About Darwin
Darwin is the capital and largest city of the Northern Territory, Australia. The city had a population of 139,902 at the 2021 census, which is nearly 63% of the territory's population. It is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly of the Australian capital cities and serves as the Top End's regional centre.
Places to visit in Darwin
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Mindil Beach Sunset Market
MarketA beachside market with food stalls, crafts and live performers, held in the dry season. Arrive in time to watch the sun set over the Timor Sea, and avoid swimming due to crocodiles and jellyfish.
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Darwin Waterfront
NeighborhoodA harborside precinct with restaurants, a wave pool and a safe swimming lagoon. It is one of the few places in Darwin where you can swim in the sea safely.
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Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
MuseumA museum covering Aboriginal art, natural history and Cyclone Tracy, which devastated Darwin in 1974. Do not miss the preserved saltwater crocodile known as Sweetheart.
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Crocosaurus Cove
Zoo · 2 mi from centreA city-center wildlife park where visitors can see huge saltwater crocodiles up close. Book ahead for the Cage of Death, which lowers you into the water beside the crocodiles.
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George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
ParkTropical gardens with palms, rainforest walks and plants used by Aboriginal people. Visit early in the morning when it is cooler and birdlife is most active.
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Darwin Military Museum
Museum · 3 mi from centreA museum at East Point telling the story of the World War II bombing of Darwin. Combine it with a walk along the East Point reserve to see wallabies.
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Litchfield National Park
Nature · 58 mi from centreA national park with waterfalls, plunge pools and giant magnetic termite mounds. Check which swimming holes are open, as some close in the wet season.
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Territory Wildlife Park
Zoo · 21 mi from centreA large wildlife park south of Darwin showcasing native animals in natural settings. Do not miss the bird of prey show, and plan to spend at least half a day there.
Things to do in Darwin by type
25 tours, tickets and experiences across 5 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Day Trips & Excursions 9 experiences Darwin City Sights and Jumping Crocs - Full-Day Tour -
Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours 9 experiences Exclusive Experiences: Helifish - Helicopter Flight and Fishing - Full-Day Tour -
Outdoor activities & Adventure 8 experiences Darwin City Sights and Jumping Crocs - Full-Day Tour -
Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 5 experiences Croc And History Explorer Package - Full-Day Tour -
Cruise & Water Tours 2 experiences Mary River Wetlands Discovery by Airboat and Helicopter with Lunch Cruise
- Over 6 hours 5
- 3-6 hours 2
- 1-3 hours 2
- Flexible 1
- Up to 1 hour 1
- Small group 14
Top experiences in Darwin
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 25 available.
Croc And History Explorer Package - Full-Day Tour
From $80 per adult
Explore Darwin City Sights - Half-DayTour
From $84 per adult
Darwin City Sights and Jumping Crocs - Full-Day Tour
From $213 per adult
Jumping Crocs and Nature Adventure - Half-Day Tour
From $128 per adult
Kakadu National Park Explorer - Full-Day Tour
From $275 per adult
Discover Nitmiluk Gorge and Edith Falls - Full-Day Tour
From $253 per adult
Tiwi Aboriginal Cultural Experience by Ferry
From $358 per adult
Litchfield National Park Waterfalls
From $158 per adult
Thunderball WW2 Jet Ski Adventure
From $136 per adult
Jet Ski Tour
From $150 per adult
Helicopter Tour with Transfer
From $374 per adult
Hellfish: Helicopter Flight and Fishing - Half-Day Tour
From $1,056 per adult
Best time to visit Darwin
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Darwin is June to August, when average daytime highs are around 86–88°F and rain falls on about 1 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Darwin weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 89° 79° 59%
- Thu 22 Oct 89° 80° 65%
- Fri 23 Oct 88° 78° 79%
- Sat 24 Oct 87° 74° 71%
- Sun 25 Oct 87° 80° 75%
- Mon 26 Oct 87° 78° 97%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD)1 US dollar ≈ $1.43
- Language
- English
- Calling code
- +61
- Driving
- On the left
- Time zone
- Australia/DarwinUTC+9:30
- Capital
- Canberra
Upcoming public holidays in Australia
- Christmas Day
- St. Stephen's DayBoxing Day
- New Year's Day
- Australia Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Darwin
These are the airports closest to central Darwin. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- DRW Darwin International Airport3 mi (5 km) from the city centre
Getting around Darwin
Darwinbus operates services throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Services are more frequent closer to the city where the routes overlap. You will need to plan according to the timetable to get anywhere else. There are limited services on Sundays. All services have been totally free since 2024.
By car
Driving is the best way to comprehensively see Darwin. Many of the sights are spread out, parking is easy and traffic is usually free flowing.
By foot
Walking can be very hard work for those not used to the climate in Darwin. Dress to stay cool, and carry water.
Darwin travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Darwin?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Darwin is June to August, when average daytime highs are around 86–88°F and rain falls on about 1 days a month.
What is the weather like in Darwin?
October is usually the warmest month in Darwin, with average highs of 91°F (33°C). July is the coolest, with average lows of 72°F (22°C). The wettest month is typically January, with about 519 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Darwin?
Darwin International Airport (DRW) is the closest airport, about 3 miles (5 km) from the centre of Darwin.
What currency is used in Darwin?
Darwin uses the Australian dollar (AUD). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ $1.43.
What time zone is Darwin in?
Darwin uses the Australia/Darwin time zone (currently UTC+9:30). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Darwin?
Darwinbus operates services throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Services are more frequent closer to the city where the routes overlap. You will need to plan according to the timetable to get anywhere else. There are limited services on Sundays. All services have been totally free since 2024.
What are the best places to visit in Darwin?
Top sights in Darwin include Mindil Beach Sunset Market, Darwin Waterfront, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and Crocosaurus Cove. A beachside market with food stalls, crafts and live performers, held in the dry season. Arrive in time to watch the sun set over the Timor Sea, and avoid swimming due to crocodiles and jellyfish.
What are the top things to do in Darwin?
Popular experiences you can book in Darwin include Croc And History Explorer Package - Full-Day Tour, Explore Darwin City Sights - Half-DayTour and Darwin City Sights and Jumping Crocs - Full-Day Tour. Destina Holidays offers 25 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Darwin?
The most popular types of experiences in Darwin are day trips & excursions (9), air, helicopter & balloon tours (9), outdoor activities & adventure (8) and zoo, aquarium & nature (5). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
