin — proudly offers you thriving Aboriginal arts culture, fishing lodges and tours, pristine coastal views with breathtaking sunsets. Take a day trip from Darwin or stay overnight to enjoy island life just a bit longer. The people…