Things to do in Darwin
Visit the Northern Territory Tourism website for more information, however some of the ideas we have are:
Visit the Darwin markets
- Rapid Creek Market: Rapid Creek Business Village , Sundays: 8am to 2pm - All year
- Nightcliff Market: Progress Drive , Nightcliff, Sundays: 8am to 2pm - All year
- Parap Markets: Parap Shopping Centre, Parap, Saturdays: 8am to 2pm - All year
- Mindil Beach Sunset Markets: Gilruth Avenue, Thursdays & Sundays: 4pm to 10pm - Dry Season only (starts 29 April 2010 - October).
Each of these markets may be accessed using the number 4 public bus from the CDU campus.
Sunset in Fannie Bay. Photograph courtesy of Tourism NT. |
Have dinner, drinks and sunset @ the beach
Both Casuarina and Nightcliff beaches have amazing sunsets and plenty of free areas to sit and watch the sun go down. Both are just a 5 to10 minute walk from IHD. The beaches also have free BBQ facilities and picnic areas.
You can even walk to the beach from IHD!
Go for a bike ride
IHD has bicycles available for loan by residents if you would like to follow one of the many cycle paths around Darwin . This is a great way to see Darwin cheaply and at your own pace. Its also a great form of exercise!
Looking for ideas on where to venture? Check out the Making Tracks flyer to get a list of all the outdoor hot spots around Darwin and Palmerston!
Watch some local sport
Cricket, rugby and Australian Football ("AFL") are all played in Darwin . This is a good way to get involved with the locals while enjoying your sport. You can watch both cricket and rugby on Saturdays and Sundays in the dry season. AFL is played during the wet season. All sports can be watched at locations accessible from IHD. The Marrara Stadium is only 10 minutes from the university and usually hosts rugby and AFL matches. Darwin also plays occasional host to a range of national and international level sports, such as the premier AFL matches, international cricket matches, and the Arafura Games. All of which are widely promoted locally.
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Go fishing
Darwin has a wide variety of fishing charters on offer depending on your tastes (and budget!). Fishing trips on offer range from one-day trips through to extended safaris run by locals so that you get the best fishing experience possible. Alternatively, you might choose to cast your own line from the Nightcliff jetty, Stokes Hill Wharf or maybe the Mandorah ferry terminal.
Go shopping
Darwin has several options for those who like to shop. Aside from the markets, walking distance from IHD is the major shopping complex Casuarina Square . Here you will find supermarkets, a food hall, and a wide range of other retail outlets, as well as cinemas. Click here for a view of the route to the shopping centre from IHD.
For those who prefer not to walk in the Darwin warmth, the number 4 bus will deliver you in comfort from the University to Casuarina Square. Travelling in the opposite direction, the number 4 bus will take you to shops at Nightcliff or in to the City for shopping around the Smith Street Mall area.
Be a tourist for a day or two (or three...)
You can be a tourist for a day, or even longer. Darwin has lots for visitors to do. You could take a trip on the Tour Tub where you will get to see all the local sights. Darwin is also home to Crocodylus Park , the Territory Wildlife Park and Crocosaurus Cove. There are several different museums and art galleries to visit or you could feed the fish at Doctor's Gully. Darwin's newest precinct, The Waterfront, has the Wave Pool, enclosed swimming beach, convention centre, hotels, restaurants, shops and boutiques. You could go to Mandorah on the ferry, enjoy a day or dinner cruise on the harbour or spend an evening at the Deckchair Cinema.
Day trips can be made to Berry Springs for a picnic and swim, Litchfield National Park for a swim in the waterfalls or the Adelaide River for a Jumping Croc cruise. If you have more than a couple of days you could visit the Cox Peninsula or Kakadu National Park . You could also take a trip to the Tiwi Islands or to the Katherine region where the Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge are worth a visit. The Northern Territory is unique in Australia in terms of environment and culture. Make sure you experience what makes the NT so amazing while studying at CDU.
More tourism information can be found by visiting Tourism Top End.
Enjoy a night out on the town
Why not have a night out on the town? Darwin has a huge variety of restaurants, pubs and clubs with something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. There is fresh seafood in beautiful Cullen Bay where you can sit outside, enjoy the sunset and the warm weather. You could indulge in some Thai cuisine or maybe have some "pub grub" on Mitchell Street , or experience some modern Australian cuisine on the Esplanade. You can then party on in any of the pubs or bars on Mitchell Street or hop on Darwin ’s special double-decker party bus to see the sights of the city and finish off your night. For those who like to stay out late there is HP Underground, Throb, the Vic and Discovery nightclub where you can dance to a variety of DJs.
Nearer to IHD, the Beachfront Hotel is a popular place for a few drinks or a meal while enjoying beach views.
If there is anything you would like to do or if you need more information, please call into the IHD front office and ask to speak with the Resident Activities Officer.
