Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin

January 23, 2018

When you’re next in Darwin, you’ll want to make time to visit historic Stokes Hill Wharf.

View from Stoke Hill Wharf

View from Stoke Hill Wharf

Between the ocean and waterfront precinct (so close to the city centre, you can drive or walk there) it offers a friendly and relaxing atmosphere where you can visit the museum and also eat at one of the eateries they have there.

If you are either at start or the end of your motorhome hire in Darwin, probably the easiest ways to get there is take the hop on/hop off city bus tour and jump off at Stokes Hill Wharf as there is limited free parking on the Wharf

From Stokes Hill Wharf you can take a tour on one of the harbour touring and cruising journeys on offer from there, but this post is about the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) Tourist Facility and Bombing of Darwin Attraction – we reckon it’s worth mentioning!Two Iconic Territory Stories board

Both showcase two iconic stories with the RFDS, which began its operations in the NT in 1939 and the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. These historic events forged the resilience of the people who lived in Australia at that time.

A relatively new exhibition which opened mid-2016, you will get to experience its cutting-edge technology with their virtual reality and holographic experience with the use of a headset and goggles. Here you will get to watch a story on the history of WWII, and as you become immersed into the terrible scene of the invasion of Darwin, you get a very real sense of what it was like at that time. That in itself was worth the entry fee.

Stoke Hill Wharf Holographic theatre

Stoke Hill Wharf Holographic theatre

While you are there, to spare you from the heat, you can also enjoy a sit down 40-minute movie (in the aircon) which provides an even greater insight into the story, plus incredible hologram displays and information boards covering both the work of the Royal Flying Doctors service and the bombing of Darwin.  The friendly and informative staff make sure you don’t miss anything.

Allow about 1.5 hours in total, for an average visit.  For our seniors, the entry fee is AU$18 (at time of writing) and AU$26 for adults (at time of writing).  Air conditioning at no extra charge!  Open 09:30 – 18:00.

Stoke Hill Wharf Memorial wallWhile at Stokes Hill Wharf, as it’s still a working wharf, it’s an interesting place to sit and watch the comings and goings of the trawlers and big cargo ships to the port.  There’s even an ice-cream shop to tempt you a little more, or perhaps you’ll time your visit at the end of the day to watch the sun set while enjoying a fish and chip dinner from the local vendors.

It’s worth having a chat to the local people fishing too – and don’t forget to glance down, you might be surprised what you see!  Sometimes dolphins can be spotted, and often you’ll see quite large mullet glistening in the aqua blue waters.

It’s the perfect area to visit before or after your motorhome hire in Darwin.

Darwin Tourist Facility Royal Flying Doctors Service

Darwin Tourist Facility Royal Flying Doctors Service

If you are planning on spending a little time in Darwin either before or after your motorhome hire, we have a blog here about the Top 5 Things to do when you are in Darwin  although we do mention more than 5 things as there are so many things to do while you are in this incredible city.

If you are planning a motorhome hire from Darwin and haven’t yet sorted out the right vehicle for you, check out our range of vehicles available and get in touch to see how we can help you get the most out of your motorhome and trip while you are here!

 

Recent Posts

Getting in touch…

Speak to one of our friendly team about a motorhome hire or join us on one of our escorted motorhome tours. We look forward to chatting to you!