帆船與遊船

北領地熠熠生輝的藍色海域是舉行澳大利亞帆船運動的理想之地 —— 更不用說那美不勝收的日落了。

北領地的熱帶水域是舉行澳大利亞帆船運動的理想之地。在熠熠生輝的藍色海面上泛舟，觀賞美麗的日落，體驗這些令人心旌搖曳的地方。

港口附近

達爾文港（Darwin Harbour）是北領地帆船運動的中心。探索紅樹林掩映的熱帶河口，觀賞各式各樣的魚兒、鱷魚、海龜，還有偶爾出現的儒艮或短鰭海豚。

達爾文港的一天不僅只有帆船運動。當地旅行社提供一系列當天來回的短途旅行。像船員一樣學習繩索的使用方法，或者乘船觀賞這個原始環境中的美麗風景，不時坐下來喝杯酒。

群島與礁石

坐船從達爾文出發，不遠處便是比諾埃港海洋公園（Bynoe Harbour Marine Park），這裡受到當地人和遊客的喜愛。比諾埃擁有眾多小島和露出水面的礁石，非常適合垂釣與探險。

沿著達爾文以北的迷人海岸線前行，即可抵達梅爾維爾島（Melville Island）與巴瑟斯特島（Bathurst Island），又稱提維群島（Tiwi Islands）和科堡半島（Cobourg Peninsula）的僻靜海灘。在這裡您可以體驗各種夜間航行之旅。

踏上岸邊與當地人會面，探索提維群島豐富的文化和藝術。品嘗真正的“叢林食物”，參觀當地學校，或在穆努匹藝術中心（Munupi Arts and Crafts Centre）學習提維繪畫技巧。抽空參加原住民文化之旅，並參觀歐洲早期移民留下的歷史遺跡。

自達爾文航行兩天到達科堡半島，這裡有世界上一流的礁石與紅樹林垂釣地點。由於海洋環境沒有受到破壞，許多魚類都在這裡繁衍生息，包括尖吻鱸、梭子魚和皇后石首魚。

The Bombing of Darwin’s historical cruise will take you through the most iconic wartime sites along our shores. Sea Darwin also offers a WWII by land and sea cruise which includes a land tour followed by a one hour boat cruise.

Darwin is one of the most significant pearling ports in the world. Climb aboard a pristinely restored pearling lugger on Streeter Cruises and take in the sunset while listening to the history and intrigue of Darwin Harbour.

The Darwin Sailing Club in Fannie Bay not only has a beautiful sociable ambience, it also extends sailing courses to kids and adults. Whether you’re experienced or just a beginner, book a lesson in their flexible sailing calendar to learn from an experienced instructor first hand. Private lessons are also available for groups so you can sail on your own terms.

If your visit to Darwin coincides with Territory Day (1st of July), look out for firework cruises where you’ll get an exclusive view of the public fireworks display at Mindil Beach. Afterwards, you can sail back to the harbour as the people of Darwin light up their own crackers and celebrate the anniversary of self-government.

For a short day trip, jump on the SeaLink ferry from Cullen Bay and head over to Wagait Beach. Landing on the Mandorah Jetty, you’re free to drop a line, wander the beaches, check out the wartime relics or head to the Cox Country Club for a cold beer and a meal.

Bare Sand Island is located off the coast of Darwin and is used as a nesting area by Flatback and Olive Ridley turtles. The Sea Darwin Turtle Tracks cruise is timed to coincide with the lunar cycle and the laying and hatching of eggs at dusk. Included in your ticket is your boat ride, guided tour, dinner and drinks and a contribution to AusTurtle to fund ongoing sea turtle research. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience with tickets selling out fast so make sure you book ahead.

Sailing & cruising beyond Darwin

Beyond Darwin lies a sailing and cruising paradise with thousands of kilometres of unspoilt beaches.

Tiwi Islands

Fancy getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Just a few hours’ ferry ride away is the Tiwi Islands, a group of small islands with tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal heritage. SeaLink offers a Tiwi Islands Day Tour that covers the return ferry ride. It includes walking tours with a local guide, a visit to Tiwi Design with traditional damper morning tea, a mission precinct visit and then a screen printing workshop. Whatever you make at the printing workshop is yours to take home as a souvenir.

