Excursions from Darwin

Overview

Darwin is well-situated to visit the rough-and-tumble bush and wilds of Northern Australia. The city itself is really a small town, and there is not a lot to do within the city.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Public buses are available to get to the main tourist sights. Taxis are easy to call for, and I would not recommend walking around alone at night (especially if you are a woman). The streets outside the main downtown are deserted. Nothing bad happened to me, but as a New Yorker, I think it's better to be safe than sorry.

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Comfort Inn Asti Darwin

Hotel

AWFUL MOTEL. The bathroom had a foul odor that could not be gotten rid of. The evening desk clerk was rude and menacing. My room phone never worked the entire time I was there and the motel was unable to do anything about it. There was no pay phone on the premises. This was a three level motel and there was no elevator so if you have luggage its quite a haul up the stairs. There is an affordable laundry facility on the ground level. There is a pool that drew crowds into the evening. The only windows in the room looked out onto the smoking lounge so if you opened your curtains people smoking could look into your room so there was no privacy. Keeping your blinds shut, there was no natural light. The A/C would only operate when your door key was inserted into a switch so you could not cool the room when you were not there and its a HOT town. I did not feel this motel lived up to the standards you would expect from a big chain.

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by Tallulah_B on September 18, 2005

Comfort Inn Asti Darwin
Corner of Packard and Smith Street Darwin, Australia

Buzz Cafe

Restaurant

Buzz Cafe has a lively bar scene and a broad menu serving Australian specialities, local seafood, and fish and chips, as well as a large wine selection. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor eating areas, all facing the marina and bay. I was told by locals that brunch on the weekends is also very good there, but I didn't get a chance to try it out myself.

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by Tallulah_B on September 18, 2005

Buzz Cafe
Cullen Bay Marina Darwin, Australia

Wallaroo Eco Tours

Attraction | "Litchfield National Park via Wallaroo Eco Tours"

Wallaroo Eco Tours is an excellent local tour operator. The tours are limited to 13 people. The guide we had (John) had an incredible knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and we felt quite safe in his hands (even as crocodiles were leaping up near the boat). You start the tour by getting to hold a small crocodile at the tour office (you don't have to, but it's really amazing). The tour includes visits to three major watering holes/waterfalls where you can swim (high above sea level, so no threat of crocodiles!). A picnic lunch is included (make your own sandwiches--vegetarian options too).

Many operators offer jumping croc tours, but it's great to be with a small group of people so your view is not obscured by the crowds on bigger boats. There is also champagne and prawns offered at sunset. We stopped at a roadside picnic table and enjoyed tasty nibbles. Since the tour group is small and you spend the whole day together, it was a great chance for me traveling alone to meet other travelers. John was very good at anwering all our questions, and it felt like a very personalized tour. There is some walking involved to each waterfall but its not a "rigorous" tour by ay means.

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by Tallulah_B on September 18, 2005

Wallaroo Eco Tours
Litchfield National Park Darwin, Australia

AAT Kings

Attraction | "Kakadu National Park via AAT Kings"

A GIANT coach tour. Not personal at all. Comfortable and convenient, but you don't get to see much on the tour. It's a long drive to Kakadu, and I was told after I booked it that Kakadu really can't be enjoyed in a one-day visit. AAT Kings offers overnights in Kakadu, which might be a better option. The tour takes you to an aboriginal art site on Nourlangie Rock. Then you eat lunch at a buffet style restaurant (included in tour price) then there is an Aboriginal guided river boat tour. Then you drop off the overnight guests (essentially your tour turns into a shuttle service) and that's all there is to the tour; it takes 12-13 hours total. They played a video about kakadu on the bus ride back to Darwin that was more informative than the bus drivers/tour guides had been during the day.

After the Wallaroo Eco Tour I took, I was expecting the bus drivers on AAT Kinsa to have substantial knowledge about the area, but that was not the case. AAT Kings is a big operator in Australia, and it is good for people who want a big coach tour level of comfort, etc., but don't expect much more than comfort.

The Aboriginal River Tour, however, was EXCELLENT! The guide was a hoot and shared much of her culture, her traditions, and her way of life with us. I just wish she had been the tour guide the whole day!

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by Tallulah_B on September 18, 2005

AAT Kings
Kakadu National Park Darwin, Australia

Sunset Harbour Cruise

Attraction

A lovely evening activity. Cruise includes champagne and hors d'oeuvres at sunset and a taste of exotic pearl meat. Things can get lively once people start buying additional drinks on board, but it's a great way to meet other travellers. I met people from other parts of Australia, British tourists, and some Darwin locals. There are not a lot of "views" from the boat, so it really is a social activity as you wait for the sunset.

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by Tallulah_B on September 18, 2005

Sunset Harbour Cruise
Cullen Bay Marina Darwin, Australia

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

Attraction | "Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory"

Combines a natural history and art museum in one place. There were displays of native animals of Australia and Sweetheart, the giant crocodile shot and killed near Darwin in the 1970s, as well as a display on the history of Cyclone Tracy, which nearly leveled the town in 1974. At the time I was there, there was an AMAZING exhibit on contemporary aboriginal artists. There was a diverse collection of working artists from all over Australia, showing the traditional dot style of paintings, as well as exposure to other artistic traditions. And the museum is FREE!

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by Tallulah_B on September 18, 2005

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Conacher Street, Bullocky Point Darwin, Australia

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Darwin

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Excursions from Darwin