How to visit Darwin in 1 day? An ideal base for exploring the Northern Territory’s national parks (Litchfield National Park, Nitmiluk Gorge, Kakadu National Park…), Darwin is often forgotten or neglected by tourists. And because unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to visit the national parks, I decided to take an interest in this city that surprised and seduced me. This is how I visited Darwin in 1 day.
Post summary
How to visit Darwin in 1 day?
Darwin is not a city very rich in architectural heritage but there are still some nice places to visit. The only problem is that these places are all very far from each other…. The Darwin agglomeration is very large. I quickly understood that it would be impossible to visit everything on foot in 1 day. And since we only had 1 day to visit Darwin, we chose the Big Bus Hop on – Hop of Darwin Tour tourist bus solution. Indeed, its itinerary and stops were exactly what I was looking for for an optimized visit of Darwin (the last stop of our 3-week trip to Australia).
This way of discovering Darwin by tourist bus allowed us to see all the must-see attractions in one day without necessarily stopping or visiting them all. In addition, we were able to visit at our own pace and eat where we wanted, when we wanted. No constraint since we could take the next bus as soon as we were finished.
Tourist bus to visit Darwin in 1 day
To buy tickets and take the Big Bus Hop on – Hop of Darwin Tour, we went to stop n° 7 of the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory. Indeed, it was the nearest stop to our hotel (10 minutes walk). So, no need to take a taxi to get to the city centre. Ditto for the return, we got off at stop n° 7 (too practical!!!!).
Tourist bus circuit map
Stages of the itinerary Tourist bus
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- Tourist Information Centre – Corner Smith & Bennett Streets
- Crocosaurus Cove – 79 Mitchell Street
- Doctor’s Gully, Aquascene Fish Feeding – 107 Mitchell Street
- Cullen Bay Jetty – 69 Marina Boulevard
- Cullen Bay Apartments, Myilly Point Heritage Precinct – 68 Marina Blvd
- Casino, Mindil Markets, Botanical Gardens – 73 Gilruth Avenue
- Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory – 19 Conacher Street
- Parap – 46 Ross Smith Ave (request stop only)
- Stokes Hill Wharf – 45 Stokes Hill Road
- Waterfront Precinct – Kitchener Drive
- Fort Hill Wharf (Cruise Ship Terminal)
- Anchorage Court
Darwin in 1 day – Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory
This is stop 7, our starting and arrival point very close to our hotel. Of course, we took the opportunity to visit the exhibitions. Especially since the visit is free and COOL!!!!! All the stuffed animals and insects of the region are on display, as well as collections on Oceania’s culture, maritime history, natural sciences, indigenous culture and contemporary art. One room is devoted entirely to Cyclone Tracy, which ravaged the region in 1974.
Darwin in 1 day – Smith Street
This is the bus’s starting point, stop number one. In the heart of Darwin, this charming shopping street is Darwin’s main artery! Very lively, its tourist attraction is linked to the presence of pretty little traditional Aboriginal art shops. There are also fashion shops, souvenir shops and a few bars and restaurants.
Darwin in 1 day – Graffiti district
By taking, a little at random, a small alleyway dead end, we come across the graffiti district of Darwin. What a pleasant surprise! We find ourselves walking the streets discovering magnificent murals, some of which are gigantic. For your information, this open-air art gallery is located on Austin La Street.
Darwin in 1 day – Mindil Beach
We can’t go to Darwin without going to Mindil Beach! This beautiful beach of fine sand gave us the desire to swim, which we quickly gave up. Indeed, the signs in front of the beach are quite dissuasive…
My tips and favorites in Darwin
Just 2 small addresses to share with you if you are looking for a good plan to eat lacquered duck (6 € the dish) and to enjoy large, good, high-calorie pastries:
Our cheap hotel in Darwin
In Darwin, I had booked 2 nights in a comfortable and quite well located hotel for its low price: the Paravista Motel Darwin (71 Euros per night). The rooms are air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi connection, a private balcony, a refrigerator and a tray/boiler. He is old-fashioned but very clean and calm. Anyway, it was a good plan! Its location proved to be perfect because we could find everything we wanted nearby (restaurants, shops…) and the famous stop n° 7 of the tourist bus that we used as a taxi. The quality/price ratio was unbeatable for Darwin: Price per night: 71 € without breakfast – See on Booking
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