Darwin offers some unusual activities for kids and their families. There are parks, playgrounds and gardens by the hundreds scattered throughout the municipal area. You’ll find paths for cycling, free fun events sponsored by the city and even orchards close by where you can pick fruit while viewing the wildlife.

Cycling
Depending on the age of your children, you can choose from cycling paths of varying lengths. It’s possible to ride from the centre of Darwin, following alongside the Stuart Highway and on to Palmerston. After reaching Berrimah, the path makes an interesting detour through picturesque bushland. In the villages of Howard Springs and Humpty Doo, you’ll find some shorter paths that are more suitable for young kids. Bikes can be hired from several outlets in the city and at many hotels.

Freeps
This is a fun programme of entertainment and free recreational activities. The events are held for family enjoyment and include local music acts, clowns and stunt artists, and activities such as face painting, rides, games and sports. Freeps festivals are held every month on Sunday afternoons during the dry season: the venue is most always one of Darwin’s parks. Phone: +61 8 8982 2622.

Fruit Picking
Fun and educational: picking fruit at the Southport Exotic Fruits Farm, located in Darwin River, is a great way for kids to have some fun while getting to know more about the area’s wildlife. There’s usually a herd of wild buffalo nearby that make this a unique experience. Phone: +61 8 8988 6066.

Fun in the Parks
During the school holidays, a regular programme of supervised activities is held for primary school-aged children, which is open to visitors as well as local residents. Lots of games are featured, including earth balls and tumbling shape games, and activities involving face painting, parachutes and water slides. Phone: +61 8 8982 2622.

Swimming
Many hotels and resorts in the area have swimming pools for their guests. If your hotel isn’t one of them, you might want to take your kids to the lake at the East Point Reserve. It’s possible to swim year-round at this salt-water lake, which is jellyfish-free. Another popular swimming spot is fresh-water Howard Springs. Located approximately 22 miles east of Darwin, it’s crocodile-free and surrounded by forest.

Wildlife Viewing
Many of the animals that you’ll find in nature parks around Darwin are not found anywhere else in the world. The wildlife preserve just outside of Darwin is one of the best places to have a close-up look at Northern Australia’s wildlife. This is a particularly interesting park that features animals living in environments closely resembling their natural habitats.

One of the best ways to learn about the culture of the ‘Top End’ is to visit the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The museum is one-of-a-kind, and attracts world-class exhibitions that other cities in Australian often miss out on. There are also cultural centres that focus on Aboriginal culture and offer demonstrations of traditional techniques for carving, weaving and other local crafts.

Coomalie Cultural Centre
Textiles and weavings are displayed for sale at this unusual cultural centre, set amid the lush gardens of the Batchelor Institute. Located at the corner of Nurndina road and Awillia street, the centre welcomes visitors and holds regularly-scheduled demonstrations of techniques unique to the Coomalie culture. Phone: +61 8 8939 7404.

Deckchair Cinema
The Darwin Film Society runs this programme of films shown outdoors under the stars. It’s a popular series and has been offered for a number of years. The film listings can be obtained at tourist information centres and the ABC Shop as well as in the Northern Territory News.

Digeridoo Hut
There’s more to see here than didgeridoos: a collection of Aboriginal arts and handicrafts from all parts of the Northern Territory is featured. Art on bark, canvas and paper is on display, and visitors can watch traditional techniques being demonstrated. Carvings and weavings are on exhibit as well and most works are available for purchase. Phone: +61 8 8988 4457.

East Point Military Museum
The museum houses displays of WWII artillery and planes, as well as other military memorabilia. The facility was originally established to exhibit photographs and artefacts from Darwin’s wartime history. Darwin’s bombing by the Japanese is chronicled here. During the 64 air raids experienced by Darwin during WWII, more than 200 local residents were killed. Phone: +61 8 8981 9702.

Museum and Gallery of the Northern Territory
The museum is situated in a scenic spot overlooking the Arafura Sea. This is undoubtedly the Northern Territory’s premier cultural institute. Known as the MAGNT, it plays a significant role in preserving and exhibiting the region’s distinctive cultural identity. MAGNT is internationally-acclaimed for its extensive collections of regional art, culture and science, and its research efforts. Phone: +61 8 8999 8201.

