Updated in October 2026, this RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Darwin Tourist Facility is an interactive museum on Stokes Hill Wharf at the Darwin Waterfront in the Northern Territory. It tells two stories, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the 1942 Bombing of Darwin Harbour, with holograms and virtual reality. You can book through Viator before you travel. As of October 2026, adult admission costs $30 and a child ticket costs $18. The wet season hours run 9:00 to 16:00, not the 9:30 to 17:00 shown by older guides.
Quick facts for the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 45 Stokes Hill Road, Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, Northern Territory 0800 |
| Hours, October to March (wet season) | Daily 9:00 to 16:00. Last entry 15:00 |
| Hours, April to September (dry season) | Daily 9:00 to 17:00. Last entry 16:00 |
| Public holidays | 10:00 to 15:00. Last entry 14:00 |
| Closed | Good Friday and Christmas Day |
| Adult | $30 |
| Senior or student | $26 |
| Child (6 to 15) | $18 |
| Family (2 adults and 3 children) | $90 |
| Infant | Free |
| Typical visit | One to two hours |
| Phone | +61 8 8983 5700 |
Why book tickets for the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility?
- 🛩️ Climb aboard a real RFDS aircraft: A decommissioned Pilatus PC-12 is fully fitted out for aero-medical flights.
- 🧑⚕️ A hologram of Reverend John Flynn: A life-size hologram tells the story of the RFDS founder’s vision.
- 🥽 Virtual reality on the wharf: You stand on Stokes Hill Wharf as the Japanese attack unfolds in 1942.
- ⚓ A historic location: The facility stands on the wharf that was bombed on 19 February 1942.
- 🎟️ No session times: Arrive at any time during opening hours and move at your own pace.
Ticket prices for the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility – and how to book
All prices are in Australian dollars. Your entry fee supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $30 |
| Senior | $26 |
| Student | $26 |
| Child (6 to 15) | $18 |
| Family (2 adults and 3 children) | $90 |
| Infant | Free |
A general admission ticket works at any time during opening hours, because there are no session times. You can book online or buy tickets at the door. Bundled experiences with other Top End attractions are also on sale. You can book through Viator for a general entry ticket.
Opening hours for the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
The facility opens every day, and hours change between the dry and wet seasons. Weekday and weekend hours are the same.
| Period | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Wet season, October 2026 to March 2027 | Daily 9:00 to 16:00. Last entry 15:00 |
| Dry season, April to September | Daily 9:00 to 17:00. Last entry 16:00 |
| Public holidays | 10:00 to 15:00. Last entry 14:00 |
| Good Friday and Christmas Day | Closed |
5 top experiences to book in Darwin
- 🌅 Take a three hour sunset cruise on Darwin Harbour – with dinner and sparkling wine.
- 🐊 Watch giant predators jump out of the Adelaide River on a jumping crocodile cruise.
- 🌿 Combine the jumping crocodile cruise with the highlights of Litchfield National Park on an action-packed day tour.
- 🛩️ Save travel time with a day tour to Kakadu by air – including the Yellow Water Billabong nature cruise.
- ✈️ Learn about the bombing of Darwin on a World War II heritage tour.
How to get to the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
The facility is on Stokes Hill Wharf, next to the Darwin Waterfront at 45 Stokes Hill Road. By car, drive to Stokes Hill Wharf, where free parking is available. By shuttle, a free waterfront shuttle runs from Fort Hill Wharf to Stokes Hill Wharf every day from 11:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 21:00.
Parking at the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
Three hours of free parking are available on Stokes Hill Wharf. Caravans and camper trailers are not allowed on the wharf. They can park at the Fort Hill Wharf car park and take the free shuttle.
How long to spend at the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
Allow one to two hours for both stories. The two experiences include holograms, virtual reality and the aircraft. Add time for the gift shop.
Accessibility at the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
The facility is recognised as mobility-friendly. It is a self-guided experience, so you can move at your own pace. Contact the team on +61 8 8983 5700 if you need help planning your visit.
