Explore the top things to do in Darwin with kids
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, is a former frontier outpost and is a gateway to the massive Kakadu National Park.
There are many things to do and places to visit while visiting Darwin Northern Territory during the Australian school holidays - whether exploring its beaches, National Parks, and wildlife or taking tours through Kakadu National Park, Darwin has heaps of fun activities for families!
Whether you're looking for free things to do in Darwin, the best time to visit Darwin, must-do attractions for family, things to do in July - August, and fantastic things to do around Darwin for the whole family to enjoy, we've got you covered!
Some of the best things to do in Darwin with kids and family:
Watch a movie at Deckchair Cinema Darwin
Spend a day at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Catch a sunset on Darwin Harbour sunset cruise on Charles Darwin
Get up close to saltwater crocodiles with the Adelaide River cruise
Get close to nature with the Mary River Cruises
Discover the beautiful Darwin Botanical Gardens
Spend a day with family on the Tiwi Islands
Discover the beauty of Litchfield National Park
Experience Mindil Beach Market food
Visit Territory Wildlife Park and Berry Springs
Watch a movie at Deckchair Cinema Darwin
Address: Jervois Rd, Darwin City NT 0800
Opening hours during the dry season: Daily at 6 pm. The early session starts at 7 pm.
While food and city lovers explore the wonders of Darwin Harbour, don't miss a unique outdoor cinema experience and watch a film at Deckchair Outdoor Cinema! You will enjoy a selection of the best Australian and foreign films, your favourite movies, and those not often seen. Also, they offer some delicious food from the local food truck, and there's always ice cream available!
Deckchair Cinema is a fully independent cinema that the Darwin Film Society runs.
With breathtaking views of the sunset and Darwin Harbour and an elegant outdoor setting - Deckchair Cinema has it all! During the dry season (May - October), the cinema opens seven nights a week at 6 pm. The early session starts at 7 pm.
If you're after some awesome outdoor adventures in the Darwin city centre on your Darwin family holidays, don't miss out on your opportunity for some good old-fashioned entertainment under the stars with your loved ones at one of the top attractions in Darwin, Australia!
P.S. Deckchair Cinema offers cushions to pad out your deckchair and a free insect repellent.
Spend a day at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Address: 19 Conacher St, The Gardens NT 0820
Opening hours: Daily, 10 am - 4 pm
FREE Entry
The Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery are the top Darwin attractions you can visit during your day trip to Darwin. Just a 5-minute drive from the city centre, the Museum and Art Gallery offer a large art collection and ever-changing exhibits - something for everyone!
The Art Gallery of the Northern Territory features contemporary aboriginal art and traditional art, focusing on local artists with European and Indigenous roots. Some art pieces are intricate and very colourful, while others send some political messages. The display panels at the art gallery are very informative, give you a great understanding of the long history, and allow you to experience aboriginal culture.
There are quite a few interesting sections at the art gallery, such as the maritime part and Cyclone Tracy that devastated Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. The Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is spacious, easy to move around, and offers a fantastic Darwin experience!
The Northern Territory Museum is a great place in the capital city for families looking for some free and interactive things to do with kids during your Darwin family holiday. The museum offers an inspiring environment with exhibits about Darwin's history, local wildlife, gems stones, indigenous stories and the Northern Territory's fascinating history. You'll also learn about the prehistoric indigenous times dating about 60,000 years back to the early European settlement in Darwin, Australia.
There is a fantastic kids' space with activities and books, which kids will love! Plus, the Northern Territory Museum staff is very friendly!
After a few hours of exploring the museum and art gallery, check out delicious food at The Northern Territory Museum's cafe, where you can relax in an enchanting atmosphere and enjoy the beautiful Darwin waterfront view.
Catch a sunset on Darwin Harbour sunset cruise on Charles Darwin
Address: Shop 7, Port Arcade, Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin City, NT 0800
Opening hours: Daily, the boarding starts at 5.30 pm
Get ready for an evening you will never forget as you experience the famous Darwin Harbour sunset cruise and enjoy the warm breeze in your hair, an exquisite tropical sunset on the horizon, and a delicious Northern Territory-style buffet dinner on board that includes fresh seafood and local produce!
