10 Things For Kids To Do in Darwin Before 10

Don’t let the city’s laid-back vibe tropical atmosphere fool you; when it comes to a healthy list of family-friendly activities, Darwin leads the charge.

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1. Explore the city’s creativity with Darwin Street Art Festival

Signing the kids up for art classes next term? Help them source inspiration by checking out the Darwin Street Art Festival . Held around the CBD, along the Waterfront and in Cullen Bay , the annual festival will take place in September this year and guarantees a fresh crop of murals by talented local street artists transforming walls with the theme of ‘journeys’. You don’t have to only focus on the festival of course; Darwin’s love affair with vibrant street art can be found in most corners of the city.

Darwin Street Art Festival NT — Get some creative inspiration from the Darwin Street Art Festival.

2. Enjoy sunset at Mindil Beach

Picture the most beautiful sunset you’re ever likely to see, then add a beachside setting, a couple of laughing clowns and a jumping castle. We’ve just (very badly) described the iconic Mindil Beach Sunset Market , which runs 4pm to 9pm every Thursday and Sunday during the dry season. Home to more than 200 vibrant stalls selling a range of cuisine, local handicrafts and souvenir items, kids will love oscillating between the beach, the market itself and the on-site kids’ entertainment which sees the likes of circus workshops, face painting and that aforementioned jumping castle. Fairy floss? It’s a given.

Mindil Beach Sunset Market Darwin NT — Check out the Mindil Beach Sunset Market for the gorgeous view and food.

3. Hang 10 at Wave Lagoon

There’s no better place to ponder all things man versus nature than at one of Darwin’s most popular attractions, Wave Lagoon . Spanning more than 4000 square metres, this palm-fringed, man-made lagoon rolls out 10 different wave patterns with swells ranging from gentle to 1.2 metres – perfect to try out those boogie boards. Patrolled by lifeguards, the waters – including a shallow water play area for little ones – are croc- and stinger-free, and there are plenty of banana lounges and oversized umbrellas for you to have some downtime. Happily, family admission (two adults and up to three children) is only $18, leaving you plenty of change for a gelato or ice-cream from one of the parlours at the nearby Waterfront .

Wave Lagoon Darwin NT — Jump into the pool at Wave Lagoon to have some choppy fun.

4. Observe baby turtles at Bare Sand Island

Experience sunset with the baby flatback and olive ridley sea turtles of Bare Sand Island on a Sea Darwin Turtle Tracks tour. The eight-hour tour includes a 90-minute fast boat ride from Stokes Hill Wharf (the open boat nature of the journey means this tour isn’t recommended for kids under four), dinner and drinks, plus plenty of time to watch our reptilian mates digging their nests. Come at the right time and you might even see some baby hatchlings emerge. Priced from $295 per adult, or $950 for a family (two adults and two children), tour dates are chosen in line with the lunar cycle.

Bare Sand Island Darwin NT — Get an extensive eight-hour tour of Bare Sand Islands and spot the baby turtles on the shore.

5. Hang with the Salties Crocosaurus Cove

Why settle for seeing the odd croc lazing on a riverbank when you can head into the heart of Darwin city and see, hold, feed and even swim with some of the largest saltwater crocodiles anywhere in the world? The jewel of the Crocosaurus Cove crown is the Big Croc Feed VIP Experience , a 1.5-hour guided tour which serves as a saltie ‘best of ’, letting kids handle the babies, feed the mamas and everything in between. Of course if your family thinks nothing of climbing into a contraption titled ‘Cage of Death ’, that’s an option too, but heads up: it involves swimming in a tank with a five-metre chomper. The VIP tour is priced from $85 for adults and $42 for children.

6. Trawl the Markets for Treats

Darwin might be relatively compact, but it has a disproportionately large market landscape – each one with a slant to please every member of the family. Parap Village Markets (pictured), a Saturday morning institution since the 1980s, is particularly popular with its vast selection of tantalising street food (get in early to queue for Mary’s Laksa and don’t miss the tubs of frozen mango chunks: the perfect way for the kids to cool down on a hot day). You can follow it up with a 4pm to 9pm visit to Malak Marketplace and leave Sunday morning free for a visit to Nightcliff Markets, where the vibe is more about recycled fashion, vinyl, books and yep, toys.

