IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD…
Darwin
From garden to gallery, waterfront to harbour, enjoy a perfect day in this Northern Territory hotspot.
WORDS Patricia Maunder
MORNING
Start your day in the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens’ lush, sun-dappled greenery. Before exploring its 42 hectares of tropical plants from northern Australia and beyond, savour the internationally influenced fare at Eva’s Cafe that offers heritage charm inside and leafy bliss out on the deck.Discover garden highlights such as the colourful orchid display and rainforest gully’s palms, ferns and waterfall, a garden of dinosaur-era cycads, as well as the Africa-Madagascar garden’s chubby boab trees. Self-guided trails include the Matboerrma Walk, which reveals the local Larrakia people’s traditional uses for native plants, and the coastal walk from beach to mangrove boardwalk.
This path leads to your next destination, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, or MAGNT as locals call it. Although it’s a relatively small institution, the Indigenous art and craft displays are among Australia’s best – especially the annual National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards exhibition. It closes January 27, but returns mid-2025 with another year of award winners. Allow time for MAGNT’s museum side including the Cyclone Tracy exhibition and a five-metre taxidermied crocodile named Sweetheart, plus a break at the the café. Overlooking Fannie Bay, it’s one of Darwin’s (Garramilla) most picturesque spots for coffee – iced, please!
AFTERNOON
While away the day your way on the waterfront, which reveals sparkling sea views at every turn. Lunch could be as simple as fish and chips and an ice cream on lively Stokes Hill Wharf while watching boats glide by. For something more stylish yet still classic Darwin easy-breezy, try Snapper Rocks. From barramundi to crocodile, this restaurant’s focus is on fresh, local flavours, which extends to the in-house distillery. Treat yourself to a refreshing cocktail created with gin such as Troppo Top End or Ancient Land Kakadu plum.
Darwin Harbour’s blue waters beckon you in for a dip – but wait, crocs and stinging jellyfish are lurking! Fortunately not in the waterfront’s popular protected area though, so you can swim, play volleyball and laze on a sun lounge at the sandy beach, or jump for joy and make a splash among Aqua Park’s giant inflatables. Hit the man-made Wave Lagoon for freshwater fun, from gentle swells to waves over a metre.Other waterfront attractions include the shady Esplanade walk through Bicentennial Park. Alongside clifftop coastal panoramas are the Cenotaph war memorial and interpretive signs revealing the city’s military history. Want to learn more about the World War II bombing of Darwin? Don’t miss the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Darwin Tourist Facility’s holograms, interactive ‘ghosts’ and virtual-reality experience.
EVENING
The sun’s fiery descent into the sea is the best show in town, especially if you’re on a sunset dinner cruise. Board Darwin Harbour Cruises’ 25-metre, tri-level catamaran for a memorable meal afloat. As relaxed music sets the mood, sip a celebratory chilled beverage in air-conditioned comfort. At your white-draped table, feast on favourites from the buffet showcasing Australian produce including prawns, oysters, kangaroo and botanicals such as lemon myrtle and desert lime. There are flavours saluting the Top End’s Asian neighbours too, like coconut, lemongrass and pawpaw.
The views are priceless – the mangrove-fringed city skyline shifts from golden daylight to light-twinkling night, and the sunset’s evolving extravaganza of colours is reflected on calm waters until the last dusky glimmer.
Take to the water with Darwin Harbour Cruises and check out our latest experience guide video which puts the spotlight on a sunset cruise.
THE DETAILS
TOUR
Darwin Harbour Cruises offers sunset buffet dinner cruises, as well as the Gaze and Graze Sunset Cruise. This experience includes a platter of gourmet delights, and drinks can be purchased during both cruises. 2025 prices are $145 adult or $84 youth for the dinner cruise, and $125 for all passengers on the Gaze and Graze cruise. Infants up to three years travel free of charge.