Museum of Arts and Natural Sciences
Founded in 1969, this museum has a wide geographical focus that includes Australasia and Southeast Asia. Highlights of the exhibitions include Aboriginal paintings on bark and axes made from stone dating back more than 22,000 years. There’s also a collection of Pukamani Burial Poles found on Melville Island. Phone: +61 8 8981 9351.

Darwin’s multi-cultural and multi-ethnic composition means there is a wide variety of international cuisines on offer as well as a regional cuisine that’s a marriage of tastes and styles unique to the Northern Territory. It’s been said that Darwin boasts more restaurants per person than any other place in Australia – meaning that you’re likely to find whatever you’re looking for here.

For a taste of Asian foods, Mindil Beach Market is a good place to start. Although the market itself is held only on Thursdays and Sundays, this is still an area where you’ll find a number of food outlets open on other days as well, including Chinese, Greek, Indian, Malaysian, Portuguese, Sri Lankan and Thai eateries. You’ll also find fruit-salad bars and cake stalls when the market is open.

If you’re in search of a trendy dining sector, you might want to try the Cullen Bay Marina, a short taxi ride from the centre, or a 25 minute walk. Hotels and resorts often have excellent dining rooms – both casual and formal. There are hotel restaurants around the city where you can dine indoors or out, including some that encourage you to bring your own wine. The choices are so numerous that the most difficult part will be deciding where to eat.

The shopping opportunities are varied in Darwin, ranging from shops carrying high-quality, authentic Aboriginal art, to jewellery featuring diamonds and pearls. You’ll find shopping centres, malls, high-end shops, arts and crafts outlets and a number of street markets to choose from.

In the centre of Darwin’s business district, Mitchell street has the largest concentration of shops, including a number of upscale department stores and boutiques. The large and popular Mitchell Centre Shopping Centre is located here as well.

In the city’s northern suburbs, you’ll find Casuarina square, which is currently the largest shopping centre in the Northern Territory boasting more than 180 stores in a modern, air-conditioned complex. The popular Mindil Beach Market draws a large crowd on Sundays and Thursdays beginning at around 17:30; this is a great place to look for handicrafts and also to enjoy the colourful stalls and street entertainment.

Depending on the season, there’s a lot on offer here in the way of outdoor activity. In fact, this is what draws most visitors to Darwin and the Northern Territory. You can climb, explore in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, dive and ride on horseback. There are nature reserves that are great spots for day walks and wildlife viewing as well.

Boating
There are lots of opportunities around Darwin for boating, including rowing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking. Sail boats can be chartered for sunset cruises, or longer trips such as those to Indonesia. Other craft are available for hire for both sea and river fishing. If you’d like to try canoeing, you’ll find a suitable lake at Berry Springs, approximately 35 miles from Darwin. This is also a popular family destination for paddle boating and fishing.

Bushwalking
Many visitors to Australia want to spend some time exploring the bush lands and learning more about this unique environment. In and around Darwin, tour companies arrange daytrips with Aboriginal guides. Alternatively, you can organise your own bush walk. For information on group walks, the Darwin Bushwalking Club can provide details. Website: www.bushwalking.org.au/dbc/.

Fishing
Fishing is good here, and a popular activity both on the sea and inland waters. If you don’t bring your fishing rod and tackle with you, there are plenty of operators who hire equipment and boats as well as others who run fishing charters. Andros Leisure Charters on Butters street is one choice. Phone: +61 08 8945 9996.

Golf
There are some excellent golf courses around Australia, and Darwin is no exception. Both nine-hole and 18-hole courses are featured, and visitors are welcome at most courses. The Darwin Golf Club on Links road is one course that welcomes the public. Phone: +61 8 8927 1322.

Horseback Riding
If you’ve never been horseback riding before, Darwin offers facilities where you can learn. If you’re an experienced rider, there are stables in the area where you can enjoy a ride out in the bush. In Mataranka Springs, the Knuckey Equestrian Centre offers riding tuition for all ages and guided trail rides. Phone: +61 8 8947 0307.

Parachuting
If your idea of adventure is falling from the heavens and drifting earthward, you can indulge your passion with the Darwin Parachute Club, located about 50 miles south of Darwin (phone: +61 8 8927 5588). Tandem jumps are a specialty at Top End Tandems, an operator that lands on Lee Point Beach (phone: +61 4 1719 0140).