For gorgeous homewaresNivagi Homewares (48 Progress Drv, Nightcliff) for exotic furniture and decor. Recycled Spanish glass tumblers and bowls, mahogany and teak furniture, vases, lamps and more.
Cameo Gifts & Homewares (44 Cavenagh St) is Darwin’s only supplier of Wedgwood, and has even been visited by Lord Wedgwood himself. Also stocks kitchenware, collectors’ items, fine china and crystal.
For more information on what to do in Darwin, go to the Tourism NT website at www.tourismnt.com.au.
Australia’s cities offer hidden treats galore. So next time you’re heading interstate, make like a local. Our insider tips show you how.
Where to eatLunch: Pick a marina-side table at the Boatshed Coffee House in Cullen Bay, five minutes from the city, where breads of all sorts are a specialty. Fans of authentic Japanese can opt for Go Sushi on Mitchell St – a firm local favourite.
Dinner: World-renowned chef Jimmy Shu’s fusion of Thai, Indian and Nonya cuisines can be sampled on the deck at his restaurant, Hanuman, in the Holiday Inn Esplanade complex (93 Mitchell St).
Guaranteed great coffeeBar Espresso brews smashing coffee in a robust yet smooth blend, and is home to Swiss pastry chef Kurt, whose drool-worthy display flanks the coffee machine. Part of the Ducks Nuts bar in Mitchell St.
Best spot for pre-dinner drinksThe cocktail list is 93 strong and the boutique beer menu is impressive, but it’s Sandbar’s huge waterfront deck that really sets the scene. Reserve a VIP booth and have your refreshments delivered. In the Skycity casino complex on Gilruth Ave.
Where to staySpecial occasion: Moonshadow Villas, 6 Gardens Hill Cres, The Gardens. The five-star self-contained villas are a piece of paradise just minutes from the city centre. From $299 per night.
Affordable: Medina Grand Darwin Waterfront, 7 Kitchener Drv. A harbour-front apartment-style hotel with rooms from $195 per night. It’s right next door to the Darwin Wave Lagoon, which is great since you can’t swim in the harbour due to crocs.
Must-visit gardenAll 42ha of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens (Gardens Rd) are well worth a look, but don’t miss the Rainforest Loop. Take the boardwalk into the cool leafy depths and around a waterfall and pond, where 350 species of palms grow along a meandering gully.
Spend Sunday like a localBreakfast at the colourful Nightcliff Markets. Local faves are a Ken’s Crepes or a fiery Malaysian laksa with a freshly whizzed tropical juice. Make your way into the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory in Fannie Bay and wander through the priceless Aboriginal art collection before a lazy lunch at the attached Cornucopia Museum Cafe. This breezy seaside spot is hugely popular so book ahead. Walk your meal off on the footpath that hugs the beach for miles, follwing the path to Cullen Bay and Burnett House, a lovely heritage-listed house built in the ’30s. Stick around for high tea on the lawns at 3.30pm. Retrace your steps to the museum and finish at the adjacent Ski Club, where a live Sunday jazz session kicks off from 4.30pm. Enjoy pizza and ice-cold beers as the sun sinks into the ocean.
Words Jo Hindle, Features Editor, Resident Magazine
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