Spending 48 hours in Australia’s Top End? You’ve got a lot to cover in this tropical paradise that’s waiting to be discovered! Plan your Darwin itinerary well and you can squeeze a lot into two days. Here’s how…
DAY 1
Daytime
If you’ve only got 48 hours to spare in the city, the best way to get around is on a hop-on, hop-off guided bus tour. You’ll be taken straight to the best sights and attractions, with an informative commentary giving you all the facts and info you need. And, you’ll have the option to hop off at any stop you want to get a closer look at.
There are so many exciting attractions in Darwin, so start your trip by harnessing your inner adventurer. Head to Crocosaurus Cove, to get up close and personal with some of the largest crocodiles you’ve ever seen. You’ll learn all about the magnificent reptiles, watch them being fed, and meet Burt, the croc that starred in the Crocodile Dundee film. If you’re feeling really brave, you can cuddle a baby crocodile and take part in the ‘cage of death’ experience which involves being lowered right into their tank.
After getting acquainted with the crocs, head to Doctor’s Gully and the Aquascene Fish Feeding Sanctuary to mingle with some underwater creatures. At this unique tourist spot, you can hand feed and touch the friendly fish that come to the dock. Residents include rays, catfish, batfish, barramundi and more. It’s not every day that you get to cuddle a crocodile and stroke a fish!
After ticking off the animal-focused attractions, make your way to Darwin’s botanic gardens to see a vast collection of exotic plants. Thanks to the city’s tropical climate, you’ll find unique flora and fauna that would usually be found in rainforests, plus orchids, palm trees and bromeliads growing naturally here too. Its one of the few botanic gardens in the world where marine and estuarine plants grow naturally.
Morning Tour (Red Route)
Afternoon Extended Tour (Blue Route)
Evening
Head to Darwin Waterfront Precinct and take your pick from the waterfront restaurants and bars in the area. There’s Fiddlers Green which serves Irish fare and modern Australian cuisine, The Oyster Bar where you can enjoy fresh oysters and Australian wine, and Wharf One that has a tasty selection of food and wine. After your feed, enjoy a sundowner at the Precinct Tavern which offers 44 varieties of craft beer and cider.
Morning Tour (Red Route), Stop: Stokes Hill Wharf
DAY 2
Daytime
After spending your first day getting to grips with Darwin’s natural landscape and local wildlife, use your second day to learn more about the city’s culture and history. Head to the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory to learn about Aboriginal art, natural science and arts & crafts from the South-East Asia & Pacific regions. There’s an entire room and interactive display dedicated to Cyclone Tracy, which devastated the city on Christmas Day in 1974. You’ll also find a gigantic stuffed saltwater crocodile and loads of local history stories.
To find out more about how Australia was affected during World War II, visit the Darwin Military Museum and Defence of Darwin Experience. This immersive and interactive museum gives a dramatic insight into the Japanese bombing of Darwin with footage, artefacts and military vessels to see.
Continue your tour with a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Facility, where you can learn about the birth and growth of the RFDS. Visit the Bombing of Darwin Harbour, located in the same place, where you can listen to fitsthand experiences and stories of what happened that day through the most modern and exciting technology.
Morning Tour (Red Route), Stop: Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory
Morning Tour (Red Route), Stop: Stokes Hill Wharf
Afternoon Extended Tour (Blue Route), Stop: Military Museum - Defence of Darwin Experience
Evening
Spend your final evening in Darwin on Mindil beach. Hanging out on the beach is the one activity that’s typically Australian, so it would be rude not to. Thanks to the population of box jellyfish and crocodiles, swimming is a no-no. But luckily, this place holds a Sunset Market twice a week which attracts thousands of locals and tourists. Open from Thursday to Sunday, here you can browse over 300 stalls selling street food snacks and hand-crafted souvenirs. Everything from Sri Lankan curries to Aboriginal art and didgeridoos can be purchased here.
Afternoon Extended Tour (Blue Route), Stop: Cullen Bay Apartments, Myilly Point Heritage Precinct
Sorted for your 48-hour trip to Darwin? Follow the itinerary above and you’ll get to know Darwin’s history, culture and crocodiles in a short space of time. Browse our Darwin bus routes for more itinerary inspiration.
