City of Darwin Cruises
Sail away on an unforgettable journey across the historic Darwin Harbour with City of Darwin Cruises. Renowned as the locals' top choice, our sailing charters and sunset cruises provide the ideal opportunity to indulge in breathtaking sunset views and serene sailing experiences.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a large group; you can join one of our shared cruises and make new friends while soaking in stunning panoramas. Our 2.5-hour sunset cruise features delicious hors d'oeuvres and complimentary drinks starting at just $99 per person. If you prefer to BYO beverages, the cost is $89.
Experience the beauty of the Top End aboard our comfortable, purpose-built vessels. Take advantage of your time on the water by asking our friendly crew about local history and wildlife. Whether you're looking for a private charter with friends or a way to mingle with others on a shared cruise, City of Darwin Cruises offers a fresh view of this vibrant coastal destination.
Opening hours
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Photos of City of Darwin Cruises
Our comment from TraTraTravel about City of Darwin Cruises:
A Relaxed and Intimate Darwin Harbour Experience
City of Darwin Cruises offers a distinctive way to explore Darwin Harbour, focusing on intimate sunset sails and private charters aboard well-maintained vessels like the Kuru and the Cherry Pie. Unlike large-scale commercial operations, this agency prides itself on a laid-back, friendly atmosphere that feels more like sailing with friends than a rigid tourist attraction. The experience is designed to be relaxing, allowing guests to enjoy spectacular views of the city skyline and the ocean while sailing under wind power, providing a serene escape from the hustle and bustle.
Exceptional Crew and Personalized Service
Travelers consistently highlight the warmth and professionalism of the crew as a standout feature. From the booking process handled by Les to the onboard hospitality provided by crew members like Jevon, Austin, and Matt, the team is described as welcoming, knowledgeable, and attentive. Guests appreciate the personal touch, noting that the crew goes above and beyond to ensure safety, comfort, and a memorable experience, whether for a casual afternoon sail or a special celebration like a bachelorette party or birthday.
Highly Recommended for Groups and Families
The agency is particularly praised for its suitability for a wide range of occasions, including family outings, corporate events, and group celebrations. The vessels are spacious and often accessible, making them comfortable for elderly passengers and young children alike. Many reviewers emphasize the intimate setting, with fewer passengers compared to larger boats, which enhances the social atmosphere and allows for better interaction with the crew and fellow travelers.
Quality Amenities and Flexible Dining Options
While the core experience is the scenic sail, the onboard amenities significantly elevate the journey. Guests frequently commend the fresh BBQ dinners, delicious nibbles, and the availability of BYO (Bring Your Own) drinks, which allows for a customized and cost-effective experience. The combination of high-quality food, cold beverages, and the stunning backdrop of a Darwin sunset creates a highly rated value proposition. The clean facilities, including restrooms with great views, and the provision of entertainment options like microphones for singing, add to the overall enjoyment.
City of Darwin Cruises: Reviews
Negative experience: The company prioritise locals over tourist, even stated this through email. I booked online via a booking webpage as all visitors would, but only to be informed that the date I selected was not available - when I asked Les to contact the booking agency through their ‘Supplier Hub’ (as it states on the webpage/email) in order for me to get my refund, the response I received was quite passive aggressive and rude. The company is more of a local party host than a tourist attraction, save your time and money
Fantastic experience: Spent a fabulous night on the Darwin Harbour on board the Kuru.. This sailing catamaran is awesome, lots great spaces to sit and enjoy the sunset. Can highly recommend Les and the team..
Fantastic experience: Our family spent the afternoon on the amazing Kuru for a special event. Thank you for such a perfect cruise. The crew were fantastic, booking was a breeze. The boat was accessible for the elderly members of our family. Perfect afternoon. Thanks so much.
Fantastic experience: Sailed on the Cherry pie with my family, everything was very organised and clean. The host and skipper on board were very friendly, highly recommend.
Thank you
Fantastic experience: Fantastic Darwin Sunset Sail on a great boat - not too many passengers which made it more intimate. Great drinks and nibbles and the best music. Loved being able to sit in the nets out front and chill out.
Thank you
Fantastic experience: Sailing ⛵️ On the Kuru was fantastic. Thanks to Les for the booking ease and Jevin and Austin for a fantastic trip.
Thank you for booking with us,
Fantastic experience: City of Darwin cruises provided a sunset sail charter for our Bachelorette party. They were really great to deal with for the booking process and we had an amazing time onboard. They even upgraded our sailing boat to their new boat. Thank you guys for the great time.
Fantastic experience: Absolutely loved this cruise. All who were in attendance enjoyed themselves. Thank you City of Darwin and hope to cruise with you again soon
Fantastic experience: The crew were welcoming and warm. This is our first time together visiting Darwin this experience was wonderful. The beverages and canapés were more than filling. We paid for dinner option truly delicious, do not go with a full stomach. This experience was worth every dollar. The ocean views, the beverage options, the food just book. Thank me later. To the crew we apologize we kept to ourselves but we are very esoteric. This did not mean we didn’t enjoy ourselves. The team is a solid 11/10. Thank you.
