Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 8 . THE TOP END
aviary, sawfish and stingrays in a walk-through aquarium, spiders, crocs, and
kangaroos (but not koalas, as they don’t live in the Territory). A program of animal
talks runs throughout the day. The best is the birds of prey show, at 10am
and 3pm. Go first thing to see the animals at their liveliest, and allow 4 hours
to see everything, plus 45 minutes traveling time. Open daily from 8:30am to
6pm (last entry at 4pm), and closed Christmas. Admission is A$18 (US$12) for
adults, A$9 (US$5.85) for students and children 5 to 16, and A$40 (US$26) for
a family. Take the Stuart Highway for 50km (31 miles) and turn right onto the
Cox Peninsula Road for another 11km (7 miles). If you don’t have your own
wheels, the cheapest way to get there is aboard the Rainbow Down the Track
and Back (& 08/8948 4248) bus service that runs direct to the park for A$25
(US$16) per person, round-trip, half price for kids under 5. It departs from the
McCafferty’s/Greyhound Pioneer coach terminal at 67–69 Mitchell St. (behind
the Darwin YHA hostel). Call for schedule details.
In addition to housing a small crocodile museum, Crocodylus Park (& 08/
8922 4500), a 15-minute drive from town at 815 McMillan’s Rd., Berrimah,
holds croc-feeding sessions and free, guided tours at 10am, noon, 2 and 3:30pm.
It also doubles as Darwin’s zoo, with exotic species including lions, Bengal tigers,
and monkeys on display. It’s open daily from 9am to 5pm (closed Christmas).
Admission is A$22 (US$14) for adults, A$18 (US$12) for seniors, A$11
(US$7.15) for children 4 to 15, and A$57 (US$37) for a family of four. Take bus
no. 5 (Mon–Fri only) or the park shuttle bus (& 08/8928 1100) which costs
A$35 (US$23) adults or A$90 (US$59) family for return transport from the city
and park entry.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory , Conacher
Street, Fannie Bay (& 08/8999 8201), also holds an attraction for crocodile
fans—the preserved body of Sweetheart, a 5.1m (17-ft.) man-eating saltwater
croc captured in Kakadu National Park. The museum and gallery have good sections
on Aboriginal, Southeast Asian, and Pacific art and culture. Both gallery
and museum are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and 10am to
5pm weekends and public holidays (closed Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s
Day, and Good Friday). The cafe has lovely bay views. Admission to permanent
exhibits is free. Take bus no. 4 or 6.
Darwin was an Allied supply base during World War II. The East Point Military
Museum , East Point Road, East Point (& 08/8981 9702; www.epmm.
com.au), housed in a WWII gun command post, plays a video of the 1943 Japanese
bombing of Darwin and has fine displays of photos, memorabilia, artillery,
armored vehicles, and weaponry. It is open daily 9:30am to 5pm (closed Christmas
and Good Friday). Admission is A$10 (US$6.50) for adults, A$9 (US$5.85)
for seniors, A$5 (US$3.25) for children, and A$28 (US$18) for a family.
Tips The Darwin Shopping Scene
Darwin’s best buys are Aboriginal art and crafts, pearls, opals, and diamonds.
For a great range of artworks and artifacts, check out Raintree Aboriginal
Fine Arts, 20 Knuckey St. (& 08/8941 9933). The world’s best South
Sea pearls are farmed in Top End seas. Buy, or just drool in the window, at
Paspaley Pearls, off Smith Street Mall in Bennett Street (& 08/8982 5515).
The World of Opal, 44 Smith Street Mall (& 08/8981 8981), has a re-creation
of an opal mine in their showroom.