DESTINATION DARWIN and the TOP END 2018/19 Edition
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DESTINATION DARWIN AND THE TOP END 2018/19 Edition tourismtopend.com.au FOR THE VERY BEST VIEWS OF THE TERRITORY’S KAKADU Ultimate Adventure 6 HOUR AIR TOUR FROM DARWIN (DAILY) SEE PAGE 56 • 2+ Hours Scenic Flight • Warradjun Centre • Yellow Water Cruise Scenic Flights CREATED B Y MATT WRIGHT National Ge ographic’s ‘Outback Wrangler’ FROM in Kakadu Jabiru or Cooinda SEE PAGE 91 Scenic Flight Specialists Established 1981 FOR ONLY $695 pp G8 Airvan Fleet HALF DAY TOUR INCLUDES: Scenic Floatplane Flight, Airboat Wetlands Cruise, Relaxing Cruise, Wildlife & Scenery, 1800 089 113 Swim in croc safe pool and more! BOOK ONLINE AT www.kakaduair.com.au 08 8981 4881 SIGHTSEEING YOUR WAY 12 STOPS INCLUDING • Crocosaurus Cove • Mindil/Parap Markets • Doctor’s Gully • Museum & Art Gallery of NT • Cullen Bay Marina • Stokes Hill Wharf - RFDS/ • Defence of Darwin Museum Military Museum and Sunset • Waterfront Precinct Harbour Cruises 1 DAY ADULT $40 / CHILDREN $25 SENIOR & STUDENT $35 / FAMILY $110 TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED WHEN BOARDING BUS OR ONLINE / CASH, VISA, MASTERCARD ACCEPTED. BIGBUSTOURS.COM CALL 0416 140 903 THE TERRITORY’S Ultimate Adventure CREATED B Y MATT WRIGHT National Ge ographic’s ‘Outback Wrangler’ FOR ONLY $695 pp HALF DAY TOUR INCLUDES: Scenic Floatplane Flight, Airboat Wetlands Cruise, Relaxing Cruise, Wildlife & Scenery, Swim in croc safe pool and more! 08 8981 4881 THE TERRITORY’S Ultimate Adventure CREATED B Y MATT WRIGHT National Ge ographic’s ‘Outback Wrangler’ FOR ONLY $695 pp HALF DAY TOUR INCLUDES: Scenic Floatplane Flight, Airboat Wetlands Cruise, Relaxing Cruise, Wildlife & Scenery, Swim in croc safe pool and more! 08 8981 4881 BOOK ONLINE tourismtopend.com.au 3 DARWIN AIRPORT SHUTTLE Airport • Hotel • Airport Airport Shuttle Service Air conditioned, safe, Exclusive licence to clean & reliable service operate directly to & from the terminal door at the Darwin International Airport 24 hours • 7 Days a week Darwin City Airport Shuttle Service 08 8947 3979 BOOK ONLINE: www.dcass.com.au 4 Tourism Top End - Visitor Information Centre 1300 138 886 CHARLES DARWIN CENTRE | PASPALEY.COM BOOK ONLINE tourismtopend.com.au 5 Dear Visitors Welcome to Darwin, the gateway Events Page 8 to Northern Australia. I hope that Useful Information 10 you take time to enjoy our unique and enviable tropical lifestyle and Top End Climate 12 experience for yourself the many Driving in the Top End 14 people and places that make Darwin a great place to live. Transportation 16 The Larrakia people are the traditional Vehicle Hire 17 custodians of the land and waters of Darwin Attractions 18 the greater Darwin region and I would encourage you to explore and enjoy Fish Feeding Timetable 23 Aboriginal culture during your stay. Food and Please take time to discover the unique history of Darwin and the Territory – Entertainment 26 visit the ancient Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu, discover what happened when Shopping 33 Darwin was bombed in World War II Art and Culture 35 and then flattened by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Darwin is a city that has rebuilt Fun For Kids 36 itself several times. This is one of the WWII Tourism 38 reasons we are such a vibrant and resilient community. Darwin City I hope that you will find Darwin to be Heritage Walk 41 the friendly, cosmopolitan city it is Accommodation 45 known for, where locals and visitors enjoy our world-famous markets, Budget/Backpacker 52 festivals, cafés and thriving arts scene. Things to do in the If you’re active, you can make the most of our outdoor lifestyle, with world Top End 54 class fishing, sailing, camping, cycling Top End Itineraries 60 and walking in our stunning natural environment. Take advantage of the Fishing the Top End 65 fact that we are on the doorstep of Darwin Harbour 67 World Heritage wilderness areas. Palmerston City 70 Make sure you take the time to chat with our friendly locals and volunteer The Peninsula Way 72 Ambassadors, and ask them about Litchfield National Park 74 their favourite things to do. You’ll soon discover why the Top End captures the Adelaide River hearts of so many who come here. & Batchelor 79 During your stay, if someone Wildlife & provides you with an excellent tourist experience, please nominate them for Wetlands Region 81 a Tourism Top End Super Deeds award. Kakadu National Park 86 You can fill out the form at the back of this book, or nominate via email, Arnhem Land 94 Facebook or Twitter. Tiwi Islands 97 I hope you make the most of all the Katherine & Surrounds 100 unique, diverse and exciting things to do in Darwin and the Top End of Tourism Top Australia. Be safe, and happy travels! End Members 108 The Hon. Kon Vatskalis JP Front cover image credit: Lord Mayor of Darwin Charlie Bliss Creative and 6 Tourism Top End - Visitor Information CentreMindil 1300 Beach 138 886Markets Morning and Afternoon transfers daily in Air-conditioned comfort