Looking for must do in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia? I’m sharing the 5 best things to do in Darwin that you won’t regret!
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory of Australia! It is the gateway to the top end, national parks, crocodiles, and home to some of the nicest and friendliest people I have ever met in Australia!
On a side note, it is the closest city to Asia which means it is also the cheapest place to fly to Asia and land back in Australia!
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Top 5 must do in Darwin, Australia
When is the best time to visit Darwin?
Mid-June to mid-September is the dry season and generally offers cool weather, unlike the hot and sticky weather in other months.
I went in April and during the day I was sweating bullets (over 30 degrees)! and it wasn’t just the heat but the humidity! But Darwin is a beautiful place and must be visited if you are in Australia. Plus, there is A/C and pool in almost every place so you should be good and during the evening it cools down enough to walk around!
Where to stay in Darwin?
Check hotel prices and book it through the trusted Agoda, or Booking.com personally I recommend YHA which I found to be safe & central. Also a good place to meet fellow solo travellers.
I have detailed travel resources right here. Save money, learn what and how.
How to get to Darwin?
I used Greyhound WHIMIT pass to get to Darwin from Alice Springs. It is the most useful travel pass that allows you to travel and see over 250 stops in Australia! It covers must-see locations such as Brisbane, and Adelaide but also off-the-beaten-path destinations like Noosa!
Basically, you can travel anywhere and in any direction on the Greyhound route, for a chosen amount of time! You can choose from 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 or 365 days pass! There is no other travel option that is this extensive and flexible in Australia!
Use code k7zapn for a $10 off your first Uber ride and use code WT7BSQD2 for a $20 Didi discount which is a rivalry to Uber.
Now, without further ado, let’s begin!
Top 5 must-do in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia
1. See the Kakadu National Park
Darwin is a gateway to the massive Kakadu National Park. It is a UNESCO heritage site and is well preserved by the Australian official bodies. It is also the largest national park in Australia, covering 19,804 km²!
Some of the highlights here would be wildlife from saltwater crocodiles, interesting flatback turtles to colorful birds, and 2000 plus species of plants! This biodiverse nature reserve in Australia’s top end is a must-do in Darwin Australia.
2. Visit the Litchfield National Park
Litchfield National Park not only has stunning waterfalls but it also has swimming holes with wonderful fishes and is home to giant termite mountains! It is fascinating to see how those little creatures create these large structures! It is no surprise that this national park attracts over 370,000 visitors every year!
This beautiful oasis is quite far to drive from Darwin city. So, I was on the lookout for an awesome tour with a local guide!
That is when I found Ethical Adventure tour and highly recommend the experience. Pick up/drop off right at your front door is included as well as homemade MANGO MUFFIN, BEST COOKIE (I ever had) and other little surprises along the way! It was a small interactive group tour that allowed everyone to engage in conversations and within an hour we all knew each other by their first name!
Litchfield was on my long-standing bucket list ever since I saw the pictures online! And it was well worth fulfilling the dream after four years! I was awestruck by the picturesque natural beauty pinching myself, again and again, to believe that such a wonderful place ever exists in the present era! I wish to repeat this visit again at least once in my life!
Litchfield is a local’s favorite place and travelers off the beaten path gem! Our local tour guide Rob was welcoming, friendly, professional full of knowledge about the area, and pleasant throughout the day. And super well organized also!
I did a day tour with Ethical Adventure and it set the bar high for a day tour! Brilliant experience. 10/10
Some of the must-sees in this national park are Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Termite mounds, wetlands, and Buley rock holes.
Alternatively, here are some recommended darwins tours from get your guide.
3. Enjoy the sunsets at Mindil Beach
Darwin has several beaches and green areas like Bicentennial Park, deckchair cinema at the botanic gardens, national parks, waterfront a few minutes from Mitchell Street, Mindil beach, and more. If watching sunsets by the beach is your type of relaxation, then you are in paradise in Mindil Beach! Plus, sunsets are actually stunning, making it to this list of must do in Darwin!
It is a scenic beach with stunning sunsets over the water! Get yourself some sunscreen, a bottle of water, read a good book or take a dip and work on your tan. It is all possible here at Mindil beach! If you are curious head to Museum and Art Gallery nearby to learn about the history.
4. Eat at the delicious markets
When you are done sunbathing and enjoying the Mindil beach, head to the markets across the road. They do almost all types of Asian cuisines and some western ones too.
