Darwin Tourism Statistics

Fact checked · 116 sources

Updated

At a Glance

  • About 815,000 tourists visited Darwin in 20241: around 689,000 domestic and 126,000 international visitors2.
  • Visitors spent about A$1.53 billion in Darwin in 20241, around 40% more than in 20193.
  • Visitor numbers in 2024 were still about 10% below the 2019 total3 of around 909,0004.
  • International visitors reached about 143,000 in 20255 and 146,000 in the year ending June 20266.
  • International visitors spent about A$268 million in Darwin in the year ending June 2026, up 38% on the year before6.
  • Darwin-level domestic figures stop at 2024: the survey that replaced the National Visitor Survey in 2025 reports state and territory results only7.

How many tourists visit Darwin each year?

About 815,0001 tourists visit Darwin each year, going by 20242, the latest calendar year with a total for all visitors. Most are Australians: roughly 689,000 domestic visitors1 and about 126,000 international visitors2.

  • International visitors rose to about 143,000 in 20255, up from 126,000 the year before.
  • Total visitor numbers in 2024 were still about 10% below the 2019 total3 of around 909,0004.
  • During COVID-19 travel restrictions, visitor numbers fell to about 677,000 in the year ending June 20208: 108,000 international9 and 569,000 domestic visitors8.
  • There is no 2025 total for Darwin: the survey that replaced the National Visitor Survey in 2025 reports only state and territory results7, so domestic figures stop at 2024.
Tourist arrivals in Darwin by yearInternational and domestic overnight visitors, year ending DecemberInternational visitorsDomestic overnight visitors200K400K600K800K137,000772,00096,000639,000126,000689,000143,0002019202320242025YearVisitors
International and domestic overnight visitors to Darwin by calendar year. Darwin's domestic figures are not published after 2024.
Darwin visitor numbers by year
Year (ending December)InternationalDomesticTotal
2019137,0004772,0003909,0003
202396,0002639,0001735,0001
2024126,0002689,0001815,0001
2025143,0005Not publishedNot published

How many tourists have visited Darwin in 2026?

Darwin recorded about 146,000 international visitors in the year ending June 2026, up 16% on the year before6.

  • International visitors spent about A$268 million in Darwin over those 12 months, up 38% from A$195 million, and stayed 3.16 million nights6.
  • Darwin was Australia's 12th most-visited region by international visitor nights6.
  • Across the Northern Territory, Australians made about 986,000 overnight trips in the year ending June 2026 (down 1.5%) and spent A$1.79 billion (up 22%)10.
  • Tourism Research Australia doesn't publish Darwin figures for single quarters, so the year ending June 2026 is the latest period available and there is no January–June 2026 total yet.

How much money does Darwin make from tourism?

Tourists spent about A$1.53 billion1 in Darwin in the year ending December 20242, the latest year with a total for all visitors. Domestic travellers spent roughly A$1.29 billion1 and international visitors around A$235 million2.

  • International visitors spent about A$244 million in Darwin in 20255, up from A$235 million in 2024.
  • Total tourism spending in Darwin in 2024 was about 40% higher than in 20193, when visitors spent about A$1.09 billion4.
  • Domestic spending figures for Darwin also stop at 2024, because the replacement survey reports only state and territory results7.
Visitor spending in Darwin by year
Year (ending December)InternationalDomestic
2019A$136M4A$0.95 B3
2023A$216M2A$1.06 B1
2024A$235M2A$1.29 B1
2025A$244M5Not published

When do most tourists visit Darwin?

Most visitors from interstate come to Darwin in the dry season: 67% arrive in the June and September quarters, and the September quarter alone accounts for 40%11. Interstate travellers make up about 63% of visitors to the Greater Darwin region, which includes Litchfield National Park.

  • Interstate visitors: 12% in the March quarter, 27% in June, 40% in September and 21% in December11.
  • Territorians from elsewhere in the NT: 13% in March, 34% in June, 30% in September and 23% in December11.
  • International visitors come later in the year: 33% in the September quarter and 37% in the December quarter, with 16% in June and 13% in March11.
  • The March quarter, in the wet season, is the quietest time for every group, at 12–13% of visitors.