Thank you
Fantastic experience: Excellent. Fantastic coming back in the dark and seeing the city lights and lighting storms.
Positive experience: Nice cruise. Nice staff.
Fantastic experience: We were a group from the USA and had an awesome time. Crew was awesome and helped make a special occasion even more special. Would highly recommend to anyone! Thank you to the crew for all the efforts!
Fantastic experience: Loved it. Been coming to Darwin for work for years and cannot understand why I have not done this before.
Negative experience: Hey guys, Darwin local here. Cruise is quite average. There is barely any food and the in service drink package is not worth it. The tour was average at best. You could enjoy the same experience from sitting on the beach and biying your own food and drink. The tour appeared to use cheap woolworths snacks and budget beer/wine instead of putting effort in and making it a unique experience. But it would be more suitable for families with children. I would recommend the unlimited champagne sunset cruise that charterers from the water front. As it provides much better service, as well as food cooked on the boat and unlimited drinks.
Fantastic experience: Fantastic sunset cruise, great friendly crew & a magnificent yacht. Highly recommend this trip.
Fantastic experience: Jev and Matt were excellent hosts, made us feel very welcome, comfortable and safe. The catamaran was complete with toilet which had a great window view, very neat and clean. Jev’s platter of nibblies was delicious, especially enjoyed the green olives. The fact that we could take our own esky of beers made a huge difference as we could enjoy the drinks!! The sunset was spectacular. Highly recommend this while you’re in Darwin!!
Thank you Kate
Fantastic experience: 5 stars for Jev and Austin
Fantastic experience: Spent an absolutely fantastic afternoon on one of their boats. This was a sunset cruise and it certainly was a spectacle to see. Did not disappoint
Fantastic experience: Amazing cruise our entire family loved it especially the kids. Suitable for all ages. The crew was fantastic, food and drinks were perfect and the sunset was spectacular. Will definatley be booking again when we return to Darwin.
Fantastic experience: Sailing across the bay, no motor, friendly crew, plentiful drinks and nibbles, highly recommend.
Fantastic experience: Have been on this sunset cruise with my interstate guests regularly over the years. It is consistently fabulous, a stunning afternoon on the water in a laid back atmosphere. We BYO and have nibbles which suits us. The staff are great fun and booking communication is seamless. As a local, I have been on a range of different cruises and this is by far my fav for it’s relaxed vibe. Thanks Les and team! -Thalia
We welcome locals and visitors alike. Thank you, you are welcome.
Negative experience: Not very organized
Fantastic experience: Sailed on the Kuru and didn't disappoint. Beautiful boat and relaxed helpful crew. Throughout the booking process Les was friendly and understanding when we had to change the date. Finally got there and so glad we did.
Positive experience: Nice evening. Worth it for a dinner cruise.
thank you
Fantastic experience: These guys are so great! I bought this as a present to my partner. I wanted a nice evening where we could just relax and celebrate his birthday. The drinks were icy cold, the nibbles were great and the bbq was really fresh and flavoursome. I felt like we were on a boat with mates we had known forever. I’ll be back for sure! Oh and FYI the safety and professionalism was 10/10!! Gold star hehe
Thank you Hayleigh, you are welcome. Don't forget to mention you are a local.
Fantastic experience: We highly recommend City of Darwin cruises, we did the sunset cruise with nibbles and BBQ dinner, spectacular! Jevon was assisted by one crew member and they were amazing - local, friendly, informative, obviously knew what they were doing in seafaring terms and great with the BBQ too, plenty of food and drinks, a family-friendly intimate experience not to be missed!
Fantastic experience: Did the sunset two hour private charter on Cherry Pie. Amazing experience, Leslie & Michelle were so accommodating to our needs. All the little touches they put in were very much appreciated, on top of already being so friendly and accommodating. Already looking forward to the next experience.
Fantastic experience: One of the smaller operators not on many radars but to be highly recommended if you want a laid back cruise. The ambiance is great and the crew friendly and professional
Fantastic experience: Booked City of Darwin Cruises for my friend’s bachelorette party, we all had a great time. Enjoyed every bit of it. There was speaker and microphone for singing, very clean. Great staff service. Will definitely book again.
Fantastic experience: What a fantastic Darwin experience! Jevon and his crew provided a comfortable, fun and friendly sunset cruise with plenty of nibbles. Highly recommend this cruise to first timers or seasoned sunset cruisers. BYO drinks ensures you can drink exactly what you want too.
Fantastic experience: Friendly staff, beautiful cruise, delicious nibbles. Enjoyed each and every second.
Fantastic experience: Best ever sunset cruise. Crew fabulous. Nibbles great. Will definitely book another.
Fantastic experience: Amazing staff. Beautiful vessel
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