I recommend the Juice/smoothie booths and Indian cuisine but I have no doubt the rest would be awesome as well! It does get super crowded though, so get there an early part of the night! Luckily when I was there, it was the first opening of the season, so they even had fireworks at the markets/beach!
Watch my “Darwin” highlight on Instagram for live stories from the market!
5. Go on a Helicopter Pub Crawl
Yes, you read that right!
You must have heard or been to a pub crawl right? Well, this is exactly the same concept but with the dash of class and comfort on a helicopter!
I went with Airborne Solutions and highly recommend the tour. It starts in the morning around 9 AM and last 7hours. Pick up/drop off aren’t included but it isn’t far from the Darwin center.
TIP:
Install Uber app
Download the Uber App for going around in Darwin. Better than waiting for taxis and trains, get reliable and fast door-to-door service. For my readers, I’m giving you $10 off your first ride on the Uber app. To accept, use code ‘k7zapn’ to sign up. Enjoy! Details: https://www.uber.com/invite/k7zapn
Some highlights from the Helicopter Pub crawl are Darwin Harbour from above, touching the Adelaide River, spotting the water buffalos, watching the wild crocodiles getting fed (another must-do in Darwin), visiting beautiful off-the-beaten-path places, expert commentary from the pilot, and sipping your favorite beverage at some of the coolest locations in Darwin, Australia!
Get your mates together and have a blast! Or like me, go on your own and meet people in the helicopter! It is definitely high up on my list of must-do in Darwin. Do yourself a favor and book it in advance as they get booked quickly!
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Let me know in the comments –
- Which activity would you like to do in Darwin?
- Heading down to Alice Springs for that unique Uluru trip?
- Read the solo travel guide to Sydney, Australia
- Check out how you can explore Adelaide the best way.
- Heading to the east coast soon? Check out Australia east cost must see.
- Solo travel guide to Brisbane (Insta worthy places included!
- Flying to Bali after this? Here I have put together 2 weeks Bali itinerary.
- Over 90 things to do in Melbourne at night
- Heading to Melbourne next, check out my favourite Melbourne attractions.
- Heading to Perth, read things to do in Perth
- Going to Vietnam after Australia? Check out the 7 days Hanoi travel guide.
- Check hotel prices and book it through the trusted Agoda, or Booking.com
- Whatever you do, book the cheapest flights through the most trusted sites such as Skyscanner or Momodo.
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Australia is so beautiful, I’ve always wanted to go there. I would enjoy going to the beach, for me it’s not a true vacay unless you go to the beach at least once. The beach you mentioned looks amazing!
Oh wow! I have always wanted to visit Australia. There is such a diverse land and culture there. It’s been on my bucket list for years.
I adore sunsets so of all these 5 must-do activities you listed, I’d like to go for a trip to Mindil Beach first. I could spend days watching that glorious sun disappearing over the horizon. If I would wake up early, I’d watch the sunrise too.
I am all about eating at the delicious markets. Eating is BASICALLY why I travel, ha ha ha! I just love food so so much. I could take my grub and eat it in one of these gorgeous national parks! 😉
Wow! I love it here! Hope I can go here sooner!
I’ve always wanted to visit Australia, but never have because of the visa requirement. Visas can be such a hassle.
Australia is on our bucket list. The places you mentioned, activities and foods to eat will really help in us having a great experience if we ever make the trip.
I didn’t know that there were so many things to do in Darwin, Australia. I can’t wair for the helicopter ride when I get there!
yes please! i need to get there and see everything!!!!!
Australia is definitely on my list of places I need to go! I’ve never heard of Darwin though, is that near the Gold Coast?
I’ve always wanted to visit Australia! This makes me want to go even more now! <3 Thank you!
I’ve always thought about going to Australia would be cool. Those markets sound fun to me!
Darwin looks like a good place to visit in Australia. When I think of Australia, my lack of knowledge just knows about Sydney.
So beautiful. I would escape our harsh Canadian winters to visit Australia at the drop of a hat
I am down for all of this goodness (except for the helicopter 😅 they freak me out haha). I would love to go! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and suggestions with us!
What a beautiful looking area. Have to put it on our bucket list!!
I would love a trip to Austrailia. There is so much I have always wanted to see that is out there.
you have explained everything so well. I will love to visit this sometime in the near future!
You photos are beautiful! Australia is on my travel bucket list!
Australia is definitely on my travel bucket list. This looks like it would be such an amazing trip.
It looks and sounds like an amazing place to visit. Sign me up.I’m ready for a new travel adventure.