Top 5: Nature Outings in Darwin

Mindil Beach Market, Darwin, Australia © Mg1964 | Dreamstime

Australia’s south and east coasts get all the love, but Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory, is becoming a popular destination for outdoorsytravelers. What began as a pioneer outpost now serves as base camp for adventurers from around the world.

Crocosaurus Cove

Darwin is the natural habitat to some of the largest saltwater crocodiles in the world. These creatures can grow up to 17 feet in length, and are featured in a number of attractions at Crocosaurus Cove. Visitors can feed the animals, hold a baby crocodile and even enter a Cage of Death and swim among them!

East Point Reserve, Darwin, Australia © Emma Jones | Dreamstime

Mindil Beach Sunset Markets

Every Thursday and Sunday night, the Darwin coast hosts the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, an explosion of multicultural goodness. The market features cuisines from every corner of the world, as well as cultural performances and a myriad of vendors offering psychic readings, foot massages and more.

East Point Reserve

East Point is a headland conveniently located in Fannie Bay, just a 10-minute drive from the city. The coastal park has recreational areas, walking paths and a beautiful view of the Australian sunset. It’s popular with the locals for picnics and barbecues, and you can also visit the Darwin Military Museum, dedicated to the area’s historical significance.

Aboriginal Rock Art, Kakadu National Park, Darwin, Australia © Imagex | Dreamstime

Kakadu National Park

It’s a 240-kilometer drive from Darwin, but Kakadu is Australia’s largest terrestrial national park, home to an incredible variety of plants and animals. One-quarter of the country’s freshwater and estuarine fish species live here, as well as a third of its bird species. Yellow Water is a great place to fish for barramundi, a favorite pastime of Darwiners.

Casuarina Coastal Cove

Casuarina is a beautiful local treasure that contains eight miles of beaches, cliff, rainforest and casuarina trees. There is a diverse array of wildlife, including saltwater crocodiles, though patrols remove the dangerous creatures from the area, making this beach one of the few safe places to swim in Australia. There is even a nudist beach located just north of the Dripstone Picnic Area if you’re into that sort of thing.