Darwin Gourmet Tours

Flavours from South-East Asia, the Aussie bush and beyond collide in Darwin. Taste them all on these indulgent excursions.

“Darwin’s food scene has matured in terms of fine dining and creative use of native ingredients,” says long-time local Darrel Trueman. In a classic COVID-19 pivot, the Kiwi-born, Canadian-raised communications professional launched Darwin Gourmet Tours (darwingourmet tours.com) in January after losing his job during the pandemic.

“My wife and I had an incredible food tour in Cambodia three or four years ago and I thought the concept could work really well in Darwin,” says Trueman, who takes guests on a threehour jaunt to his favourite spots in the city, from big-night-out restaurants to an Aboriginal bush-food-inspired café.

Each of the three stops on the dégustation-style tours has a touch of exclusivity: an audience with a chef such as Martin Bouchier, who celebrates NT produce in dishes like braised Eva Valley beef cheek with bush tomato ratatouille at hot new spot Phat Mango (phatmango.com.au); the chance to sample a restaurant’s most popular plates; or an opportunity to try a dish that hasn’t made it to the menu yet.

The tours make several stops at historic and cultural sites along the way, with Trueman offering insights into Darwin’s unique culinary story. Covering just over a kilometre of walking all up, it’s an accessible urban adventure (with brollies supplied on rainy days) and itineraries can be tailored to your preferred time frame and interests.

“Whether you’re a local or visiting Darwin for the first time, you’ll learn something new,” says Trueman.