Itineraries
Walking and Cycling
City and Suburban Full and Half Day Drives
Northern Coast and Beaches
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A drive north along the coast from the Darwin CBD is a pleasant way to spend a day without leaving Darwin itself. Head north out of the CBD via Smith Street. At Gilruth Avenue you can proceed straight across the intersection to Cullen Bay (restaurants, ferry and cruise wharf), or turn right into Gilruth Avenue. Along the way to East Point you will pass Skycity Casino, Mindil Beach Reserve (site of the Mindil Beach Night Markets), Darwin Botanical Gardens, and Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. All are worth visiting; the cafe at the Museum and Art Gallery, which overlooks Fannie Bay, is a great place for morning tea or lunch.
At Goyder Road, follow the coast via East Point Road through Fannie Bay. Fannie Bay Gaol Museum is worth a visit, as is the old Qantas Aircraft Hangar (up Lampe Street to Holtze Street) which is home to some classic motor vehicles in various stages of restoration. Dudley Point offers views across the harbour to Darwin. At the end of the road is East Point Military Museum, which documents Darwin's involvement in World War II.
Return to Fannie Bay, turning left into Ross Smith Avenue at Fannie Bay. Follow Dick Ward Drive north, turning left at Progress Drive for a drive around Nightcliff Point. Further north is Dripstone Point, the beaches within Casuarina Coastal Reserve, and Lee Point, which is the northernmost extremity of Darwin. Return to Darwin via Trower Road past Casuarina Square Shopping Centre.
Humpty Doo and the Adelaide River
Proceed out of Darwin via Stuart Highway. At Winnellie you will pass the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre, which houses a comprehensive display of aircraft, including a giant B-52 bomber. Crocodylus Park and Zoo, which specialises in displaying crocodiles, is situated on McMillan's Road at Knuckeys Lagoon near Casuarina. The Park is opposite the entrance to the Berrimah Police Centre overlooking Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve.
Near McMinns Lagoon, take the Arnhem Highway turnoff towards Humpty Doo. Before reaching the Adelaide River, you will see the turnoff to Fogg Dam. Built for a failed rice growing scheme in the 1950s, the low dam wall, which can be negotiated either in a vehicle or on foot, passes through the middle of a wetlands area that teems with wildlife. Observation points assist in viewing the wildlife. Back on the highway on Beatrice Hill is Window To The Wetlands, a display and information centre which explains all about the wetlands and the flora and fauna that live there. Before the Adelaide River crossing are a number of cruise operators who take guests up and down the river to see Saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat. The crocs put on a spectacular display by jumping right out of the water to take meat from poles dangled over the side of the cruise vessels.
The Territory Wildlife Park is a 45-minute drive south of Darwin off Stuart Highway at Berry Springs. Return via Humpty Doo to Stuart Highway, turn left onto the highway then right into Cox Peninsula Road.
Litchfield National Park
Being less than two hours drive and just over 100 km south-west of Darwin, Litchfield National Park makes the perfect same day destination for visitors to Darwin wanting to experience the bush in the Top End without going too far off the beaten track. More ...
Darwin and suburbs map
