Short Stay Survival Guide: Getting the Most Out of Darwin, Australia

Are you planning a trip to Darwin sometime soon? If so, congratulations because you are in for the adventure of your life! Darwin is Australia’s smallest capital city, but don’t let its modest size fool you. It is full of amazing adventures, sights and sounds that are any traveller’s dream come true. In this article, we look at how you can get the most out of the wonderful city that is Darwin. If you’re a first time visitor, pack your suitcases, get your sunglasses and sunscreen out and read on to find out more.

[ photo credit: pexel.com Catarina Sousa ]

1. Pack According To The Weather

One of the most important things to consider when visiting Darwin is that unlike certain chillier areas in Australia, this is one place where you’ll find endless amounts of sunshine. Because of this, you’ll want to ensure that you are packing for hot weather. This means building a packing arsenal of sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing and items such as hats, sunglasses and anything else that will help protect you from the sun.

When searching for short term accommodation in Darwin, we highly recommend that you choose a place that offers air conditioning so that you’re not sweating, tossing and turning in bed all night. Some other tips are to pack sneakers, sports shoes and other footwear that you can walk easily in, as you’ll almost definitely be exploring national parks and trails during your trip. Comfort is key, so pack accordingly!

2.    Catch A Darwin Sunset

No trip to Darwin is complete without catching a gorgeous sunset, and a trip on the calm waters in the evening is a must do for any visit. Enjoy a fiery red Darwin sunset whilst sailing the harbour, or for those who would prefer to stay on land, head to any beach, boating club or sailing club to catch a glimpse of a sunset you’ll never forget. Harbour cruises run for 2-3 hours beyond the city centre, and you’ll be spoilt with a selection of drinks and canapes to enjoy with your friends and family whilst gazing at the setting sun. Trust us, this is one sunset you’ll be kicking yourself for missing!

3.    Say Hello To Some Crocodiles

If you’re in Darwin, you just have to pay a visit to the crocodiles. Adelaide river, which is 70km from the city center, is the perfect saltwater destination to catch a glimpse of crocodiles. Other popular options are the jumping crocodile cruise on the Mary River where you can watch crocodiles jump to eat meat that is dangling from long hooks. 

If you’re someone who would rather remain in the city center, a great option is Crocosaurus Cove where you can go cage swimming with a crocodile if you’re brave enough! Whichever option you choose, no trip to Darwin is complete without catching a glimpse of these wonderful creatures.

4.    Mindil Beach Sunset Market

The Mindil BeachSunset Market is one of the top destinations for anyone travelling to Darwin. Open on Thursday and Sunday evenings, you can feast your senses to an array of delicious international foods, live music performances, craft stores and street performers at the sunset market. A great tip is to try and get to the market by 6pm, in order to beat the rush of people that stream in a little later. Whether you’re looking for Raw Vegan Cakes, Japanese Cuisine, Southeast Asian cuisine or just a darn good feed, Mindil Beach Sunset Market has you covered.

5.    Trail The Botanic Gardens

Get those trainers out because it’s time to hit up the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. The botanic gardens is a mere 2 kilometres away from the city, and covers over 42 hectares of and that is filled with various north australian species of plants. A popular destination for those who are looking to get active on their holiday, you’ll be able to wander the gardens and relax under a canopy of rain trees when you need a quick rest. 

This is also one of the few botanic gardens in the world that is home to naturally growing marine and estuarine plants, something you’ll definitely want to have a look at on your trip to Darwin.

We hope that this article has given you some ideas into all that Darwin has to offer. No trip to Darwin is complete without stopping off at at least one of these destinations.