The Best Hotels to Book in Darwin, Australia, for Every Traveller

If ever a hotel on the Darwin Esplanade was appropriately named, it’s the DoubleTree by Hilton. With tropical gardens and the beachside Bicentennial Park across the street, you’ll have no trouble hiding from the sun under shady trees. Book a room for harbour views and a suite for pool close-ups – all share sandy, neutral tones. Looking for something between sunkissed and swallowed up in the shade at this hotel in Darwin? Dining al fresco on the sun-soaked terrace at the on-site restaurant splits the distance between the pool and another order of chips.

Save the typical hotel stay for another Aussie adventure, and claim your studio by the waterfront at Adina Apartment Hotel. Aside from a lovely lagoon view, the location puts you in the thick of the waterfront action. If your kitchenette can’t mitigate your hunger pangs, you’ll find fresh oysters on the wharf faster than you can shuck them. You could pay to park overnight, but you’d do just fine on your two feet.

Close enough to the beach to feel like you’re on holiday yet just outside the CBD (Central Business District) to give you a taste of local life, these apartments are ideal for extended-stay travellers. Home-like living comes into play when you see how much space these one- and two-bedroom apartments have. Fully gourmet kitchens, dedicated dining areas and large furnished balconies will unwind your cramped legs from even the longest long-haul flight in economy. Forgotten your suntan lotion? You’re opposite the Parap Village shopping precinct.

Tropical bungalows and villas at this esplanade-front resort may have you mistaking this Darwin hotel for a crash pad in the Caribbean. Set foot onto the wooden deck of your covered terrace, fire up the electric barbecue and sip a piña colada until you forget which time zone you’re in. The indoor spa bath in the Sunset Villa is extraordinarily tempting, but if you can hold back your booking finger for just a moment, you won’t regret waiting to snag the Palms Villa with an outdoor hot tub and hidden oasis.

You’ll love the outdoor pool with a cascading water feature at this modern hotel near the Darwin waterfront. After a swim, take a 20-minute walk over to the lush George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Back at the hotel, smart rooms are decorated in various shades of grey; some even have Juliet balconies overlooking the CBD. The standout feature is the Aboriginal artwork adorning the walls; each piece comes from the nearby Merrepens Arts in Nauiyu Nambiyu.

In a prime position overlooking the waterfront, this Vibe Hotel outpost makes a case for the coolest accommodation in the area. Its colourful interiors are eclectic, and it’s a short walk to the celebrated Deckchair Cinema, where you can watch films under the stars during the dry season. Water-facing rooms are favoured, although all are light and airy with light woods and pops of blue, and you can escape the heat in the covered outdoor pool, local beer in hand.

Behind its glass-fronted geometric facade, Darwin City Hotel hides a laid-back interior, which suits a hotel a short walk from Lameroo Beach. Take your pick from neutral-coloured hotel rooms and apartments, with the latter adding kitchens and balconies overlooking the city. Within walking distance of the Crocosaurus Cove and the Darwin Entertainment Centre, this family-run boutique hotel also houses a splash-worthy, walled outdoor pool and an in-house spa doling out reflexology and massages, not that you should be stressed.

Designed and built by Territorians (Northern Territory residents), H on Smith Hotel sits in the very heart of the CBD, with spacious rooms in foodie chocolate and coffee tones. Oenophiles will love the selection of Australian and New Zealand wines that pepper the menu at the on-site restaurant, which pair perfectly with the pan-seared local barramundi. Next door, the expansive outdoor pool is fringed by lush gardens, and spending so long in your swimwear may entice you to work out in the rooftop gym, if only for the views.

A contender for having the best views in Darwin, this hotel stretches 27 floors into the city skyline inside the CBD. Choose from a low-key-coloured hotel or apartment-style room; some come with a harbour view. Cool off at night in the outdoor swimming pool, illuminated by neon lights, or order a wagyu rump steak straight to your room from the on-site restaurant, the OAK.

Just a five-minute drive from the Darwin International Airport, this is a great choice for those with limited time to spend in the city – there’s a free shuttle to and from the airport. Bucking the boring airport hotel tag, you’ll find charming wooden beds and tropical art in the spacious rooms, each with a balcony overlooking the free-form outdoor pool where you can sip a cool, crisp local beer. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the park next door – it’s home to a football stadium, a rugby park and the Darwin Golf Club.