Top Wildlife Experiences in Darwin
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, situated in the heart of on the northern tip of Australia, also known as the Top End. What began as a frontier outpost, the city has transformed over time to become known as a gateway to some of Australia’s best wildlife experiences.
If you’re on the hunt for a dose of Australia’s incredible flora and fauna, you’ve found yourself in the perfect place. Situated close to a range of wildlife experiences and natural playgrounds, Darwin is brimming with creatures—great and small—that call this slice of paradise in the Top End home. Jump in your Dollar rental car and get ready to embark on a sensational adventure.
Journey Through National Parks
Famously Australia’s only tropical capital city, Darwin provides a plethora of opportunities to leave the city lights behind in favour of some epic wildlife experiences. To really get the true Northern Territory nature experience, take a wander through the collection of sensational national parks that are home to this vibrant region. Watch as red dirt transforms to the lush green of wetlands as you head toward Mary River National Park, about an hour’s drive east of Darwin. This is a hotspot to catch some of the native fauna of the region in the wild, with plenty of birds (over 250 species!) and fish roaming about the wetlands. Elevate your adventure with a journey aboard the Mary River Wetlands Cruise. Not only is a cruise a memory-making way to experience the untamed and unruly nature that surrounds the waterways, but the expert guides that lead you down the water will also be able to point out the diversity of wildlife that surrounds you. If you’re lucky enough, you might not only catch sight of a spectacular array of birds soaring through the sky and fishing swimming below the surface, but even wild buffalo, wallabies and crocodiles milling around the banks of the river.
Get Up Close with Crocodiles
While they may not be the furriest of friends, the crocodiles that roam the waterways in Darwin are known as the region’s ‘true locals’. These almighty beasts are native to the water areas around the area, and as the longest-surviving inhabitants of the Northern Territory they’ve stepped straight out of a time when the dinosaurs roamed the earth—that’s an incredible 200 million years of history in these animals. While these creatures can appear scary, there are plenty of safe and fun ways to get up close and personal with the Northern Territory’s crocodiles. Crocodylus Park boasts thousands of crocodiles across their park, from tiny young ones to giant majestic ones. Their enclosures house every kind of croc, from the saltwater and freshwater crocodiles native to Darwin, to a range of exotic crocodiles. You can even pat a crocodile with the help of a guide. Alternatively, if you’re wanting to witness these incredible creatures out in the wild, jumping aboard a crocodile cruise is a must-do. Watch as these sensational beasts jump out of the water and soar through the air to grab a bite of their lunch. This is one memory you’ll keep with you forever.
Wander Through the Tracks of Turtles
To top off your wildlife experiences around Darwin, there’s no cuter creature to end your trip on than the adorable Ngulbitjik turtles. These small but curious creatures live on Bare Sand Island, just a short boat cruise away from Darwin’s Stokes Hill Wharf. Park your rental car and leave it safely behind as you jump aboard the Turtle Track Tour. On this sensational journey, you’ll travel out to the island as the sun begins to set over Darwin’s cityscape horizon in the background, and the journey is just as beautiful as the destination. The guided tour will lead you around the beach of Bare Sand Island as the turtles crawl out of the water and under a blanket of stars, toward their nesting holes in the sand. Like so many creatures around the Northern Territory and Darwin, these are animals that carry with them thousands of years of wildlife history. This is a true Australian wildlife experience, and one you’ll remember long after your travels are over. After you’ve seen these beautiful creatures track their way across the sand and settle into their nests, you’ll also be served dinner and a drink, so you can raise a glass to the starry night of one of the most beautiful places in the Top End of Australia.
From adventures with birds and fish, dinner with crocodiles and turtles, to maybe even a glimpse of wild buffalos and wallabies, Darwin has an incredible array of wildlife experiences on offer for you to try in your Dollar rental car.
