Darwin Airport Resort opens to the public

The opening of Darwin’s new tropical resort represents stage one of a larger development. Read what else is planned.

Darwin Airport’s $30m tropical resort was officially opened on Tuesday, with tens-of-millions more expected to be spent in coming years.

Launched in the resort’s Splash cafe with the new 60m pool as a backdrop, the resort is a staged investment by the Territory’s Airport Development Group in the town’s tourism infrastructure.

Targeting tourists staying at the two Accor-managed hotels, locals can also access the pool with a $30 access credit.

The upgrade began around the same time as Covid with the January 2021 buyout of the Mercure and Novotel hotels by ADG and the development of plans to create a lagoon-style pool and entertainment area servicing both hotels.

Nadee Wicks and Chris Chaffe at the new Novotel Hotel at Darwin Airport Resort. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The complex has 423 rooms with capacity for up to 1000 guests at a time as well as 14 tropical pool villas, suites and family apartments.

Aboriginal murals depicting key themes from Larrakia Nation lore fill two giant blank exteriors at the Novotel and the didgeridoo-shaped disused water tower.

Resort general manager Chris Chaffe said the investment was to develop Darwin as a destination rather than a stopover.

“Airport hotels are generally known as pit-stops, somewhere you have to call into without necessarily wanting to,” he said.

“Darwin Airport resort is going to totally change that impression.

The new Novotel Hotel at the Darwin Airport. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Our plan is to make that a destination in its own right for leisure and business travellers and for groups and conferences.

“Ten minutes from picking up your bag at Darwin Airport you could be dipping your toes in your own private pool in one of our new tropical pool villas.”

Accor Hotels have management rights for the two hotels.

“With the inclusion of these wonderful facilities, we will then look at really targeting the leisure market,” Mr Chaffe said.

“People will be able to use here as a base.

The new rooms at Darwin Airport Resort are ready for action. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“A lot of people pay to go to Bali, for example, we’ve got everything here. You can base yourself here, do little trips into Darwin, out to Litchfield or Kakadu. We’ve got the right climate here and with Kakadu and to some extent Litchfield, we’ve got the most iconic destination, it’s absolutely stunning.

“We’ve got a hot climate, people go out and explore and stay at the beautiful hotels at the regions then come back to Darwin, have this as a base and then explore the region here from this facilities.”

Ready to make a splash at the Darwin Airport Resort. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

As well as up to $100m in upgrades planned for ADG’s NT airport assets in Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, tens-of-millions more is planned to be spent at the resort.

“This is only the start,” Mr Chaffe said.

Planned changes include relocation and re-theming of the Novotel restaurant, development of a high-end RV park, 12x2 bedroom high-end apartment style villas, refurbishments at the Mercure including to its gardens and pool and an overhaul of conference facilities with renovations to existing accommodation until early 2025.

“It’s been modelled on our climate,” he said. “It’s very open air, really enjoying our climate and we wanted to extend that throughout the precinct so people that come here can actually enjoy the climate rather than being in a traditional hotel behind closed doors.”