Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 3-day itinerary

Darwin crackles and pops with energy during August and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) shows up fashionably early to get the party started before Darwin Festival opens later the same week.

With millions of dollars in authentic and ethical art sold each year at DAAF, this event attracts the very best Aboriginal artists from around Australia and acts as the perfect anchor for an art-lover’s August in the Top End.

Day 1

Begin your trip to the Top End by acclimatising to the Darwin pace of life with a leisurely stroll along the Darwin Waterfront. Here you’ll have your pick of al fresco eateries and quality coffee (we recommend iced!) for either lunch or dinner. After getting your bearings with the harbour, make your way to the Museum and Art Gallery of Norther Territory (MAGNT) where you can kick off your art immersion at the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards exhibition. Telstra NATSIAA is Australia’s richest art awards. A visit to the museum will give you an fantastic overview of the big names and who you should make a point of seeking out at the art fair later.

Depending when you arrive for Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, and how engaged you are, you might be interested in attending the exclusive Opening Ceremony. Each year the organisers of the fair invite DAAF Foundation members to attend the exclusive Opening Ceremony and industry preview before anyone else. Becoming a Foundation member is easy and a tax-deductible.

Day 2

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is open for three days between the hours of 10AM and 4 or 5PM depending on the day. Start today with a fresh, zingy, and healthy breakfast from one Darwin’s many (and excellent) juice, açaí, and salad haunts in the downtown area. With the fair being as large as it is (more than 70 art communities represented) we have no doubt you’ll need to return a second time to ensure you’ve crossed every Tiwi, and dotted every desert painting, sculpture, and textile on your list.

No doubt exhausted by the myriad choices you had to make at the art fair, why not let someone else choose what you’re having for lunch (or dinner)? Darwin Gourmet Tour visits three of the city’s most award-winning restaurants and introduces you to the best chefs and staff as they present a degustation of (at least) 12 tasting plates of local produce and traditional Aboriginal bush foods. The tour is a slow-paced walking tour of Darwin over roughly 3.5 hours and caters for all dietary requirements

Day 3

Rise early and board the ferry for the Tiwi By Design day trip to Tiwi Islands 80km off the coast of Darwin. The two-hour (air-conditioned) ferry trip lands you in the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island where you’ll meet your Tiwi guide. From this point on you’ll feel your cheeks hurt from so much smiling as you discover the beautiful Tiwi Islands – known up here as the ‘Island of Smiles.’ Beyond your experience at the art fair, the Tiwi by Design experience will welcome you to Country with a smoking ceremony and serve up a typical Tiwi morning tea while you get time to truly engage with the local community. This full day tour is a perfect highlight for any art-focused visit to the Top End as you can even participate in a ‘behind-the-scenes’ screen printing workshop and make your very own t-shirt or tea towel keepsake to commemorate this unforgettable trip.

The Tiwi By Design day trip is fully catered and will land you back in Darwin just as Festival Park lights up for the opening of Darwin Festival. Soak up the sights and sounds underneath the festoon-lit wonderland, while you meander through open-air art acts, among pop-up bars, food stands, and spontaneously splurge on any of incredible concerts, plays, or dance shows nearby.