Northern Territory · Attraction
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Territory stories, art and science
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Perched on Bullocky Point overlooking Fannie Bay, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is Darwin's premier cultural institution, housing internationally significant collections spanning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, natural history, maritime heritage, and the devastating story of Cyclone Tracy. The permanent galleries are free to enter and draw visitors from across Australia and the world.
The Aboriginal art collection is one of the most important in Australia, featuring bark paintings, sculpture, fibre work, and ceremonial objects from communities across the Northern Territory. The annual Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, held at the museum each August, is the longest-running and most prestigious Indigenous art prize in the country.
Natural history highlights include Sweetheart, a 780-kilogram saltwater crocodile caught in the Adelaide River in 1979 after repeatedly attacking fishing boats, and a comprehensive collection of Top End fauna and invertebrates. The maritime gallery displays traditional watercraft and explores the Territory's deep connections with Macassan traders, pearlers, and wartime naval operations.
Cyclone Tracy, which struck Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974 and destroyed 70 percent of the city, is commemorated through a powerful audio and artefact installation that gives visitors a sense of what the storm sounded and felt like. Free parking is available on site and the venue is accessible by bus from Darwin CBD.
Scenic views