This 2.5-hour sunset harbour cruise departs daily (from February to December) from the Stokes Hill Wharf at 6 pm and returns at 8:30 pm. The boarding starts at 5.30 pm.
This top Darwin experience is perfect for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life while still enjoying some famous Australian cuisine! The gorgeous Darwin waterfront makes a perfect starting point for such relaxing sunset cruises down the waterways of Darwin Harbour!
Get up close to saltwater crocodiles with the Adelaide River cruise
Address: Shop 6, 52 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT 0800
Opening hours: Jumping Croc Cruise departs Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 1.30 pm with a return around 6.30 pm
Book Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise or Jumping Crocodile Cruise from Darwin
Experience one of Darwin's top attractions - a Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River!Β The Adelaide River is home to over 1600 saltwater crocodiles, birds and other local wildlife and is about a 1.5-hour drive from Darwin Waterfront.
You'll have a great opportunity for an unforgettable experience as you explore Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, the Wetlands Visitor Centre, and this floodplain ecosystem and local wildlife while being safe in your boat with knowledgeable and entertaining crew members who will help guide you all the way!
You'll watch each jumping crocodile up close and how they leap from the water when feeding. There are no cages - just you, the crew members and wild saltwater crocodiles in their natural environment!
Get close to nature with the Mary River Cruises
Address: Corroboree Billabong Rd, Marrakai, NT 0801
Opening hours: May to October; starts at 9 am with a return around 5 pm
The Mary River Wetlands, a hidden gem in the heart of Australia, offer its visitors an experience like no other!
During the dry season (May - October), take on this unique opportunity to explore the Mary River wetlands, which are full of crocodiles and a diverse range of fish, wildlife and 250 species of birds with this Mary River Wetlands Cruise from Darwin Northern Territory.
Discover a day trip to the Corroboree Billabong with visits to the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve and a relaxing Mary River Wetlands cruise. The incredible Mary River Wetlands is home to the largest concentration of crocodiles in the world, so this is your chance to see the saltwater crocodiles up close!
The journey starts at 9 am from Darwin City to Fogg Dam Reserve, with a return to Darwin around 5 pm. Itβs an amazing way to get to know the wildlife with this Mary River wetlands cruise.
The cruise is the best and easiest way to experience the natural beauty of the Mary River Wetlands and see some wildlife while visiting Northern Australia!
Discover the beautiful Darwin Botanical Gardens
Address: Gilruth Ave & Gardens Rd, The Gardens NT 0820
Opening hours: Daily, 7 am β 7 pm
FREE Entry
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens is a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The Darwin Botanic Gardens with native plants are beautiful, well maintained and one of the top Darwin attractions for families! There are plenty of wide walking trails, fountains, waterfalls, lush greenery and more to fully enjoy the gardens in the tropical city.
The whole family will enjoy a lovely walk around the Darwin Botanic Gardens. On your walk, you're likely to discover a fake snake, croc, dragon, and dinosaur! There's also a lovely kids' playground with enough play space to play and a cafe nearby!
The Darwin Botanic Gardens are located just across the road (Gilruth Ave) from Mindil Beach. So enjoy your peaceful walk in the gardens before watching the sunset and checking out the Mindil Beach Sunset Market.
You can reach the Gardens from the Darwin city centre heading towards Mindil Beach. If you're on foot, getting there can take up to 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can use public transport, this Darwin hop-on-hop-off bus tour or one of the Darwin sightseeing half-day tours on which you can also visit East Point Military Precinct, the Museum of the Northern Territory, the Chinese Temple and more!
Spend a day with family on the Tiwi Islands
Address: Ferry Terminal, Larrakeyah, NT 0820
Opening hours: 7:30am at the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal to depart at 8 am. Return at 7:30 pm
You and your kids will never forget your first visit to the Tiwi Islands, Australia, during your family holiday in the Northern Territory. The lush tropical ecosystem is beautiful, and you're about to set foot in it for real!
Start your unique Tiwi Islands adventure by jumping on board the Darwin to the Tiwi Islands ferry to join a 2.5-hour tour and discover the rich aboriginal culture and history of the Tiwi Islands.