Darwin Markets NT — Scout out the markets for delicious treats.

7. Experience a cyclone at Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

You’d never wish a real Category 4 Cyclone upon your children of course, but the terrifyingly realistic cyclone booth within MAGNT’s permanent Cyclone Tracy exhibit will give kids a clear understanding of the day that changed the lives of Darwin residents forever. Elsewhere at the gallery, Sweetheart, the preserved fi ve-metre saltie notorious for knocking locals o dinghies back in the ’70s, is hugely popular with kids, as is the Unruly Days exhibition which takes a look at Territory life between 1911 and 1921. Seize the opportunity to book the kids into the Discovery Centre (open 10.15am to 12.15pm Monday to Friday), a space that o ers supervised arts and crafts activities. Unlike the rest of the gallery, there is a small fee involved.

8. Get to know second World War history with a Heritage Link Attractions Pass

Darwin’s Second World War history is colourful, rich and, happily for little ones, often presented in a tangible way with plenty of cool planes and bombers to look at. Purchase a Heritage Link pass, an all-in-one ticket that helps you step back in time at four of Darwin’s major attractions. You can see the legendary B52 Bomber and more at the Darwin Aviation Museum , enjoy the Myilly Point Heritage Precinct and a visit to the Darwin Military Museum . Just remember to allow at least two hours to experience the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility where a virtual reality experience of a re-enactment of when Darwin came under attack will serve to give everyone chills. A family pass (two adults and up to three kids via tourismtopend.com.au) is $165.

Royal Flying Doctor Service NT — Purchase a Heritage Link Pass to step back in time for the day. (Nick Pincott: Tourism NT)

9. Explore Indigenous heritage with Pudakul Aboriginal Tours

How do you pack over 65,000 years of history into a six-hour tour? It’s an equation the folks at Pudakul Aboriginal Tours have somehow solved, offering families a hands-on look into their traditions and customs across the course of a day. Pudakul’s Culture and Jumping Crocs tour takes in a one-hour cruise to visit the local crocs before heading to Pudakul for the cultural aspect. Kids will learn how to play the didgeridoo, use natural plants to make rope and dilly bags, and hear stories about the local people. A family ticket for the Aboriginal owned and operated tour is $820 including transfers and lunch.

10. Feed the fish at Aquascene

What better way to introduce the ‘circle of life’ concept than by taking the kids to the shoreline of Darwin’s Doctors Gully and hand-feeding the very fish you’ve spent a lifetime eating? (Heads up: there could be some di cult conversations ahead, so have them at KURT’S CAKES, if you can.) At Aquascene , hundreds of friendly local fish, from barramundi and bream to shovelnose rays, are keen to meet you for lunch so why not while away a lazy afternoon from the viewing platform or by wading in the shallows, feed in hand? The fish are always around, but numbers are at their highest between December and August. Family passes are $43.

Aquascene NT — Wave hello to the hundreds of friendly local fish. (Tourism NT)

Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.

Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.

Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.

1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole

Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park , just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole

Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole , open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park — Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)

3. Tour the Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands , a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!

Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).

A creative moment shared inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing space. — Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)

4. Dine in Darwin

Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets , Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets .

Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.

A bowl of Laksa. — Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)

5. Up close with Uluṟu

The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.

There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.

A closer look at Uluru and uncover its ancient stories, sacred sites, and striking natural beauty – one of the most iconic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)

6. Drive the Red Centre Way

From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.

Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.

SEIT Outback Australia is a small group touring specialist offering exciting, adventurous, exclusive and specialised iconic, pioneering and cultural touring in the Red Centre of Australia, giving you the time to learn, absorb and relax in the heart of Australia.<br /><br />This innovative tour company focuses on providing clients with the ultimate interpretive touring experiences with a range of products and customised touring itineraries for small groups and bespoke private charters.<br /><br />The company bases its philosophies from the key words of Spirit, Emotion, Intellect and Task (SEIT). — Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)

7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa

Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa . This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).

Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.

The Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta is one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the Northern Territory, especially at sunrise when the domes glow golden. — Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)

8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges

Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm , Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen .

Soaking in the serenity of Ormiston Gorge, these two travellers enjoy one of the most scenic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)

Start planning the NT road trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com

10 things to do before turning 10 in Darwin