November 16, 2022
6 mins Read
Up in Darwin, there are hotel options to suit all budgets from luxury hotels and family apartments to holiday homes and inexpensive lodges. These are a few of our favourites.
The Hilton Darwin is right in the heart of the CBD, perfect for the “bleisure” traveller (yes an odd, US-travel term from the business traveller who extends their stay; business plus leisure equals bleisure, get it?).
Large, modern spaces welcome you at the Hilton Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT/Nick Pincott)
The lobby bar is a good nook for a quiet pre-dinner drink or nightcap. The rooms are as you would expect and the new modern decor has dragged Darwin’s first five-star hotel back to that luxury status.
Spend laid-back afternoons lounging by the poolside.
On the Esplanade in Darwin CBD, this relatively affordable and centrally located four-star hotel connects right through to Mitchell Street, with views over the harbour.
Its stunning pool makes the Hilton Garden Inn Darwin a perfect stay for kids and adults alike – that and its gooey chocolate chip cookies on arrival.
This relatively affordable and centrally located four-star hotel has views over the harbour.
An affordable hotel in the Darwin CBD, the Argus Hotel is a contemporary option, with rooms that can be connected for those travelling as a family.
There is an outdoor plunge pool and spa, and the hotel is decorated with works from Merrepen Arts, a Northern Territory Aboriginal art centre in Nauiyu.
The cosy suites are great for winding down after a tiring day.
The ‘great value’ badge with accompanying silk frill goes to Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront.
Its location is an excellent jumping-off point for travelling around the city and exploring the best things to do in Darwin itself.
The waterfront-view guest room combines comfort and style.
The Vibe’s front yard boasts a public wave pool. Its rooms have fresh, modern designs and supremely comfy beds.
The downstairs Curve Café – decorated with colourful Aboriginal art and traditional fishing nets – is an ideal spot to catch up on your travel journal and re-energise.
Enjoy the spacious seating area for guests at the Vibe Hotel.
With a mix of hotel rooms and self-contained townhouses, the Travelodge Darwin is a tropical oasis just a few minutes’ walk away from the city’s waterfront.
The lobby has a rustic yet chic interior.
Have a drink at the Raintree Poolside Café and Bar after a dip, before jumping in the car and heading out to find your own wild rainforest nearby.
Start your day with a healthy breakfast meal.
Views over the Darwin Harbour are what awaits when you book the right room at Oaks Elan Darwin.
Enjoy a swim in the pool with a view. (Image: Tourism NT/Nick Pincott)
With a mix of rooms and self-contained apartments, the centrally located four-star hotel is a stone’s throw from the city’s major attractions like the wave lagoon and waterfront. The Oaks Elan also has an outdoor pool, gym and onsite restaurant available for guests.
This luxury suite has a balcony with sweeping city views.
The three-star Mantra Esplanade Darwin can be found when you wander down the Darwin waterfront and has a range of rooms and apartments available to book.
Opt for the one bedroom apartment with ocean views.
Relax at the on-site salon or choose to refresh yourself with a swim instead, before meandering down to the water. Which – the hotel being waterfront and all – should take a matter of moments.
Relax by the pool at the Mantra Esplanade Darwin.
Centrally located on the Esplanade itself, the Novotel Darwin is ideal for business and leisure travellers who want to be in the centre of town.
Superior rooms at Novotel Darwin CBD have well-appointed amenities.
Its Zest restaurant dishes up a blend of Indigenous and European flavours (think Top End barramundi with lime butter and bush spice), while the bar in its tropical atrium serves up the after-dinner drinks.
Sit around in a nicely designed dining area.
The Mantra Pandanas is upping the ante with its chic and contemporary design. The hotel is quite literally fit for a king; King Charles III chose to lay his most royal head at the Mantra Pandanas when visiting Darwin.
Dine with a view in the two-bedroom apartment at Mantra Pandanas.
Almost sleek and minimalist enough to be Japanese but with a tropical feel throughout its 336 rooms, a lagoon-style pool, great views of the setting sun, the funky East Meets West restaurant and Endota Day Spa complete the picture.
The luxurious pool looks out towards the city skyline.
Next door you’ll find the Adina Apartment Darwin Waterfront, a favourite of Australian Traveller’s Managing Director Quentin Long.
Relax by the pool and sumberge in the spa.
He says: “The Adina has the perfect combination of space and service to make me feel right at home. It’s my first choice of places to stay in Darwin.”
Check out our review of the Adina Apartment Darwin Waterfront Hotel here.
Catch scenic views right on the balcony of your waterfront suite.
An affordable option that is a walking distance from the city centre. The H on Smith Hotel has an outdoor pool, rooftop gym and the lure of reasonably priced meals at its D Bar & Restaurant. The 24-hour reception means staff are on hand (helpful if you fly in late at night).
Attractions like Mindil Beach Markets and Crocosaurus Cove are nearby.
Keep your cool as you plunge into the pool.
Whether you’re a family who wants all the extra trimmings or a couple looking for a bargain base to start your stay, City Gardens Apartments Darwin has what you need.
Furnished with budget-cost apartment rooms that come with standard and deluxe apartments, handy facilities include washing machines and dryers, as well as a kitchen.
Spend an evening relaxing among the tropical ferns on a deck chair next to their pool.
It’s a great day to bask in the sun.
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