The Tiwi Islands (NT) are 80 km north of Darwin and consist of two main islands - Bathurst and Melville. Most of the residents are of Aboriginal origin. So this is a great opportunity for the whole family to meet some of the Tiwi people on one of these cultural and wildlife tours and learn about their ceremonies and rituals, beautiful Aboriginal art and traditional lifestyle. There are also many football fans amongst the Tiwi people, as some of you might be too!
A day trip to the Tiwi Islands during your Northern Territory family holidaysΒ is an unforgettable Darwin experience for all ages. Older kids and teens will be fascinated by the Indigenous heritage, learning about traditional ceremonies such as bush tucker or medicinal plants while you enjoy morning tea and your time off exploring the beautiful Tiwi Islands, full of so much history!
Discover the beauty of Litchfield National Park
Address: Litchfield National Park Rd, NT
Opening hours: Always open
FREE Entry
Looking for free things to do on your family holidays in Darwin, Australia? Look no further than Litchfield National Park! Take out an easy 1.5-hour drive from Darwin City to explore this scenic area.
Litchfield is home to some of the top attractions in Darwin Northern Territory, such as Florence Falls, Sandy Creek Falls, Tjaetaba Falls, Tolmer Falls, Wangi Falls and the Magnetic Termite Mounds. There is even the Lost City at Litchfield National Park!
Road trips are always more fun with some adventure! So, make the most out of your trip to Litchfield by doing something different. Swim under waterfalls and in crystal clear swimming holes like Buley Rockhole Pools, and spot colourful birds or wildlife on bushwalks through the rainforest.
The road in Litchfield National Park is unsealed but well-maintained, so during the dry season (May to October), you can go there by either a 4WD or a regular car.
If you want to uncover the spectacular hidden waterfalls and more of Litchfield National ParkΒ with a knowledgeable guide, check out the details and book your day trip to Litchfield from Darwin.
Experience Mindil Beach Market food
Address: Maria Liveris Dr, The Gardens NT 0820
Opening hours: Thursdays and Sundays 4pm - 9pm (April to October)
FREE Entry
Head to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, the famous markets in Darwin, Australia, for some delicious local food, fresh fruit and vegetables to make your taste buds happy.
During the dry season (April to October), the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets start from 4 and finish at 9 pm and are open on Thursdays and Sundays. It's a great place to spend an evening while visiting Darwin Northern Territory, as it's one of the best spots to watch the beautiful Darwin sunset too!
Families with kids will love visiting the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, from watching the kids having fun at this playground, jumping on a castle near the kids' playground, and watching a circus show and live music to a fire twirling show!
With a big selection of food and drinks, you can find anything at the Mindil Beach Markets: crocodile meat, fresh juices, smoothies and all kinds of food!
Visit Territory Wildlife Park and Berry Springs
Address: Berry Springs Nature Reserve, Berry Springs NT 0838
Nature Reserve opening hours: Daily, 8 am - 6:30 pm
Nature Reserve entry fee: FREE
Territory Wildlife Park Opening hours: 1 October - 31 March (Wet season) 9 am - 3 pm. 1 April - 30 September (Dry season), 9 am - 4 pm. Closed on Christmas Day
Territory Wildlife Park Entry fee: Adult $37, Child (5-16 y.o.) $18.50; Child (under 5 y.o.) - Free; Concession $26-$30
Visit Territory Wildlife Park and Berry Springs Nature Reserve with your family for an unforgettable experience. The 1-hour drive from Darwin City will bring you to a peaceful landscape full of natural swimming holes, shady picnic areas with BBQ facilities and where the kids can spot some turtles! If you visit the park in March and April, you'll see beautiful native flowers everywhere in this beautiful park near Darwin City.
The Territory Wildlife Park is a perfect destination for you and your family to enjoy the company of wildlife up close in their natural habitats. You can meet animals walking through treetop aviaries strolling around a natural lagoon, and you can get up close enough to them during daily presentations. When you stroll beneath the surface in the walk-through aquarium, you will meet some aquatic life and a giant saltwater crocodile!
So plan to spend a day in Territory Wildlife Park and Berry Springs Nature Reserve, as they are perfect spots for a day out with the kids during your Darwin holidays!
