On the back of exciting growth
from the cruise industry in the Top
End, currently delivering around
70,000 passengers a year, many
developments are taking place.
A new $1.2m shaded walkway
allows passengers to stroll from the
Cruise Ship Terminal to the Darwin
Waterfront Precinct in comfort.
The NT Govt is also providing free
wi-fi in the Waterfront Precinct and
the Stokes Hill Wharf so that cruise
visitors can easily catch up with
family and friends online.
Shuttle services are now available
between Fort Hill Wharf and the
Tourism Top End visitor centre
through Coach Charters Australia,
the new port shuttle operator.
While in the city, passengers are
able to enjoy small group shore
excursions including the Sea Darwin
WW11 themed harbour cruise;
Nautilus Aviation scenic heli flights
and the Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural
Tour. The Royal Flying Doctor
Service will add to this when their
interactive exhibition at the Stokes
Hill Wharf on the Bombing of
Darwin is completed next month.
Regional destinations are also
benefiting from increased cruise
visits. In the last year, a number of
maiden visits by expedition ships
were made to remote aboriginal
communities, including Yirrkala,
the Tiwi Islands and the small island
homeland of Ban’thula, Elcho Island.
And the development doesn’t stop
there. The recently released Darwin
Port Development Plan includes
some exciting modifications to
the existing facilities to cater for
increasing passenger changeovers.
The Port is also working alongside
government to attract homeporting
and larger vessels.
CONTRIBUTOR: Jill Abel, CEO, Australian Cruise Association
