Family-Friendly Darwin
Darwin is the closest Australian city to Singapore. Hop on a 4.5-hour plane ride and poof, you’re there! Get that dose of Australian outdoor family-fun that’s just a blink away from our sunny island. To help you start your planning, here’s a list of exciting activities in Darwin that’s great for the whole family!
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1. Wave Lagoon
Embrace that endless summer at the Wave Pool by the Darwin Waterfront. At the sound of the siren, the water starts to swell, and before you know it, the fun starts! Lay back on your trusty inflatable tube and enjoy it bobbing up and down, or hop onto a boogie board (surfboards are not allowed) to ride those crests. The pool is armed with lifeguards to ensure safety as well as a kiosk to make sure you’re all pumped up with ice-cream and drinks. So bring the whole family down for some fun under the sun!
Address: Kitchener Drive, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia
Opening Hours: 10AM-6PM
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2. Mindil Beach Sunset Markets
Every Thursday and Sunday, Mindil Beach comes alive in the evenings with 300 stalls lining the water. Enjoy a picnic dinner by the sea while admiring the spectacular sunset and live music in the background. Take your pick of delectables from 60 food stalls featuring cuisines from Greece, Turkey, South America, Africa, India and Southeast Asia. Once you’re armed with food in your bellies, check out the other stalls selling local leather products, indigenous art and handmade jewellery for some nifty souvenirs to bring home.
Address: Maria Liveris Drive, The Gardens NT 0820, Australia
Opening Hours: Thu: 5-10PM, Sun: 4-9PM
3. Territory Wildlife Park
Come and meet the Top End’s wildlife at its best. With a mix of zoo-type exhibits and natural bush trails, this wildlife park gives visitors a chance to observe these magnificent creatures (including elusive nocturnal ones) in their natural habitats. Explore treetop aviaries, a natural lagoon and even stand face-to-face with a four-metre saltwater crocodile! Bring your kids on down during the school holidays when the park schedules interactive educational programmes to keep them entertained for hours!
Address: Cox Peninsula Rd, Berry Springs Darwin NT 0838
Opening Hours: 8.30AM-6PM, Closed on Christmas Day
4. Aquascene Fish Feeding
How about feeding fish directly in the ocean? Aquascene is a nice little outfit where the wild fish come up to shore during the high tide to be fed by hand. This was a tradition that began about 50 years ago, when nearby residents started throwing bread scraps to a few small mullet. Today, visitors travel from far and wide to participate in this interesting phenomenon. During feeding times, trays of bread scraps will be provided, and for a small fee you can come and hand-feed the fish here. The species you will get to feed are mostly mullet and milkfish. If you’re lucky, you may also get to feed some catfish, rays, cod, diamond fish and even parrot fish!
Address: 28 Doctors Gully Road, Darwin, Northern Territory
Opening Hours: Opened daily, feeding sessions depend on the high-tide timings. Detailed feeding schedule can be found on their website.
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5. Crazy Acres Mango Farm & Cafe
Calling all mango lovers! Crazy Acres Mango Farm & Cafe is a family-run 25-acre mango farm in Berry Springs, and you can be sure that its homemade mango jams, ice-creams, and smoothies are filled with natural sweetness and great flavour. Located close to the Berry Springs Nature Park and the Territory Wildlife Park, feel free to pop by in between park visits for a nice picnic lunch or a relaxing meal at its al fresco cafe that serves food all day. Must-tries include the pulled pork rolls, fresh salads and mango cheesecake.
Address: 70 Reedbeds Rd, Berry Springs NT 0838
Opening Hours: 9AM-5PM
6. Crocosaurus Cove
Get up close and personal with a giant crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove… if you dare! Step into the Cage of Death and be lowered into an enclosure with some of the largest saltwater crocodiles in the planet for 15 whole minutes. Learn more about the amazing critters housed here at the Meet The Reptile shows, Interactive Hatchling Area, Big Croc Feeding shows, Aquarium Barramundi Feeding shows, Turtle Billabong and the World Of Crocs museum.
Address: 58 Mitchell St, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia
Opening Hours: 9AM-6PM
7. WWII Secret Oil Storage Tunnels & Darwin Military Museum
Travel down under, literally, to the underground storage tunnels at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct. It was dug during World War II (WWII) by the Civil Construction Corps to protect the Darwin's oil supplies from the Japanese. Today, it is a unique tourist attraction showcasing photographs of the Allied war efforts in the Top End. After you are done here, skip on down to the Darwin Military Museum for more WWII memorabilia. Located at the East Point, the museum collects and displays artefacts from all conflicts where Australian troops were deployed.
Address: [Tunnels] Kitchener Drive, Wharf Precinct Darwin NT 0800, [Military Museum] LOT 5434 Alec Fong Lim Dr, East Point NT 0820, Australia
Opening Hours: [Tunnels] Daily, May-Sep: 9AM-4PM, Oct-Apr: 9AM-1PM, [Military Museum] Nov-Mar: 10AM-3.30PM, Apr-Oct: 9.30AM-5PM
8. Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is the main museum in the Top End. It houses over 30,000 art and cultural artefacts, including aboriginal art. Be sure to check out one of its most famous exhibits—the preserved body of a gigantic 5.1-metre crocodile, named “Sweetheart”. Contrary to its name, it wasn’t sweet at all, attacking a series of boats in the ‘70s until it was caught. Don’t forget to make time for the cyclone simulator as well. The simulator is said to be very realistic, and is part of the Cyclone Tracy Exhibition, which tells the story of Darwin’s destruction when Cyclone Tracy hit in 1974.
Address: Kitchener Drive, Wharf Precinct Darwin NT 0800
Opening Hours: Daily, May-Sep: 9AM-4PM, Oct-Apr: 9AM-1PM
9. Litchfield National Park
Litchfield National Park is Darwin locals’ go-to location for classic Australian outdoor adventure and it’s just a 45-minute drive outside of the city. It’s famous for its beautiful Wangi and Florence Falls, a great many bush walks, wildlife and waterholes. Read more about Litchfield National Park here. But one of its most impressive sites is the Magnetic Termite Mounds. Up to a century old, learn more about these remarkable creatures and their habitat in the nearby information shelter.
Address: Litchfield Park Rd, Rakula NT 0822, Australia
Opening Hours: 10AM-3PM
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