Darwin, Northern Territory — Activities
Darwin Culture
While most tourists come to Darwin to see the amazing scenery and flora and fauna of Kakadu National Park, if you stick around you might just come across some cultural offerings too.
The Darwin Symphony Orchestra (www.dso.org.au) is the only resident symphony orchestra in the Northern Territory. It produces up to eight performances a year, including performances on the lawns of Skycity and local parks. Meanwhile, the Darwin Theater Company (tel: (08) 8942 0166; www.darwintheatercompany.com.au) provides a mixture of old and new works at its theater located at Brown's Mart, corner Smith Street and Harry Chan Avenue.
Watch a movie under the stars at the Deckchair Cinema, Jervois Road, off Kitchener Drive (tel: (08) 8981 0700; www.deckchaircinema.com). The relaxed open-air cinema offers movies every night from April to November. Expect some 250 deck chairs, 100 straight-backed seats, and a bar. Entry is via a walkway from the Esplanade off Kitchener Drive.
Darwin Tours
Get out on Darwin's beautiful harbor with Australian Harbour Cruises (tel: 0428 414000; www.australianharborcruises.com.au). Three-hour sunset cruises (some on a restored traditional pearling lugger) leave Cullen Bay Marina in time for the sunset. Lunch cruises are also available. Another sunset option is a three-hour sail around the harbor on a lovely old sailing boat, the Cape Adieu (tel: 0439 893939; www.capeadieu.com.au). It includes a seafood and barbecue banquet with loads of local seafood.
If you want to see more of the city, step aboard the open-topped Tour Tub Bus (tel: (08) 8985 6322; www.tourtub.com.au). It visits most attractions and city hotels on a hop-on/hop-off basis.
Plenty of tours head out from Darwin to Litchfield National Park and Kakadu (below). A good website to check out for tour options is www.tourismtopend.com.au. Greyhound (1300 GREYHOUND) also have tours around the area.
Explore the area by bike with Darwin Bicycle Tours (tel: (08) 8981 0227; www.darwinbicycletours.com). On the three-hour tour, you'll be taken past Aboriginal sites in Larrakia, Mindle Beach and the East Point Reserve. If you're lucky, you might even spot black cockatoos and wallabies.
