Darwin Shore Excursion: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

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Darwin, Australia

2 days (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Swap your cruise ship for a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Darwin on this sightseeing shore excursion. Select a 24- or 48-hour pass and explore the city in the Top End at your own pace. Board the open-top double-decker bus from the cruise terminal at Fort Hill Wharf and disembark at any of the 11 stops around Darwin, or simply stay on the bus for a 60- or 90-minute narrated tour. Visit the Military Museum, Botanic Gardens, Doctors Gully, Crocosaurus Cove and more!

Darwin hop-on hop-off bus shore excursion
See fabulous views of Darwin from the open top of a double-decker bus
Visit the Waterfront Precinct, Military Museum, Cullen Bay Marina, Doctor’s Gully and Crocosaurus Cove
Get on and off at 11 convenient stops, including the cruise ship terminal
Choose from 24-hour or 48-hour hop-on hop-off tickets

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This bus tour leaves from right outside the cruise terminal and has at least 11 stops around Darwin.

What's Included

24-hour pass
Pre recorded commentary on board

Food and drinks
Not covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Tour starts at Stop 1 - Tourist Info Centre on Bennett Street Guest can board at any stop at any time. 70-minute tour: 9am – 12.00pm, every 35 minutes 90-minute tour: 12.30pm last bus departs at 4.15pm, every 45 minutes.

Meeting point

Top End Visitor Information Centre
6 Bennett St, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia
Purchase Tickets from the Hop-on Hop-off Booth at corner of Smith and Bennett st.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours

04/06/2026 - 04/06/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
04/08/2026 - 04/09/2026
Wednesday - Thursday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
04/10/2026 - 04/12/2026
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
04/13/2026 - 04/19/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
04/20/2026 - 04/26/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
04/27/2026 - 05/03/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
05/04/2026 - 05/04/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
05/05/2026 - 05/10/2026
Tuesday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
05/11/2026 - 05/17/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
05/18/2026 - 05/24/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
05/25/2026 - 05/31/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
06/01/2026 - 06/07/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
06/08/2026 - 06/14/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
06/15/2026 - 06/21/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
06/22/2026 - 06/28/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
06/29/2026 - 07/03/2026
Monday - Friday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
07/04/2026 - 07/05/2026
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
07/06/2026 - 07/12/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
07/13/2026 - 07/19/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
07/20/2026 - 07/26/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
07/27/2026 - 08/02/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
08/03/2026 - 08/09/2026
Tuesday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
08/10/2026 - 08/16/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
08/17/2026 - 08/23/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
08/24/2026 - 08/30/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
08/31/2026 - 09/06/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
09/07/2026 - 09/13/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
09/14/2026 - 09/20/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
09/21/2026 - 09/27/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
09/28/2026 - 09/30/2026
Monday - Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10/01/2026 - 10/01/2026
Thursday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10/02/2026 - 10/04/2026
Friday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10/05/2026 - 10/11/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10/12/2026 - 10/18/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10/19/2026 - 10/25/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10/26/2026 - 11/01/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
11/02/2026 - 11/08/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
11/09/2026 - 11/15/2026
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
11/16/2026 - 11/22/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
11/23/2026 - 11/29/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
11/30/2026 - 12/06/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
12/07/2026 - 12/13/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
12/14/2026 - 12/20/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
12/21/2026 - 12/27/2026
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
12/28/2026 - 01/03/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
01/04/2027 - 01/10/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
01/11/2027 - 01/17/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
01/18/2027 - 01/24/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
01/25/2027 - 01/31/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
02/01/2027 - 02/07/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
02/08/2027 - 02/14/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
02/15/2027 - 02/21/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
02/22/2027 - 02/28/2027
Monday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
03/01/2027 - 03/07/2027
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
03/08/2027 - 03/14/2027
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
03/15/2027 - 03/21/2027
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
03/22/2027 - 03/28/2027
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
03/29/2027 - 04/04/2027
Monday - Saturday : 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Itinerary

When your ship pulls into port in Darwin, design your own sightseeing itinerary on a shore excursion. Board your open-top double-decker bus at Fort Hill Wharf, conveniently located outside the cruise terminal. Buses depart every 30 minutes for the 1-hour morning route with 11 stops, and every 45 minutes for the 1.5-hour afternoon route, which includes East Point Reserve and an additional stop at the Military Museum.

