By Land & Sea
Our half day tour includes a land based tour and 1 hour harbour cruise.
Our half day tour includes a land based tour and 1 hour harbour cruise.
Journey to Charles Darwin National Park and visit the bunker.
An immersive, interactive, multimedia experience.
Rich in military history and WWII relics.
$ 149 per adult
Concession and children prices available at time of booking. Private tours also available.
Tour operates daily (expect Monday) April to September and Wednesday and Saturday from October to March. Year round group departures or private tours can be arranged.
CBD pickup from your hotel from 7:45-8:00am. The cruise portion of the tour departs Stokes Hill Wharf at 11:00am. Returning between 12:15-12:30pm.
CBD pickup from your hotel for land based portion of the tour.
Cruise departs and concludes at:
Dock 2
Stokes Hill Wharf
Darwin 0800
"Coming from the UK, I had no idea that Darwin had suffered so badly in the war. The tour gave us a clear narrative about events leading up to the bomb attack of February 19, 1942, and the terrible day itself. The Defence of Darwin Experience at the War Museum (included in the tour price) was outstanding. Our guide, John, was friendly and informative, and told us all sorts of other interesting details about Darwin as he drove us round."
Margaret, from the UK
In February 1942, Darwin sat at the top of Australia as a small insignificant port and forgotten military base. But all that changed on the day of the 19th, where the Japanese attacked Australia with two successive air raids killing at least 243 people. The city was destroyed, along with many allied aircraft and ships. Today Darwin has recovered to be a vibrant city, but there are still scars to share with the world.
Welcome to Australia’s Frontline! The WWII Bombing of Darwin tour is a half day experience that shows you these scars, taking you back in time to that fateful day when Australia's innocence was lost. This half day tour is the complete Bombing of Darwin package, including both a land based tour by air conditioned vehicle, and a one hour harbour cruise.
Using local amateur historians as your guides and real time commentary, you will spend the morning hearing the stories of the Darwin’s front line activity, starting with the WWII history and the Bombing of Darwin and tracing developments up to the modern day. Visit the sites that were hit by the Japanese air raids. Head out to Charles Darwin National Park to see bunkers and other WWII relics before visiting the acclaimed Defence of Darwin museum as well as the East Point Military precinct and the Myilly Point Heritage precinct.
The WWII Bombing of Darwin tour is complete with the one hour Bombing of Darwin cruise* on Darwin Harbour which covers the historic Stokes Hill and Fort Hill wharf areas. the Pearling Luggers, wreck sites of the SS Neptuna and USS Peary, the old flying boat base at Doctors Gully and HMAS Coonawarra before arriving at Cullen Bay where you will see the gun emplacements from the water.
This half day tour runs for approximately 4.5 hours, including the 1 hour harbour cruise.
Please bring flat shoes or sandals. We also recommend you bring a camera. We supply sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water.
A full refund is provided (less $20 service fee per booking) unless it is within 72 hours of tour. Within 72 hours it is non-refundable
Yes, please contact us if you are interested in customizing this tour as a private tour.
No, unfortunately the caravan parks are all outside the CBD. If you have transport, we suggest meeting us at the Aquascene Fish Feeding carpark, where there is free parking available.
Minimal. The visit to the Darwin Military Museum is self guided, so you can walk as much or as little as possible there.