What to see at the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
The RFDS hologram. A life-size hologram cinema tells the story of Reverend John Flynn’s vision and how it became the RFDS of today. An actor portrays Flynn.
The RFDS aircraft. A decommissioned Pilatus PC-12 aircraft is fully fitted out for aero-medical flights. You can climb aboard and learn about the pilots, engineers, doctors and nurses.
The RFDS stories and virtual reality. Interactive displays introduce Nurse Kathy and Alfred Traeger. Two virtual reality stories let you relive a patient’s care and fly with an RFDS pilot.
The Bombing of Darwin hologram. A hologram of Rear Admiral Etheridge Grant, commanding officer of the USS William B Preston, tells the story of 19 February 1942. Other figures include Prime Minister John Curtin and the Japanese pilot Hajime Toyoshima.
The Bombing of Darwin virtual reality. A virtual reality film puts you on the wharf during the first Japanese raid. A replica Japanese Zero aircraft hangs from the ceiling.
The 1942 window and the shop. A projection window shows the aerial attack on the harbour. The shop sells official RFDS merchandise, and the proceeds support the Flying Doctor.
Practical visitor tips for the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead | You can buy at the door, but book tickets in advance to skip the queue. |
| Arrive by 15:00 in the wet season | Last entry is at 15:00 from October to March, so allow at least an hour. |
| Use the free parking | Three hours of free parking is available on Stokes Hill Wharf. |
| Leave caravans at Fort Hill Wharf | Caravans and camper trailers cannot park on the wharf. A free shuttle serves both wharves. |
| Allow time for both stories | One to two hours covers the RFDS and the Bombing of Darwin. |
Frequently asked questions about the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What time does the facility open? | It opens at 9:00 every day. It closes at 16:00 from October to March and at 17:00 from April to September. |
| How much does admission cost? | Adults pay $30, seniors and students $26 and children aged 6 to 15 pay $18. A family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children costs $90. |
| Are there session times? | No. You can arrive at any time during opening hours. |
| Is parking free? | Yes. Three hours of free parking is available on Stokes Hill Wharf. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | You can buy at the door, but advance booking is recommended to save time on arrival. |
Things to do near the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
Darwin Waterfront: A waterfront precinct with restaurants, shops and a lagoon beside Darwin Harbour.
Wave Lagoon: A swimming lagoon with artificial waves at the Darwin Waterfront.
WWII Oil Storage Tunnels: A set of wartime tunnels beside the Darwin Waterfront.
Crocosaurus Cove: A crocodile attraction on Mitchell Street in central Darwin – home of the Cage of Death crocodile swim experience.
Smith Street Mall: A pedestrian shopping street in the centre of Darwin.
Alternatives to the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
Darwin Military Museum: A museum of Australia’s wartime history at East Point in Darwin.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory: A museum and art gallery on the Darwin foreshore at Bullocky Point.
Adelaide River War Cemetery: A war cemetery for those who died in the Northern Territory in World War II, south of Darwin.
Territory Wildlife Park: A wildlife park of Top End animals at Berry Springs, south of Darwin.
Litchfield National Park: A national park of waterfalls and swimming holes south of Darwin. Home of Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and the Buley Rockhole.
More Northern Territory travel
Other Northern Territory travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Larrakia Cultural Centre visitor guide: Practical tips for going to Darwin’s newest Aboriginal cultural attraction.
- Kakadu Rock Art: Aboriginal stories of the Top End: A guide to the ancient galleries of Ubirr and Burrungkuy (Nourlangie), explaining the cultural significance of the stories painted on the stone.
- Nawurlandja Lookout: The best sunset view in Kakadu: Logistics for visiting this spectacular rocky outcrop overlooking the Anbangbang Billabong and Arnhem Land escarpment.
- Corroboree Billabong Wildlife Cruise: A Mary River visitor guide: Detailed advice on spotting crocodiles, jabirus, and sea eagles on one of the Top End’s most bird-rich waterways.
- Spotting crocs and birds at the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve.