Listen to entertaining on-board commentary for the entire route, or hop off to spend as long as you like at various attractions around Darwin. Select a 24- or 48-hour pass and see Darwin Waterfront Precinct, Crocosaurus Cove, Doctors Gully, Cullen Bay and the Marina Military Museum. See the Itinerary for a full list of hop-on hop-off bus stops.

This excursion is located within a 5-minute walk to the cruise port, so you determine the time you return to your ship in Darwin. Please allow yourself ample time to enjoy the excursion and ensure your timely return to the port. This excursion is not covered by our worry-free policy.

Darwin hop-on hop-off bus stops: • Smith St Mall • Doctors Gully • Crocosaurus Cove • Cullen Bay Jetty • SKYCITY Casino • Mindil Beach Sunset Market • George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens • Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory • Darwin Military Museum • Parap, a suburb of Darwin • Darwin Waterfront Precinct

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants aged 0 to 4 years travel free of charge
Stroller accessible

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.3

based on 61 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

A great experience....

Roger_G, Sep 2025

A great experience. Commentary around city was excellent. Being able to choose where to get on and off was wonderful. Operators of the bus very knowledgeable and happy people.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hello Roger, we appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review, and we're delighted to know that you enjoyed your experience on our Darwin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour. It's also great to hear that our bus drivers were both knowledgeable and enjoyable to be with. We can't wait to welcome you back on board soon. Alice @ Big Bus Tours

Highly recommended

Karen_S, Jun 2025

Driver easily sorted my booking error and happily. The Big Bus is a great way to see Darwin, particularly if you dont have a car. Commentary clear, helpful and entertaining. Thanks to the bus driver and the company for a very pleasant experience. K :)

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Karen_S. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you've had a great experience in Darwin with our service and it is wonderful to know our driver was able to assist you. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

A must do!

Gabrielle_R, Aug 2024

Clear commentary. Darwin has lots of interesting places to visit, might have been better to get a 2 day pass. Great sitting up top undercover with the breeze.

Good trip

Linda_K, Apr 2024

Good service. Good value for money. Good for sightseeing. Enjoyed the experience. Easy to get on board

Great Tour

Michael_P, Nov 2023

It was a great hop on hop off experience the driver was great and he was very knowledgeable about the history of Darwin.You HAVE TO SEETHE DARWIN MUSEUM and experience the bombing of Darwin harbor and the Crocasurous is another stop especially if you want to see very very big crocs.All in all I recommend this tour to anyone visiting Darwin.

Easy to use from Darwin cruise harbour.

Elle_R, Oct 2023

We were happy to get on - right at the cruise harbour and then to military museum on the morning bus instead of separate bus as brochure said. . Such hot and humid weather. Suggestion for future- have tents for shade at cruise harbour. Also - make 2 lines - priority boarding for us who had tickets. We had to wait in the heat for people to buy tickets from driver.

Great first impressions of Darwin city.

shemmum, May 2023

Enjoy the Hop on bus in Darwin. Great way to get a first look of the city and areas you may wish to investigate further. Loved the commentary….it was interesting but very funny too. Saved my poor legs and got us from the cruise ship and back again safely. Highly recommend. Tickets can be bought from driver.

A great tour

Trevor_M, Mar 2023

Great value for money. Commentary was great. The drivers were courtesy and helpful Would do this tour again

Excellent service that...

Rob_M, Mar 2023

Excellent service that covered all points of interest around the Darwin and suburban area. My one issue is the condition of some of the buses which featured either no air conditioning or ineffective air conditioning (in hot humid conditions in March) and in some, loud engine noise and jerky transmissions.

Darwin or bust!

Christina_L, Mar 2023

Excellent excursion if you are on a cruise ship and visiting for the day - or longer. They brought in extra buses to accommodate the crowd. Great overview of the area and a wonderful stop at the Museum & Arts Gallery of the Northern Territory (free! but worthy of a donation), where you get to meet "Sweetheart". Great displays of the native wildlife; I never have seen such huge and beautiful seashells!

