Holidays to Darwin

Darwin and Top End cover a vast area, but many attractions are very accessible and Darwin’s easy to get around too. If you go on holiday during the dry season, you can stroll around Mindil Beach Sunset Market, check out the street food stalls for a taste of Darwin’s Asian influence, and join locals on the beach to watch the sun sink over the Timor Sea. Browse the Museum of the Northern Territory, and then discover more history at Burnett House. Or, for a relaxing evening, catch a movie under the stars at the Deckchair Cinema. 

Kakadu National Park is a must-do for Aboriginal rock art, waterfall swimming, wildlife watching and wetland cruising. And, closer to Darwin, Litchfield National Park has everything from tin mines and termite mounds to the stunning Lost City and the astonishing twin-torrent Florence Falls. 

Darwin Waterfront is the place to eat in this city. Friendly cafés with great views are good for breakfast, or you can drop by in the evening to try delicious dishes inspired by tropical Darwin’s close links to Asia. Head to Austin Lane to check out the colourful street art and fantastic Korean restaurants. Or, if you crave sublime seafood, choose Cullen Bay Marina and enjoy inventive recipes made with the catch of the day.

If you’re a meat-eater, don’t leave Darwin and Top End without trying crocodile. It’s a firm favourite in this part of Northern Territory and you’ll see it on menus everywhere, from snacky bao buns to smoked crocodile salads. Locally caught squid is another popular morsel, along with wild-caught barramundi, enormous prawns, giant-clawed mud crab or reef fish. And if you want to drink local, you can do that, too. This isn’t wine country, but you’ll find that Northern Territory craft breweries more than fill the gap.  

Darwin is end-to-end engaging for days out. When the sun’s up, make for Darwin Waterfront where you can lounge on the manmade beach and splash about in the wave pool. Spend an afternoon browsing local galleries like the Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery and Provenance Arts. Or pack a picnic and head to the shores of Lake Alexander at East Point Reserve. 

If you want to extend your horizons, travel east to Mary River National Park and take a wildlife-watching cruise, or travel south to Adelaide River for a jumping crocodile cruise. Alternatively, you can visit Ubirr in Kakadu National Park to see the ancient Aboriginal rock art x-rays, then climb Nadab Lookout to watch the sunset over immense floodplains. Consider taking a 4x4 tour of the Lost City in Litchfield National Park, or head off on a self-guided walk to the Wangi Falls. But, whatever you do, make time for Litchfield’s enchanting butterfly farm – it’s a Northern Territory first. 

The two seasons in Darwin and Top End are dry and wet. Wet season is from November to April, when temperatures range from 25 to 31°C, humidity is very high and it can be stormy. But that’s not to say you should avoid this time of year. Locals love watching the dazzling storms over the Timor Sea between October and December, and cafés and restaurants along Darwin’s waterfront can be packed for big lightening displays. The rainy season is also good for wildlife watching and seeing national parks in full flourish, particularly in February when afternoon storms are balanced by sunny mornings.  

If it’s sun you’re after, though, you’ll want to go on holiday to Darwin in the dry season between May and October. Warm, sunny days are mixed with cooler evenings. Day temperatures often reach up to 33°C in the second half of the season, but it can be as cool as 20°C between May and early July.