from Darwin City. 5 Star facilities and Amenities Fully Licenced Pavilion Cafè with Barista made cappuccinos Custom built Pathfinder vessels, cruise in complete safety Territory Owned and Operated, family run business for over 30 years. SHUTTLE BOOKINGS SELF-DRIVE, CALL DIRECT TO BOOK YOUR CRUISE 0438 946 444 (08) 89 888 144 *Conditions, schedule and pricing subject to change without notice. Shuttle bus bookings are essential. Morning and afternoon shuttle time are subject to change please check our website for more information. BOOK ONLINE tourismtopend.com.au 7 FESTIVALS & EVENTS 2018 January February March 20-21 Heineken Hottest 7’s 5 Goyder’s Day, 2 Commonwealth Games in the World, Rugby Park, Darwin Waterfront by the Baton Relay Final Event, Marrara Deckchair Cinema Darwin Waterfront 22 Flix in the Wet, (running 3 Steve Backshall’s BBC 10 Darwin Masters 10s, until 25 March), BCC Deadly 60 Downunder, Little Mindil Beach Cinemas Darwin City Darwin Convention Centre 18 Tiwi Islands Football and 26 Australia Day 16 Chinese New Year, Art Sale, Bathurst Island Celebrations, various various venues across venues across the Top End Darwin 24 Mud Racing, Hidden Valley Motor Sports 28 Mud Racing, Hidden 19 76th Anniversary of the Complex Valley Motor Sports Bombing of Darwin, Complex Cenotaph – The Esplanade 31 Blacken Open Air, and various venues across Alice Springs the Top End (Running until 2 April) 24 Mud Racing, Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex July August August Cont... 1 Territory Day 2-7 Desert Harmony 9-26 Darwin Festival, Festival, Tennant Creek Various Venues around 7 Darwin Cup Carnival, Darwin Darwin Turf Club (running 3-6 Garma Festival, until 6 August) Arnhem Land 10-12 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Convention 22 Ocean Film Festival 4 Darwin Turf Club Gala Centre World Tour, Deckchair Ball, Darwin Turf Club Cinema 11 Noonamah Tavern 4 Pesona Indonesia, Darwin Rodeo, Noonamah Tavern 14 Darwin Dili Yacht Rally Waterfront 19-25 Lasseters Classic 20-21 Royal Katherine 6 Darwin Cup Day, Darwin Outback Trial, Alice Springs Show, Katherine Turf Club Showgrounds 31 Red Centre NATS, Alice Springs (Running until 2 22 Darwin Lions Beer Can July Cont... September) Regatta, Mindil Beach 31 The Terra Territory Challenge, Hidden Valley 26-28 Royal Darwin Show, Raceway (running until 5 Darwin Showgrounds August) 30 Pitch Black - Royal Australian Air Force (Running until 17 August) 8 Tourism Top End - Visitor Information Centre 1300 138 886 The Top End is host to a wide range of incredible, world-class, unique events. Laugh along with the locals at quirky events distinctive to the FESTIVALS & Top End, honour Aboriginal culture at indigenous celebrations in remote communities or revel in major sporting events such as the V8 Supercars, SuperBikes and Darwin Cup Carnival. You will find all you need to EVENTS 2018 know about Top End events listed here, more events can be viewed at tourismtopend.com.au/events/whats-on April May June 18 Deckchair cinema 5 Billy Joel Tribute 8-10 Barunga Cultural and opening night Concert, SKYCITY Darwin Sports Festival, Barunga Community 21 Mud Racing, Hidden 5-20 Nightcliff Seabreeze Valley Motor Sports Festival, Nightcliff 9-11 Finke Desert Race, Complex Foreshore Alice Springs 25 ANZAC Day 6 Royal Flying Doctors 9-10 Greek Glenti, Commemorations Service 90 Year Bicentennial Park Anniversary Event, Stokes 25-29 Tjungu Festival, Hill Wharf 10 Summer Session, Darwin Ayers Rock Resort 8-14 NT Barramundi 15-17 Supercars 26 Mindil Beach Sunset Classic, Around the NT Championship Series, Markets Opening night, Hidden Valley Raceway Mindil Beach 11-20 Ord Valley Muster, Kununurra 23-24 Darwin 4WD, Boating and Camping Expo, 18 Darwin Star Ball, Darwin Darwin Showgrounds Convention Centre 23-24 TERRA 3 Hour Race, 18-27 A Taste of Kakadu, Hidden Valley Raceway September Kakadu National Park 13-23 Darwin 23-24 BMXA Nationals International Film 19 Bass in the Grass, Series, Round 3 Satellite Festival, Darwin George Brown Darwin City BMX Club Deckchair Cinema Botanical Gardens 28 Speedway Sedans 22 Noonamah Tavern 19-20 Freds Pass Rural Australia, National junior Rodeo, Noonamah Show, Freds Pass Sedan Title, Northline Tavern Speedway (Running until 20 Jimmy Barnes, Darwin 1 July) October Entertainment Centre 1 Million Dollar Fish 28 Australian Superbike (running until 28 26 Uluru Camel Cup, Ayers Championship, Hidden Feb 2019, Northern Rock Resort Valley Raceway(Running Territory until 1 July) 26 Noonamah Tavern 1-28 October Business Rodeo, Noonamah Tavern 29 Alice Springs Beanie Month Festival, Alice Springs 26 Darwin Waterfront (running until 2 July) Soiree, Darwin Waterfront November 30 Noonamah Tavern 11 Remembrance Day, Rodeo, Noonamah Tavern Bicentennial Park * The calendar of events is provided as a service from Tourism December Top End. As event information by organisers can change 31 New Years Eve, without notice, we advise you to contact organisers directly to Various Venues around confirm all details prior to planning your holiday.