Darwin has a thriving market scene that will have you stuffed to the gills with deliciously cheap eats from around the world. In fact, you could easily spend your whole weekend navigating from one market to the next - here's how:
1. Parap Village Markets
Open: Year-round on Saturday's from 8am-2pm
It's Saturday morning, and you'll start the weekend off at Parap Village Markets. Very much a local scene, there'll be live music, a friendly atmosphere and plenty of foodie favourites! Ruby G's pastry cart has you covered for fresh doughnuts and croissants, and the smoothie bar is always packed (for good reason). But if you have to pick one meal, make it Mary's famous laksa, considered legendary amongst Darwin residents. Mary herself has been serving up laksa at Parap since forever. There's usually a queue a mile long, but her creamy coconut broth is packed full of flavour and worth the wait.
Afterwards, get your sweet fix with the freshest tropical fruits - mango, watermelon, papaya - sliced, diced and ready to go.
2. Malak Organic Farmers' Market
Open: During the dry season on Saturday's from 4pm-9pm
For your dinner on Saturday night, head over to Malak Organic Farmers' Market. It's very focused on community and showcasing locally-harvested, mainly organic and farm-fresh produce. There are different local musicians every week to provide the entertainment, and a pop-up flee market for those interested in picking up vintage or secondhand wares.
As for the food - we love Bottega del Gusto for freshly baked foccacia and Italian sausage burgers. Or you could go for seafood paella from Origo NT - the recipes come straight from Spain, as does the rice they use! Wash it all down with an old fashioned lemonade from Leanne Karaitiana's stand - she grows the lemons herself. If you've got room for dessert, Petra's Raw Cakes won't disappoint. The raw caramel slice is heaven.
3. Rapid Creek Markets
Open: Year-round on Sunday's from 7am-1pm
Get an early start on Sunday - there's two morning markets to visit. Start off at Rapic Creek, which is purely a food market and all about the Asian cuisine. You'll feel like you've stepped into the streets of South East Asia with the smell of spices in the air and the sound of haggling all around. The vendors are very serious about their produce, considered the best around by many local chefs.
There's an abundance of tropical fruits and vegetables, both familiar and strange and all worth tasting. Don't expect your usual breakfast fare; but that's all part of the fun. Try zingy Thai mango and papaya salads, Sri Lankan egg hoppers, Vietnamese Pork sausages, fried bananas, coconut rice cakes and more!
4. Nightcliff Markets
Open: Year-round on Sunday's from 6am-2pm
Once you've sampled the best of Asia, it's time to head beachside to Nightcliff Markets. It's less frantic here, so relax with a coffee or a freshly squeezed juice under the banyan trees. There's live music, obviously, and more emphasis on bric-a-brac and craft stalls. Get your tarot read, try some reflexology or snap up some souvenirs.
If you've got the munchies, go for some fresh Vietnamese rice paper rolls, or any of the crepes from Ken's Crepes, infamous on the Darwin market circuit. His savoury specials include Cajun chicken and avocado or the 'Caprese' - tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and smoky ham. But we prefer the sweet ones - try mango with toasted almonds and cream, nutella and strawberries, or simply drizzled with Ken's homemade caramel sauce.
5. Mindil Beach Sunset Markets
Open: During the dry season on Thursday from 5pm-10pm and Sunday from 4pm-9pm
We've mentioned the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets before here, but they're probably the most well-known markets in Darwin, and definitely worth a visit. End your epic weekend market tour here on Sunday night.
It's a mixed bag - lots of arts and crafts, indigenous art, local performers and of course, food. In fact with over 60 food stalls, we say go with a group and try as much as you can! There's cuisine from around the world, and yes, we know you've probably had your fill of Asian (though there's lots of amazing dishes here too).
Instead, you might want to start with half a dozen plump oysters from the Sunset Oyster Bar, served fresh or in a variety of other ways. The adventurous should visit the Roadkill Cafe, whose motto - you kill it, we grill it - might or might not be a joke. They're serving up satay sticks and sausages made from kangaroo, possum, crocodile and more. If you're still hungry, there's fish and chips, woodfire pizza, souvlaki, burgers and the list goes on. But whatever you choose, take it down to the beach and watch that famous Mindil Beach sunset.
Image credit: Tourism Australia