Arnhem Land

Arnhem Land has some of the best beaches you’ll see in Australia, so if you’re an experienced boatie, hire a vessel from Gove Boat Hire and set sail. If a guided tour is more your style, Bremer Island Cruises offers day tours where you’ll enjoy a fast boat ride to Banubanu Beach Retreat followed by lunch at the resort.

While you’re in Arnhem Land, jump on Wildcard Luxury Cruises 20m exclusive charter around the Wessel Islands, off the coast of the Northern Territory. As well as a comfortable sail around uninhabited islands, you’ll be able to visit sandbars, waterfalls and culturally significant sites.

The Timor Sea

For true lovers of sailing, Sail Darwin can take you on a longer trip, from overnight escapes right through to extended sailing for up to 14 days across the Top End. You’ll see the vast Territory coastline including Bare Sand Island, Bynoe Harbour, and the Tiwi Islands. You can also add-on sites further afield including the Kimberley coastline, Coburg Peninsula, East Timor, the Spice Islands and more.

River & wetland cruises in the Northern Territory

Just because you’ve headed inland doesn’t mean your cruising time is over. There’s lots of great spots to journey along rivers, gorges and wetlands as you head down the track.

Adelaide River

Take a relaxing cruise down the Adelaide River to prepare you for the adrenaline inducing Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise. Just an hour’s drive from Darwin, this is a must-do. Keep those arms inside the boat and your camera at the ready as your guides teach you about local wildlife and give you the chance to see crocodiles jumping for food.

Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

Nitmiluk Gorge is a spectacular site and there’s a range of cruises available. Take a dawn tour to see the gorges spring to life as the sun rises. Add a buffet breakfast to your itinerary after the cruise for a great start to your day.

If you’re not an early riser, the NitNit Dreaming 2 Gorge Tour or the Timeless Land Gorge Tour operate throughout the day. These cruises give you the opportunity to learn all about the areas that are culturally significant to the local Jawoyn people. There’s some walking required in these tours, with wheelchair access available on the 2 Gorge tour.

Top the day off with the Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Tour. Watch as the walls of the gorge glow as the sun sets, and enjoy a candlelit dinner of local Australian produce that’s cooked before your eyes. This cruise includes some walking.

Mary River

Mary River National Park is home to the vast wetlands of the Mary River system, an environmentally significant part of the Territory. Join the Mary River Wetlands safari cruise for a relaxed guided tour through the water lilies along the river banks. Keep an eye out to spot some crocodiles, birds, fish and other wildlife that live in the Corroboree Billabong.

Kakadu

Perhaps the most spectacular cruise is the Yellow Water Cruise held in the Yellow Water Billabong. With cruise times running from sunrise through to sunset, you’ll get a front row seat to activities of the crocodiles, birds and fish that make the billabong home. Take a 1.5 hour cruise, a slightly longer 2-hour cruise or even a sunset canapé cruise to mark the Taste of Kakadu festival with native-inspired food and sparkling wine.

The Guluyambi Cultural Cruise is a great opportunity to learn more about the local culture, mythology, bush tucker and medicine. Cruising the East Alligator River, your local guide will give you a complete understanding of the significance of the area and then take you to a traditional hunting and gathering display.

Sailing & cruising in the Red Centre

Instead of sailing down rivers and billabongs, in the Red Centre you can cruise around on a camel, Segway, or even try your luck and participate in the annual Henley on Todd Regatta 'boat' race. Witness some remarkable hand crafted Flintstones-style boat frames compete against each other in a race to the finish line – it’s the most fun you can have without water!

Add some adventure

If all this cruising has made you relaxed, how about adding some adrenaline before you head home? There’s lots of options including:

• Beach fishing, extended reef and game fishing charters – check out our guides to fishing around Darwin and fishing in Arnhem Land to see all the options. Remember to stay CrocWise and check the bag limits and restrictions
• 00Seven Jet Ski Adventures with tours running throughout the day around Darwin Harbour
• Darwin Adventure Boat Tours, starting with a relaxing cruise along the mudflats and culminating in fast laps throughout the harbour
• An airboat safari through the private areas of the Mary River wetlands. You’ll be choppered in from Darwin before speeding through the floodplains
• Half and full-day heli-fishing and airboat adventures offered by star of National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler and channel Nine’s Wild Territory’s Matt Wright.