Darwin, the Northern Territory capital city located up in the Top End of Australia, is a dream destination for many travelers, but more so because of the unique land that surrounds it. If you get to Darwin and fail to leave the city center, you are definitely missing out on some of the best reasons to get to this part of Australia in the first place.
Because of this, many travelers will use Darwin as a hub and take short trips to all the outlying attractions.
Kakadu National Park
Getting to Kakadu National Park from Darwin takes around 3 hours each way, so it is doable in a day trip option, but it may not be the best way to go unless you are taking part in a tour where someone else is driving. Kakadu is a must-see World Heritage site in the Top End since it is known for its amazing natural beauty. There’s so much experience here from bush walks and Aboriginal art to flowing waterfalls in the wet season.
Territory Wildlife Park
Set on 400 hectares of park land, the Territory Wildlife Park is a nice little attraction located around 58 kilometers to the south of Darwin. There are recreations of different habitats and numbers of Australian animals to observe in the one location, and when you’re done, just on over to the Berry Spring Nature Park for a picnic and swim in the thermal falls.
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Litchfield National Park
It only takes about 1.5 hours to get to Litchfield National Park by driving, so a day trip is a very real possibility. Here you can enjoy nature by swimming under waterfalls, bushwalking and having picnics in the parks. Most of the swimming holes are safe from crocs except for Wangi Falls.
Deep Sea Fishing
If you fancy a thrill on the deep sea, you can venture out for the day and try your hand at catching some real fish, ones that might just be bigger than you. I haven’t done this yet, but I’ve heard that there is nothing like the excitement of feeling the first bite and then spending the hours of trying to get it in.
Tiwi Islands
Visiting the Tiwi Islands for a day are a possibility through certain tour companies. However, it must be noted that only individuals on a tour are actually allowed to visit. A day tour to these islands off Darwin would actually involve a small flight or catamaran ride to get both there and back. Still, the introduction to the life of traditional islanders is a unique experience.
Photo credit: kakadu, litchfield.