BETWEEN MEETINGS
CULTURE FIX
Allow a few hours to properly experience the fascinating and diverse collections at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (magnt.net.au), including the Cyclone Tracy exhibit and the historically significant Papunya paintings in the recently refurbished Indigenous art collection.
WATER VIEWS
A boat trip is a great way to get a sense of the city and its harbour setting. To truly unwind after a long day, set sail on a three-hour sunset dinner cruise (saildarwin.com.au). If you have the time and inclination, a half- or full-day fishing charter (darwinharbourfishingcharters.com.au) will be money well spent.
MODERN ART
Known for its Saturday markets (parapvillagemarkets.com.au) and Darwin’s best deli, Parap Fine Foods (parapfinefoods.com.au), suburban Parap is also a centre for local contemporary art. Head to Outstation Gallery (outstation. com.au), Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (nccart.com.au) and Nomad Art Gallery (nomad art.com.au).
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER
Crocosaurus Cove (crocosaurus cove.com) is a one-stop crocodile experience right in the CBD. Spend one or several hours here, depending on how close you want to get to these impressive apex predators. You can hold a baby crocodile or swim (safely) with a giant saltwater croc in the Cage of Death.
BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
Smith Street, a new shopping and entertainment precinct, is taking shape on the edge of the CBD. It’s home to Raw Cloth (1/132 Smith Street; 08 8985 2305), which sells one-off garments in European fabrics, plus silks, linens and cottons hand-printed by Indigenous communities, and SeKada (132 Smith Street; 0418 886 565), where you can pick up elegant homewares, clothing and gifts. Nearby are Kopi Stop café (1/2 Harriet Place, 08 8941 2414), cocktail venue The Trader Bar (thetraderbar.com), Asian eatery Nirvana (nirvanadarwin.com.au) and Art Warehouse gallery (23 Daly Street; 08 8981 4778).