Alice Springs and Darwin the nation’s tourism cultural capitals

The Territory’s rich cultural undercurrent has been acknowledged with a prestigious tourism honour. Read why we’re good.

Alice Springs has been named Australia’s best city for cultural experience, with Darwin ranked the best capital city in a new study released this week.

A survey of Australia’s best visitor destinations rated the Territory equal first with Queensland and the ACT for the breadth and depth of its visitor experience when it came to showcasing culture.

Language specialists Preply surveyed the main Australian cities and towns and assessed the population with the number of cultural experiences and attractions on offer.

Analysts consulted a range of references including the National Library of Australia and the Good Food Guide to determine a city’s cultural offering.

Alice Springs topped the list with a cultural experience score of 14.2 per 10,000 people.

Albany in WA with a score of 8.7 and Wagga Wagga in NSW with 8.5 took out the placings with Darwin the best-placed capital at fourth with 7.5 per cent. Orange, in New South Wales, was fifth with a score of 6.8.

Darwin Festival Artistic Director Kate Fell at the launch of Darwin Festival 2024. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The survey found Alice Springs had five cultural tours, six cultural attractions, eight museums, one theatre, library, market and hatted restaurant, with 18 concerts and shows. In Darwin there were 14 cultural tours, 12 cultural attractions and museums, 21 theatres, two libraries, six hatted restaurants, 25 concerts and shows and 10 markets.

In Alice Springs it lists the top attractions as Ayers Rock (Uluru), the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) and West MacDonnell National Park (Tjoritja) with top museums being the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum, Museum of Central Australia and the National Road Transport Hall of Fame and the Old Ghan Train Museum.

Artist impressions of the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia to be built in Alice Springs.

In Darwin, Kakadu, Mary River and Litchfield National Park and Darwin Waterfront

were the top attractions with the Museum and Art Gallery, Darwin Military Museum and the Aviation Museum were the top museums.

Darwin Festival artistic director Kate Fell said there was enormous opportunity to showcase Territory culture to locals and tourists.

“Aboriginal culture is hugely important so for Darwin Festival we amplify that but it’s also the diverse communities that make-up the Territory and you really see it with the music, the food and the performances which are so diverse and unique here with influences from Asia and the world.”

The Territory’s cultural assets are set to increase with work underway on the Larrakia Cultural Centre in Darwin and about to commence on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery in Alice Springs.

Meanwhile, the Territory government is expected to make a major tourism announcement on Thursday.

The NT News’ Future Northern Territory campaign returns for its third year, as the push to create a $40bn economy by 2030 continues. To purchase a ticket to the event on July 18, click here.