10 great ways to keep the kids, and adults, amused in Darwin
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1. Hand-feed the hundreds of fish that come to shore in high tide at Aquascene at Doctors Gully. Feeding times vary but morning sessions are usually the best. Entry is $11 Adult and $7 Child.www.aquascene.com.au
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2. Check out the B52 bomber at the Aviation Heritage Centre. The North American B-25D-10 Mitchell Hawg Mouth crashed about 60 miles west of Tennant Creek on 25 January 1945 and was recovered in 1974. Other exhibits include a spitfire, a Wessex helicopter, a Sabre jet and static displays of Australian aviation history. Open daily, 9am-5pm. Guided tours at 10am and 2pm. Prices are $12 Adult and $7 Child. www.darwinsairwar.com.au
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3. Get out of gaol free: keep your teenagers on the straight and narrow by showing them what a real gaol looks like. Opened in 1883, the notorious Fannie Bay Gaol was home to criminals and their like for almost 100 years until 1979. It’s open daily and entry is free.
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4. Visit the East Point Military Museum , the original bunker where the Australian army planned the Top End defence strategy. The museum is open daily and has excellent displays, photos and dramatic live footage of the Japanese bombing Darwin. Open daily.
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5. Meet the local wildlife at Crocodylus Park, just 15 minutes from the city centre, where you’ll find lots of crocodiles as well as cassowaries, dingoes and wallabies. 815 McMillans Road, Knuckey Lagoon. Prices $30 Adult and $15 Childwww.crocodyluspark.com
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6. Swim with the crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove, where you can get up close and very personal to these amazing reptiles in the underwater viewing section of this unique two-storey aquarium. Thrill seekers can try out the ‘Cage of Death’, a purpose-built acrylic cage that is lowered from an overhead monorail into one of the four separate croc enclosures. Corner of Mitchell and Peel streets in the heart of the city. Prices $28 Adult and $16 Child. www.crocosauruscove.com
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7. The Territory Wildlife Park is about 45 minutes drive from the city. Operated by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, this 1000-acre park showcases the native plants and animals of the region. Don’t miss the free-flying birds of prey demonstrations at10am and 3pm each day. Prices $26 Adult and $13 Child. www.territorywildlifepark.com.au
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8. Head out to the Adelaide River Bridge, 70km from the city along the Arnhem Highway to join a 90-minute Jumping Crocodile Cruise enticing the crocodiles on the muddy banks into the water to jump up and snatch a pork chop dangling from a big stick.www.jumpingcrocodilecruises.com.au
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9. Kids love swimming. But in the rivers, billabongs and waterholes of the Top End there is pretty much one simple rule: don’t swim unless you want to become a crocodile snack. Thankfully, the waterfalls and river pools of Litchfield National Park are the exception to this rule. The National Park is about 100km south west of the city via Batchelor.
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10. Kids love the Batchelor Butterfly and Petting Farm, where they can explore the colourful butterfly sanctuary, meet the rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, fish, peacocks and other animals and swim in the pool with the largest man-made waterfall in the Top End. Open daily. 8 Meneling Road, Batchelor.
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