Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory in Australia. The region has a very tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season is from November to April, and the dry season is from May to October.

Named after the famous naturalist Charles Darwin, it’s also the largest city in the region with a population of about 150,000 people. Interestingly enough, Darwin is also the most multicultural city in Australia, with over 60 different cultures represented.

This post is a part of my Outback Road Trip series. 

The area is also home to the world’s largest concentration of saltwater crocodiles, but you aren’t likely to find any roaming the streets of the very modern downtown area…usually.

See also: 

• Darwin to Broome Road Trip: Kimberley Tours Review
• 9 Things to Do in Broome, Western Australia between Tours

Things to do in Darwin City while waiting for your tour

Most tourists will find themselves in the area while waiting for their tour. You might be heading over to Kakadu National Park, down south overland to Uluru, or even west to the Kimberly Region.

If you have a day or two in the city, these are my favorite things to do in Darwin city while waiting for your tour.

Just remember that a lot of attractions in Darwin tend to close kind of early, so get up and at ’em. You can always come back and take a nap in your hotel during the hottest part of the afternoon.

Visit Crocosaurus Cove

This attraction is located in the heart of Darwin city and is a great place to see saltwater crocodiles up close. I got to see them from all angles (as the tanks have underwater viewing areas, plus ariel viewing platforms) and even attend a few keeper talks to learn more about the crocs’ personalities, habits, and diets. I cant still remind the bone-crunching “crack” of their large jaws closing around the piece of chicken the keepers dangled over the edge of the enclosure.

If you are feeling especially brave, you can even swim with them in the “Cage of Death.” You can pre-book, but also pick a time on the day if you are feeling especially brave. It’s a plastic tube that’s inside one of the croc’s enclosures. A girl was inside it when I was there and the crocs were verrrrrry curious about her. A bit too curious for my liking. I wasn’t sure how strong that plastic actually looked.

There were also other exhibits in the cove about Australian reptiles. I think I spent about two hours here in total and really enjoyed it.

Skip the line and buy your ticket ahead of time.

See also: 

• Perth Road Trip: Karijini, Exmouth, Monkey Mia” href=”https://www.shesatripblog.com/broome-to-perth-road-trip-karijini-exmouth-monkey-mia/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Broome to Perth Road Trip: Karijini, Exmouth, Monkey Mia
• Rottnest Island, Fremantle Prison, the Pinnacles” href=”https://www.shesatripblog.com/3-days-in-perth-itinerary/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>3 days in Perth Itinerary: Rottnest Island, Fremantle Prison, the Pinnacles

Take a stroll around the Darwin Waterfront Precinct

After my croc experience, I grabbed some lunch to-go from Woolies (the local grocery store) and went for a walk along the waterfront. Well, not actually down by the water because like most of the Northern Territory (and tropical Northern Australia in general) there are too many crocs in the water for it to be safe to just go down there and stroll around.

So instead, I did the next best option on my list of things to do in Darwin city and stayed up on the designated path.

The Darwin Waterfront Precinct is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. It has a man-made beach, swimming lagoon, parks, restaurants, and cafes. It also includes the Darwin Esplanade, which is a scenic pathway that runs along the coast of Darwin. It’s a great place for a walk or a bike ride and offers stunning ocean views.