My husband and I are travelling to Darwin in June and wondered if anyone has any recommendations for places to stay and good tour operators.

What kind of places - are you after lux or cheap n cheerful? What kind of tours? What are you interested in, and how do you like to travel? Would the idea of a tent see you running for cover?

You must be more precise and then those folk whose travel interests and proclivities match yours will chime in.

Best wishes.

I did a little research via TripAdvisor and some other places and we have booked at the Palms City Resort on the Esplanade for August. We have 3 people and will get a superior motel room, hopefully with a balcony or patio, for $165 per night. Another place I checked out that looked good was the Botanical Gardens Apartments or something like that. There is a really inexpensive place, not fancy, small rooms... called the Value Inn (I think) which would have been good enough for me in my younger travelling days.

That is AUD$165 per night BTW.

We've been to Darwin twice, both times staying in serviced apartments. We stayed in the Parap Village Apartments the first time. They were modest, clean and moderately priced. They are not near the city center, but there are shops nearby. (It was, as I remember, about a 5 - 8 minute drive to town.) On our second trip, we wanted to be closer to things, so we chose the Cullen Bay Apartments. These were nicer and closer to Darwin. We could walk to Cullen Bay and to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. Either would be a good choice.

Sorry to be vague, it was too late at night!. We're in our 50's - 60's and have usually travelled with no official tours, planning it all ourselves. For Australia, since so far we have thought to avoid driving, some sort of organized day and/or several day tour seems like a good way to go. For Darwin, we'd like accomodations that cost maybe $150 US tops, that are pretty nice, not luxury, near to Mindil Market and water and/or downtown, probably with our own bathroom. That is, cheap-ish and cheerful? As for tours, we're not much into camping, but the huge tour bus vision seems strange. We've planned on 5 days (6 nights) in Darwin area,and we'd like to get to Kakadu and Katherine Gorge (ideas so far, anyway). So far, we have found one tour group, AAT Kings, which has something that sounds okay (or even good?, though I think it is in a bus!). It's a 3 day tour, which includes those two destinations (and even the hokey sounding jumping crocodiles cruise). Basically, it's one night at Kakadu (3 different hotel/price choices) and one night at Katherine Gorge. Does anyone have experience with this company, or others that do similar short tours? I think they also have a 3 day trip to Kakadu/Arnemland. Thanks!

Have a look at wotif.com.au to get an idea of the Darwin hotels available, last minute prices, and their locations.

I've used this site a number of times (for Melbourne, though) without problems.

While you are in Darwin, try to take a tour to Litchfield National Park. Swimming in the natural pools, particularly Wangi Falls, is fabulous and the magnetic termite mounds are fascinating. While you are overnighting in Katherine, try to include the Crocodile Night Adventure which includes a nighttime boat ride, croc spotting and a delicious BBQ dinner under the stars. If your AAT tour does not include it, it can be arranged through the company Travel North.

Thanks, margo and longhorn, for your advice - Litchfield did sound very inviting - and the night croc adventure too!

Hi my husband and I are also going to Darwin end of June , early July. There is supposedly a car show at this time and rooms are very scarce so I recommend booking early. Good luck.