Christmas in Darwin is well and truly alive! There is so much festive fun happening around the place! It is hard to sometimes find and locate all the different events and Christmas happenings so we have rounded them all up for you in one place. Where to get your Santa photos, Christmas light displays and where there is still places available to celebrate breakfast, lunch or dinner on the big day! Also don’t forget to check out our School holidays blog which has some events and places doing Christmas crafts and other activities for the kids!
photo credit to Darwin City & Waterfront Retailers Association
Darwin Waterfront
The magic of Christmas comes to life every night during December from 7 pm to 10 pm at the Darwin Waterfront. Enjoy the light displays and a stroll through the gingerbread man’s house, standing at almost 4 metres tall, pine trees decorated with tiny lights and embellished with baubles and garland. And you must check out Santa’s sleigh and watch the reindeer grazing!!
Darwin Christmas Trail
Get into the festive spirit and join the Christmas trail filled with exciting activities for all ages at many City of Darwin locations around town. Click here for more details!
INChurch – The Wonder Christmas Carols – Sunday 23rd December
Probably the last of the Christmas Carols happening! If you’re looking to add a bit of WONDER to your Christmas experience bring your family and interstate visitors and join with us for our Christmas Carol service. They are hosting this on Sunday 23rd of December at 9am (50 Waler Rd Marlow Lagoon) and 5pm (44 Dripstone Rd Alawa). Both services will feature plenty of (battery operated) candles for the full carols by candlelight experience. They hope to see you there.
Darwin and Palmerston Christmas lights 2018
It is always fun at this time of year to take the kids for a drive around the suburbs and check out houses that have Christmas lights and decorations up. I find this Facebook group is great to find locations and places of light displays. Here is also a map of locations one member has created.
Mix 104.9 also are having a Christmas light competition and have a heap of different addresses on their website here
Smith Street Mall – Christmas displays and Santa Letters
Christmas is everywhere in the Darwin CBD they have giant Christmas tree in the Mall and the Spirit of Christmas window display at the Live Darwin Creative Hub. Also have your children written a letter to Santa yet? From Monday – Saturday 9:30 am – 1:00 pm, Santa’s red mail box will be outside Santa’s Village in the Voyager Arcade. All kids who write a letter to Santa with their name and a return address will receive a gift from Santa!
Also the Darwin City Waterfront Retailers Association are holding a Christmas window display competition for the store with the best Christmas display! Simply visit the link below and choose which store you think has the best Christmas window display*. By voting, you will be entering for a chance to win a $500 Darwin City gift voucher! Competition ends 21st December 2018! You can check the window displays here on Facebook Vote link here
Harvest Coffee Shop – Anula
The Harvest Coffee Shop located at Anula shops on Yanyula Drive Anula, will have a letter to Santa activity at their little Coffee Shop, cost of $3. Bring your child in to write a letter to Santa, put it in their Santa mailbox, they will send it off to the North Pole, and they will advise you when your little ones package from Santa arrives (2 days) for collection. The package contains a letter to Santa, a Christmas pencil and a tree ornament made out of your child’s letter. How cute!!
Christmas time at Casuarina Square
Casuarina Square are has their awkward Christmas photo pop up every Friday night, Saturday and Sunday leading to Christmas. Head along for a hilarious FREE photo!
There is also a large mystery present with this that has a number of items for children to touch and feel and guess what is inside. They are giving away 5x $100 gift cards at the end to the top five who have guessed the items. There is also a photo wall where you can write your Christmas wish on a heart and stick it on the wall. If you upload your photo and #BeDifferentBeDarwin you can win 1 of 4 family passes to spectacular crocodile cruises.
Darwin Santa photo locations
Casuarina Square – 247 Trower Rd, Casuarina
Santa’s Sand bar! #BeDifferentBeDarwin – Santa Photography is available during centre trading hours: Mon 17th Dec & Tuesday 18th Dec 9am – 7pm, Wed 19th, Thurs 20th, Fri 21st – 9am – 9pm, Sat 22nd – 9am – 7pm, Sun 23rd – 9am – 5pm and Mon 24th – 9- 5.30pm.
Gateway NT – 1 Roystonea Avenue, Yarrawonga
Santa photo times at Gateway NT near the food court (till Fri 21st Dec): Mon to Thur 10 – 5 pm, Fridays 10 till 8 pm, Sat 10-5 pm, Sun 10 – 3 pm. Santa photo hours: Sat 22nd Dec and Sun 23rd Dec 10 – 8 pm and Mon 24th Dec 10 – 5 pm.
Palmerston Shopping Centre – 10 Temple Terrace, Palmerston
Santa Photo times 10 am till 4 pm every day of the week including Christmas Eve! Unique Santa photo that can be with animals or even your pets!
Oasis Shopping Centre – 15 Temple Terrace, Palmerston
Take your own selfie with Santa from 10 am till 1 pm daily till Christmas Eve.
Santa’s Village Smith Street Mall in the Voyager Arcade
Take your own photo with Santa in Santa’s Village in the Smith Street Mall! Santa will be there Monday to Saturdays (closed Sundays) 9.30 am till 11 am then again 11.30 am till 1 pm.
Harvey Norman Darwin – 644 Stuart Highway Berrimah
Get a free 6×4 Santa photo! Photo times every Saturday and Sunday 11 am till 2 pm till 23rd December.
A big thank you to all the parents who supplied Santa photos for this blog! They are gorgeous!
Christmas Lunch and Dinner in Darwin
Club Tropical Resort (622 Lee Point Rd) is holding an Xmas day lunch from 12 till 3 pm. Air-con inside, pool outside, accommodation just a few meters away should you wish to stay. Book your tickets here
SkyCity Casino (Gilruth Avenue, The Gardens) – The Vue still have limited seats available for Christmas Day Breakfast & Dinner (lunch is sold out.) Breakfast 6 am- 10:00 am and Seafood & Christmas inspired buffet. Phone Restaurant Reservations on 8943 8940 to book.
Tracey Village (28 Tambling Terrace, Lyons) – buffet lunch. Bookings essential contact 8980 4777
Doubletree by Hilton (116 The Esplanade, Darwin) Christmas lunch from 11.30 am till 2.30 pm. With a fresh and tasty buffet menu selections, flexible offerings and the service you expect, they have Christmas Day all wrapped up. Inclusive of 3 hours beverage package, 1 gift per child, festive novelties and a visit from Santa Claus. Book your tickets here
The Lodge at Dundee is having a Xmas Party on the Sunday 23rd December see flyer below for details.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and it helped you plan some festive fun for your family. Please leave a comment if you find any other activities or Christmas happenings!
