We are quite blessed in Darwin to have many seaside walkways and bike paths which are often overlooked. Exploring Darwin has never been a perfect time with our beautiful dry season now here. Exercising and exploring with your family is a perfect option to have some quality family time. We have rounded up the best walks and bike rides with kids in Darwin which if your kids are anything like mine they are constantly needing to burn their endless energy.
The best walks and bike rides with kids in Darwin
Nightcliff foreshore
Definitely one of our favourites. Nightcliff foreshore stretches out along Casuarina Drive for kilometres and has perfect bike paths to walk, ride, scooter along with the family from Rapid creek bridge winding all the way up to the Jetty. There are some playgrounds along the way and just past the Jetty is Sunset park with another playground. It has to be one of the best walks and bike rides with kids in Darwin. Why not stop along the way and grab a coffee from one of my favourite family friendly cafes – The Foreshore. Along the path there is various places you can access the beach too, which is great to stop off and have a little play with the kids.
Casuarina Coastal Reserve
Casuarina Coastal Reserve is a protected area with many places to explore. It stretches from Rapid Creek (over the yellow bridge near Casuarina Drive) all the way round to Buffalo Creek off Lee point Road. The reserve includes 8 km’s of sandy beaches fringed with Casuarina trees and cliffs. Near Buffalo creek section there is the Coastal walking trail which I have taken my kids on. Total length of this track is 1.4 km and about an hour one way, but we just walked until the kids started to tire and then turned around. The walk is through the casuarina forest and mangroves. There are migratory and resident shorebirds you can spot along the way. Marine turtles, mainly Flatbacks, have also been known to nest on the beach.
Holmes Jungle Nature Park
Located right in the Northern Suburbs, you’ll find Holmes Jungle – is a beautiful Top End monsoonal rainforest that has a couple of easy walks and animals to spot. Holmes Jungle Nature Park protects a large numbers of birds, mammals and reptiles that inhabit the cool monsoon rainforest. The walks are approximately 40 minutes return which is great for those little legs and not too long. To get to Holmes Jungle you turn off Vanderlin Drive headed to the Shoal Bay Recycling Centre. Entry to the park is the second road on your right.
East Point Reserve
Darwin families love East Point Reserve and it’s minutes from the CBD. Another on of the best walks and bike rides with kids in Darwin with amazing seaside views of the harbour to the city. It has a great pathway perfect for walking, scooters or riding with the family. Make sure you stop off at the East point reserve playground or check out the various food trucks including the Salty Plum Cafe which pops up opposite the playground during the dry season. Lake Alexander offers availability for various recreation activities and also perfect spot for a BBQ or picnic. There is also a large area of native bushland which is home to many wildlife so keep your eyes open for many of the resident wallabies especially around dusk! There are also some lovely walks around the reserve including the Mangrove walk so make sure you check these out as well!
Esplanade
The Esplanade stretches along the edge of the CBD with sea views and is a great place for a walk/scooter or ride with the kids. There are even the orange electric scooters in the CBD area which is great fun if your kids are big enough to jump on with you. The Esplanade is roughly 1.6km of paved walkway and there is plenty of shady trees and benches to have a break at. Plus the memorials and look out points for the kids to enjoy. There is also the Bicentennial park playground located towards the end of the Esplanade for the kids to play.
George Brown Botanical Gardens
Right in the heart of Darwin and minutes from Darwin CBD is the beautiful George Brown Botanical Gardens with a beautiful range of tropical plants and trees. There are many pathways and areas to explore in the gardens. There is a kids playground area and dinosaurs to find at the top of the gardens. The Botanic gardens has many pathways that are great for kids to scooter or ride. Eva’s Cafe is also located in the gardens and is another family friendly cafe.
We hope you enjoy some of the best walks and rides with kids in Darwin. Let us know if you find any other great ones we should include. Enjoy getting out and about with your family and exploring some of Darwin’s outdoors.
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