These shares are Tourism NT's three-year average for 2022–2024, the latest it has published for the region. For weather and events by month, see the best time of year to visit Darwin.

How many cruise ship passengers visit Darwin?

About 61,000 cruise passengers visited Darwin on 111 ships in 2024–25, up from 72 ships and 43,000 passengers in 2018–1911. That is the most ships since at least 2012–13 and the most passengers since 2016–17.

  • Passenger numbers peaked at about 64,000 in both 2015–16 and 2016–1711.
  • Cruising almost stopped during the pandemic, with about 1,000 passengers in 2020–21 and 4,000 in 2021–2211.
  • Numbers recovered to about 44,000 passengers in both 2022–23 and 2023–2411, then rose by about 40% in 2024–25.
  • Ship calls have grown faster than passenger numbers, from 36 in 2021–22 to 91, 105 and then 11111.

Figures are Darwin Port's for financial years and exclude expedition vessels11. Where arriving passengers were not counted, ship capacity was used.

Cruise ship passengers visiting Darwin by yearDarwin Port Corporation, via Tourism NT. Excludes expedition vessels.20K40K60K80K23,00040,00050,00064,00064,00050,00043,00036,0001,0004,00044,00044,00061,0002012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–242024–25
Cruise ship passengers visiting Darwin by financial year, 2012–13 to 2024–25.

How many people fly into Darwin, and how busy are its hotels?

About 906,000 paying passengers flew into Darwin in 2024, up from 524,000 in 202111. Darwin had 5,525 hotel rooms in the year ending June 2025, with average occupancy of 59%.

  • Arriving passengers: 524,000 in 2021, 829,000 in 2022, 884,000 in 2023 and 906,000 in 202411.
  • Seats on arriving flights: about 1.19 million in 2024, level with 2023 and down from 1.25 million in 202211.
  • Hotels: the average room rate was A$189 a night, and revenue per available room was A$11811.

Airport figures are from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. Hotel figures cover Darwin hotels with 10 or more rooms11.

Passengers flying into Darwin by yearInbound passengersInbound seatsBureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, via Tourism NT500K1M1.5M524,000935,000829,0001,247,000884,0001,198,000906,0001,193,0002021202220232024
Passengers and seats on flights arriving in Darwin, calendar years 2021 to 2024.

How many visitors to Darwin go camping?

Camping is most popular with Territorians: 17% of NT residents visiting the Darwin region from elsewhere in the Territory stay at non-commercial campsites11, and 6% stay at caravan parks or commercial camping grounds. Most interstate visitors (63%) and nearly half of international visitors (48%) stay in hotels, and fewer of them camp.

  • Interstate visitors: 5% stay at caravan parks or commercial camping grounds, 4% camp at non-commercial sites and 1% travel by motorhome or campervan11.
  • International visitors: 4% stay at caravan parks or commercial camping grounds, 1% camp at non-commercial sites and 3% travel by motorhome or campervan11.
  • Drive holidays: about 206,000 domestic visitors a year, 26% of all domestic visitors, come on holiday or to see friends and relatives and drive around the region11. Nearly three in four (73%) are NT residents, and about 70% stay five nights or fewer.

As with the seasonal figures, these shares are Tourism NT's three-year average for 2022–2024, the latest available. For national figures, see Australia camping statistics.

How many people visit Darwin's parks and reserves?

Casuarina Coastal Reserve is the most visited park or reserve in the Darwin region, with about 1.42 million visitors in 2025, up from 1.35 million in 202412. That is nearly three times as many as George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, the next most visited, with about 498,000. Litchfield National Park drew about 280,000 visitors, up 15% on 2024.

Many visitors also travel further into the Top End: 17% of interstate visitors stay overnight in the Katherine–Daly region and 14% in Kakadu–Arnhem11.

