Darwin 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: 11 Stops at Your Pace

Board at Fort Hill Wharf and design your own itinerary across Darwin's waterfront, wildlife and wartime history.

A 2-day hop-on hop-off bus tour in Darwin lets you board and exit at 11 stops around the city (Crocosaurus Cove, Cullen Bay, Mindil Beach, the Military Museum and the Waterfront Precinct among them) using a 24-hour or 48-hour pass. The open-top double-decker bus runs 60-minute morning loops every 30 minutes and extended 90-minute afternoon loops every 45 minutes, with on-board commentary in English. You control how long you spend at each stop and when you return to your cruise ship at Fort Hill Wharf, which sits within a 5-minute walk of the terminal.

The experience

Darwin Waterfront Precinct and Crocosaurus Cove are the anchors, but the route strings together the city's working waterfront, its tropical gardens and its military past. The 60-minute morning tour covers the core loop. The 90-minute afternoon run adds East Point Reserve and a dedicated stop at the Darwin Military Museum. You pick which loops to ride and which stops to explore on foot, so a morning might be Crocosaurus Cove and lunch at Cullen Bay, while an afternoon could be the Botanic Gardens and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The bus departs every 30 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day, so you're never waiting long for the next one.

The app handles the logistics: download the Big Bus Tours app, activate your ticket on your phone, and board using your mobile pass. Real-time tracking shows you where each bus is, so you can time your arrival at a stop. The 24-hour pass covers a full calendar day. The 48-hour pass gives you two days to use it, which matters if your ship docks early and you want to spread the stops across two mornings or add an evening loop. Because the tour starts and ends at Fort Hill Wharf, steps from where you disembark, you set your own return time, though the operator notes you should leave ample time to get back to the ship before it sails.

The open-top double-decker bus means panoramic views of the city as you move between stops, and the on-board commentary fills the ride with context about Darwin's neighborhoods, history and wildlife. Infants travel free and can sit on an adult's lap or in a pram. The bus is suitable for all fitness levels, so mobility is not a barrier to hopping on and off.

What’s included

• 24-hour or 48-hour hop-on hop-off pass.
• Big Bus Tours app with ticket storage, live tracking and mobile boarding.
• on-board commentary in English.
• access to all 11 stops around Darwin, including Crocosaurus Cove, Cullen Bay, Mindil Beach, George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, the Military Museum and Darwin Waterfront Precinct.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Friday

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (5 to 16 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 20

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Big Bus Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the 48-hour pass if your ship docks overnight or you want to revisit stops. Choose the 24-hour pass for a single-day port call.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 years); Infant (under 5).

What are the 11 stops on the Darwin hop-on hop-off bus route?

The route covers Smith Street Mall, Doctors Gully, Crocosaurus Cove, Cullen Bay Jetty, SKYCITY Casino, Mindil Beach Sunset Market, George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin Military Museum, Parap (a suburb), and Darwin Waterfront Precinct. The 90-minute afternoon tour adds East Point Reserve as an extra stop.

How often does the bus depart, and how long is each loop?

The 60-minute morning tour departs every 30 minutes. The extended 90-minute afternoon tour departs every 45 minutes. You can stay on board for a full loop or hop off at any stop and catch the next bus when you're ready to move on.

Can I use the 24-hour and 48-hour passes on the same day, or do they span multiple days?

The 24-hour pass covers a full calendar day of travel. The 48-hour pass gives you two calendar days to use it, so you can split your stops across two separate mornings or afternoons if your ship's schedule allows.

How close is the bus stop to the cruise ship terminal?

Fort Hill Wharf Cruise Ship Terminal (stop 10) is within a 5-minute walk of where you disembark, so you can start your tour immediately after leaving the ship and return whenever you choose, as long as you allow enough time to get back before departure.

What's included in the ticket, and do I need to download an app?

Your pass includes access to the Big Bus Tours app, which stores your ticket, lets you activate it on your phone, and shows live bus tracking so you know when the next bus arrives at your stop. On-board commentary in English is included. Food and drinks are not.