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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Illustration by Mike Rossi @micro.grafik

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)

The Northern Territory is made for road trips, and this one hits all the highlights.

Craggy mountain ranges, inviting waterholes, ochre soil: the landscape of the Northern Territory is asking to be explored by road and foot. There are many iconic road trips to choose from here, but none so all-encompassing than the roughly 3000 kilometres of sealed road that make up Explorer’s Way.

Spend 14 days (or more, to really make the most of it) driving this route from Adelaide, hitting the NT near the small settlement of Kulgera before later finishing in Darwin. Along the way, you’ll find nearly all the territory’s most iconic sights.

Discover some of the top highlights that make Explorer’s Way one of Australia’s most incredible road trips.

1. Alice Springs

echidna at Alice Springs Desert Park — See the locals at Alice Springs Desert Park. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

Recently hitting the big screen again with the story of The Kanagroo Sanctuary , there’s a lot to surprise you in Alice Springs.

Three distinct desert habitats – desert rivers, sand country and woodland – are recreated over 1300 hectares at Alice Springs Desert Park . Time your visit for a presentation or a free bird show.

Later, turn your attention to the skies above, taking a dive into local astronomy at Earth Sanctuary . You’ll find a range of experiences, from a 90-minute toe-dip into the stars through to an overnight adventure.

Alice Springs packs a surprising punch with its tasty dining options, including pub grub and unique brews at Alice Springs Brewing Co , tapas and pizza at Epilogue Lounge and tasty cafe fare at the quirky Page 27 .

2. Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park

woman standing at Ormiston Gorge — Dive into Ormiston Gorge. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Dom and Jesso)

Beginning 15 minutes from Alice Springs and stretching across 161 kilometres, Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park is packed with striking ancient landscapes and inviting water holes.

Visit Standley Chasm – traditionally known as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’ – to take in its bold red and orange hues, and to observe the diverse bird species, lizards and wallabies that call it home.

Cool off in one of several picturesque natural swimming holes, like Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge.

3. Uluru & Kata Tjuta

three women looking at Kata Tjuta at sunset — Explore Kata Tjuta. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

Visiting the Cultural Heart of Australia is something everybody should experience. There are so many side trips in the Red Centre you could easily spend a week here, but to get the most out of a short time, park the car then get out on foot.

Take the 10-kilometre Base Walk around the entirety of Uluru or join a free, ranger-guided Mala Walk along part of the base, learning about Tjukurpa (creation stories) and geology as you go.

For a change of pace, wait until nightfall and wander through the iconic Field of Light display by celebrated artist Bruce Munro, or see the Wintjiri Wiru lightshow that shares the ancient Mala story using drones, lasers and projections.

4. Tennant Creek

pson looking at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) northern territory — See the ancient granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Dom And Jesso)

Tennant Creek was Australia’s third-largest gold mining town in the 1930s, and visitors can discover that history at Battery Hill Mining Centre – and even try their own hand at gold fossicking.

For a completely different side of history, pop into Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre , which preserves and shares Warumungu culture through art, performance, a museum and more.

Just outside town, find the ancient granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). A site integral to important stories held by the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Warlpiri and Alyawarra peoples, the boulders appear to almost have dropped out of the sky and seemingly continue to defy gravity.

5. Mataranka

aerial of people swimming in bitter springs northern territory — Dive into Bitter Springs. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Ben Savage)

A town made famous by the novel We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn (and a movie of the same name), Mataranka is also known for its sandy-bottomed thermal pool, Bitter Springs , within Elsey National Park. Follow a 500-metre loop track around these spring-fed pools that stay a toasty 34°C year-round, before choosing your favourite spot to dive into. Enjoy the local birdlife while you relax.

Elsewhere in the park, find historical sites, several scenic walks and Roper River, which is perfect for boating and fishing.

6. Nitmiluk National Park

Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise — Join a sunset cruise with Nabilil Dreaming. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Lachlan Gardiner)

Nitmiluk National Park is sandstone country, with 13 stunning gorges and plenty of waterfalls waiting to be explored.

One of the most beautiful spots can be found along the 62-kilometre Jatbula Trail, a five-to-six day bushwalk that follows an ancient Jawoyn songline from Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls). Numbers are restricted and book out quickly, so be sure to plan well ahead. Not up for the hike? Drive right up to the falls and enjoy a dip without the challenge.

Elsewhere, explore Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Paddle a kayak through the river running through the canyon, or save your energy on a Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise , discovering the stories and ways of the Jawoyn people while enjoying a candlelit dinner as the cliffs around you shift colour and glow with the changing daylight.

Continue your cultural journey at local art centres like Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Art & Culture Centre or Mimi Aboriginal Art & Craft .

7. Litchfield National Park

cathedral termite mounds in Litchfield national park — Be awed by giant cathedral termite mounds. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ As We Wander)

Just over an hour’s drive from Darwin lies the beautiful Litchfield National Park. It’s famous for stunning waterfalls and swimming holes, including Buley Rockhole, Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Tjaynera Falls.

Here you’ll also find hundreds of giant – and magnetic – cathedral termite mounds that are truly a sight to see. Ageing up to 100 years old, you won’t find mounds like these outside the northern parts of Australia. Stroll along the accessible boardwalk to see them up close.

8. Darwin

darwin street art — Darwin art is streets ahead. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Mark Fitzpatrick)

This list wouldn’t be complete without the territory’s capital city: Darwin. Situate yourself upon arrival with a stroll through the main streets, admiring the many art murals by local, interstate and international artists. They’re all remnants of the annual Darwin Street Art Festival , one of Australia’s longest running street art festivals.

Stop to recharge along Darwin’s Waterfront Precinct , an area of delectable restaurants, public swimming pools and free events. And, of course, it would be wrong to leave the city without enjoying a bowl of laksa at Mindil Beach Sunset Market as the sun goes down.

Learn more and start planning your Explorer’s Way road trip at northernterritory.com/drive.

10 things to do before turning 10 in Darwin