Visitors to parks and reserves around Darwin, 2025NT Parks and Wildlife park visitor data, calendar year 2025Casuarina Coastal Reserve1,422,200George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens497,800Litchfield National Park280,100Berry Springs Nature Park186,600Howard Springs Nature Park126,600Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve55,700Territory Wildlife Park48,800Mary River National Park (Shady Camp)32,300
Visitors to parks and reserves around Darwin, calendar year 2025. Charles Darwin Nature Park has no published 2025 figure.
Visitors to each park and reserve around Darwin
Park or reserve20252024
Casuarina Coastal Reserve1,422,200121,346,00012
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens497,80012459,40012
Litchfield National Park280,10012244,20012
Berry Springs Nature Park186,60012175,80012
Howard Springs Nature Park126,60012120,70012
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve55,7001269,30012
Territory Wildlife Park48,8001248,10012
Mary River National Park – Shady Camp32,3001234,40012
Charles Darwin Nature ParkNot published71,00011

Source · NT Parks and Wildlife park visitor data, calendar years. Charles Darwin Nature Park's 2024 figure is from Tourism NT; no 2025 figure has been published.

Campervan hire in Australia

Darwin is a mid-ranking destination among Australia's tourist regions. It ranked 12th for international visitor nights in the year ending June 20266.

How much do international tourists spend per night?

International visitors spent about A$85 a night in Darwin in the year ending June 2026: A$268 million over 3.16 million nights6. That works out to about A$1,840 per visit.

How long do international tourists stay in Darwin?

International visitors stay about 22 nights in Darwin on average: their 146,000 visits added up to 3.16 million nights in the year ending June 20266.

FAQs

Have Darwin's visitor numbers returned to 2019 levels?

Not yet. About 815,000 tourists visited Darwin in 2024, roughly 10% below the 2019 total of around 909,0004. Spending has recovered faster: visitors spent about A$1.53 billion in 2024, around 40% more than in 20193. International arrivals of about 143,000 in 20255 were also above the 137,000 recorded in 20194.

How does Darwin compare with Cairns for tourism?

Cairns draws far more international visitors. Tropical North Queensland, the region around Cairns, had about 634,000 international visitors in the year ending June 20266, more than four times Darwin's 146,000. They spent about A$1.25 billion there, compared with A$268 million in Darwin.

Is international tourism to Darwin growing?

Yes. International visitors rose from about 126,000 in 2024 to 143,000 in 20255, and reached 146,000 in the year ending June 20266. Over those 12 months they spent about A$268 million in Darwin, up 38% on the year before.

Where do Darwin's tourism statistics come from?

Visitor numbers and spending come from Tourism Research Australia. International figures come from its International Visitor Survey5. Domestic figures came from the National Visitor Survey until 2024; its replacement from January 2025, Domestic Tourism Statistics, reports national, state and territory results only7, so there are no Darwin domestic figures after 2024. The seasonal, camping, cruise, airport and hotel figures come from Tourism NT's Greater Darwin regional report, which draws on Darwin Port for cruise passengers, the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics for airport traffic and STR for hotels11. Park visitor numbers come from NT Parks and Wildlife12.

More Australian tourism statistics

References

  1. NVS results data tables for the year ending December 2024 compared to December 2023 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l
  2. IVS results for the year ending December 2024 compared to December 2023 · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g h i
  3. NVS results data tables for the year ending December 2023 compared to December 2019 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g h
  4. IVS results for the year ending December 2024 compared to December 2019 · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g
  5. International tourism results — year ending December 2025 (International Visitor Survey) · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g h
  6. International tourism results — year ending June 2026 (International Visitor Survey) · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g h i j
  7. Tourism Research Australia — International Visitor Survey and National Visitor Survey · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d
  8. National Visitor Survey results — year ending June 2020 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b
  9. International Visitor Survey results — year ending June 2020 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑
  10. Domestic Tourism Statistics results — June quarter 2026 compared to June quarter 2025 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑
  11. Greater Darwin Tourism Regional Report — year ending December 2024 (Tourism NT) · tourismandeventsnt.com.au ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v
  12. Parks and Wildlife visitor data — Darwin region (NT Government) · dth.nt.gov.au ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r
  13. International Visitor Survey results — year ending June 2019 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑
  14. National Visitor Survey results — year ending June 2019 (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑
  15. TRA — International tourism results, Australia, March 2024 · Tourism Research Australia
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