Kate Dinning gives her NT hot tips of the week

From business gossip to dining and events, Kate Dinning from We Are Locals - Darwin gives her hot tips of the week.

The year 2024 looks like it’s going to be a ‘new’ year in every sense of the word in the Darwin hospitality scene.

In recent weeks we’ve seen a few key venues close, and a few trade hands – and there are even a few opening up in the next couple of weeks, giving us all a fresh start in the new year.

This week saw the final day of trading in Austin Lane for fan favourites Little Miss Korea (I will certainly miss those dumplings!) but in the new year, there will be a Greek restaurant in its place – stay tuned for that one.

The Trader Bar in Darwin CBD

Another prominent figure of Darwin’s Bar scene, The Trader Bar on Harriet Place, has also recently traded hands (pun most definitely intended).

But as far as new on the scene? There are not one, but TWO new Italian restaurants that will be open before the year is out.

The Taste of Italy has opened in Mitchell Street, Darwin

As the name suggests, ‘The Taste Of Italy’ is a popular market stall-turned-takeaway venue on Mitchell Street that opened this week for takeaway lunches and weekend dinners, but they assure me if you’ve had their pizza at the Mindil Markets, you definitely still have to try this one.

It’s on a different base – true authentic Italian pizza and focaccia, and it’s well worth a try. I’m also keeping an eye on the Waterfront … There’s a new fresh pasta bar – Bravo Pasta & Wine Bar – opening in late December where The Coffee Club used to be.

I’ll keep you in the loop.

What’s on this weekend?

I may be over 30 – but I’m still a sucker for a good adventure playground – so I am happy to tell you the Darwin region is now at the forefront of water adventure play.

There’s a first-of-its-kind aquatic aerial adventure playground opening in Palmerston this Sunday, as part of the brand-new Swell Centre.

Kids and adults alike – if they’re above 122cm tall – can get harnessed up and test their skills on the two-storey aquatic obstacle course.

An aerial shot of the new SWELL aquatic centre at Palmerston.

I was very lucky to get the opportunity to try it this week, and it felt like I was in the old TV show ‘Wipeout’ when you’re trying to balance across a pole and water is coming at you from all angles – it’s truly hilarious.

If you’re watching the kids, you can even shoot water at them from the spray guns on the ground.

It’s a fantastic activity for the wet season – and it’s FREE – but make sure you book online via the Swell Centre website.

After all the excitement of the aerial obstacle course, this week I went on the hunt for a free obstacle course of a similar vibe that I’d briefly heard about earlier in the year … the Ninja Warrior course at Malak.

We found it – and it was HARD.

So, I’m finishing my column with a call out this week – I want to see a video of someone finishing it without touching the ground. Challenge accepted?

Stay tuned to the NT News and We Are Locals Instagram pages to see what I am talking about … and send us your attempt!

Got a hot tip for Kate? Email [e-mail] or check out the Instagram page @wearelocals_darwin

Originally published as Kate Dinning gives her NT hot tips of the week