Easy way to get around 😅

Darrell_F, May 2022

Great way to see the town. did one loop to find everything then stopped at where I liked. Good commentry

Bus company went all out for cruise passengers

Ed_D, Feb 2020

Wonderful ride around the beautiful city of Darwin. The bus company went all out by having a bus waiting at the cruise terminal, increasing frequency to every 20 minutes, and including the run out to the Military Museum all day rather than just the afternoon. We enjoyed the museum as well as the stop at the Bombing/Royal Flying Doctors Museum. Excellent day!

Great way to see Darwin

Alison_D, Dec 2019

We were on a cruise ship, so this was a very convenient way to see Darwin. We enjoyed the commentary, and all the sights, especially the Royal Flying Doctors.

Great day in Darwin

Rita_M, Nov 2019

The Hop On Hop Off Bus in Darwin served many purposes. We got a great tour around the area plus I was able to find a place to have a manicure!

It was a hop on hop off bus but we...

Nick_G, Feb 2018

It was a hop on hop off bus but we made the mistake of booking it on a bank holiday so Darwin was ostensibly 'closed'

I bought the tickets online before...

Susan I S, Jan 2018

I bought the tickets online before we arrived in Darwin. It would have been nice to know that everything in the city was closed for New Years Day when I purchased the tickets. There was no reason to take the bus.

Highly recommend it the driver was...

Yves Pierre D, Aug 2017

Highly recommend it the driver was very friendly and helpful. The bus was just next to the ship terminal and made it easy to find. It was a very hot day so seen the tour was a great option. And been able to hop on hop off was ideal.

This is a nice way to see Darwin and...

Robert P, Mar 2017

This is a nice way to see Darwin and environs in 1 day, unfortunately, there just isn't a lot in Darwin to 'hop off' and see! We we in Darwin for a day on a cruise. It's an easy to walk from the cruise port to the city center, where the bus starts - just walk along the breakwater, across the man-made lagoon, up the glass elevator, and you're practically there. The morning busses 9a, 10a, and 11a do a 60 minute loop, but the only stop worth 'hopping off' is at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The afternoon busses 12p, 1:30p, and 3p do a 90 minute loop that include the East Point Military Museum. The best strategy for a 1 day visit would be to start with the 10a loop, 'hopping off' at the museum for an hour, and returning to town on the the 11a bus. Then, taking the 12p bus out to the military museum, returning on the 1:30p bus.

Good tour, but the cruise terminal stop...

Susan_R, Mar 2017

Good tour, but the cruise terminal stop was very busy and had to wait in the heat.

if on a cruise ship you can pick up...

Janice_E, Dec 2016

if on a cruise ship you can pick up the bus with your voucher near the ship. We paid the shuttle bus to get to the hop on hop off tour starting point in city center. also I believe the senior rate was the same as Viator, so no savings, The Hop on Bus was a great way to see the city. Narration was good and there were plenty of stops.

There was not much to hop off for in...

Karen_I, Nov 2016

There was not much to hop off for in Darwin. Since we had never been there, it was a good choice.

See all the famous sights including...

Tracy S, Oct 2016

See all the famous sights including Opera House, Bondi Beach etc etc with full commentary.

Service was good information was...

Shirley T, Sep 2016

Service was good information was informative and we had a very pleasant day

Definetly a great trip. Very...

Natalie_G, Aug 2016

Definetly a great trip. Very informative and lovely to sit on the top deck, friendly drivers - very helpful. So much easier than walking!

The Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour was...

June_S, Jul 2016

The Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour was excellent, but we were upset that we had paid you 40 each on line when everyone who bought a ticket in Darwin only paid 30. June Sue Yek

the bus was not in very good working...

andrew c, Jun 2016

the bus was not in very good working order.It broke down and the replacement bus had a broken door. The driver and staff were very good.

The loop made by the bus is...

Douglas_Z, May 2016

The loop made by the bus is interesting. We made stops to visit Crocosaurus Cove and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Loved Darwin and quite frankly, this...

Jennifer_F, May 2016

Loved Darwin and quite frankly, this tour bus took us to all of the main attractions there. We really needed more time and that was the only unfortunate thing. Bus drivers were all friendly and informative and gave us good advice when needed. Would definitely do again and certainly hope to see Darwin again