Darwin’s Smith Street hit with wave of cruise passengers

Businesses along Smith Street enjoyed a fruitful trading Sunday after almost 4000 cruise passengers landed ashore to scope out the Territory for themselves.

The Seven Seas Mariner was one of two cruise passengers to pull into Darwin over the weekend. Picture: Harry Brill.

Smith Street businesses enjoyed a fruitful trading weekend after thousands of cruise passengers landed ashore to scope out the Territory for themselves.

On Sunday, two cruise ships, the Crown Princess and Seven Seas Mariner, delivered almost 4000 tourists to Darwin.

The twofold arrival meant the Seven Seas Mariner docked at Fort Hill Wharf, while the Crown Princess disembarked at East Arm.

Bearing the brunt the tourist demand was Smith Street, with a steady flow of visitors seen browsing stores and enjoying their coffee and lunch.

Local busker Mia Grosser said Darwin’s visitors appeared “happy” and “very interested”. Picture: Harry Brill.

The injection of new cash and curiosity was warmly welcomed by local businesses, with busker Mia Grosser saying there was a positive energy to the CBD.

“Everyone seems really happy to be here and very interested with what’s going on around town,” she told the NT News.

“It’s been very busy when the buses come and drop them off, but it’s pretty much been full at all times.”

Chai Sanfay of Coin Bear Collectables said he was “glad” to see other businesses making the most of the ship arrivals.

Only a few stores along the mall were closed, with the vast majority of eateries and retailers busied with guests keen to enjoy a meal or buy a outback memento.

With such numbers flooding the streets, Chai Sanfay of Coin Bear Collectables said it was worth opening the doors for business.

“(The tourists) are saying it’s hot,” he joked.

“But I’m glad to see other shops are open today too.”

A steady trickle of tourists making the most of Smith Street Mall.

Buses were also in constant demand, with operators taking groups for sightseeing trips both in-town and beyond for the day.

In the morning, security could be seen on-site, with a couple of people moved along after hassling tourists for money.

Several store owners said they would remain open later in the afternoon to catch any potential customers keen to make a last-minute purchase before heading back to sea.

The weekend’s passengers will be followed by more this week when the Coral Geographer (120 passengers), the Nautica (684 passengers) and the Seven Seas Voyager (700 passengers) pull into Darwin.

On Thursday April 10, more than 4100 passengers will disembark at Fort Hill Wharf when Ovation of the Seas arrives for a day stop.

Crown Princess was docked at East Arm.

A steady trickle of tourists made their way down Smith Street Mall on April 6, 2025, after two cruise passenger ships dropped off thousands of people into Darwin.

Buses were constantly on the go.

Another bus taking a group back from the RFDS facility at Stokes Wharf.

A group of passengers waiting for the next bus.

Originally published as Darwin’s Smith Street hit with wave of cruise passengers