4 Best Shopping in Darwin, The Outback

The Mindil Beach Sunset Market is an extravaganza that takes place every Thursday and Sunday from 4 pm to 9 pm from April through October. Come in the late afternoon to snack at one of more than 60 stalls offering food from more than 25 different countries. You can shop at more than 200 local artisans' booths; enjoy performances by singers, dancers, fire artists, and musicians; catch a whip-cracking demonstration, or join the other Darwinites with a bottle of wine to watch the sun plunge into the sea.

One of the few markets here open year-round, Nightcliff Market takes place on Sunday morning and lasts until around 2 pm in Nightcliff Village, with craft and food stalls and performances by musicians, dancers, and other entertainers; it's a great spot for breakfast.

Located north of the city center, the Parap Markets is where the locals shop. The stalls are open every Saturday rain or shine from 8 am to 2 pm and have a terrific selection of ethnic Asian food, including some of the best laksa in the country. Complimentary shuttles are available from several Darwin City accommodations, so check the website for current times and pickup locations.

Open Sunday morning from about 7 am to 2 pm, the Rapid Creek Markets are Darwin's oldest and have fresh organic produce, as well as flowers, seafood, and locally made handicrafts. Shop 'til you drop alongside the locals just 20 minutes north of the city center while you listen to live music and stock up on fresh groceries at one of more than 60 stalls.