A rainy day in Darwin with kids
This is a wet-weather day in Darwin, with every stop indoors. It suits school-age kids. It starts at the Darwin Museum WW2 Tunnels at the Waterfront (0.5 km from the centre), then goes to the Darwin Military Museum at East Point (6.8 km). It finishes with Kingpin Darwin (7.6 km) and Smash It Darwin in Pinelands (13.3 km). Everything is ticketed.
Do the tunnels first. The listing says they open 9am to 1pm in the wet season, so go early. The plan needs a car. Smash It is only open Friday to Sunday, so the whole plan works those three days. If your kids are under 14, the Splash Room is the one for them, as the Smash Room is for ages 14 and over.
Every stop is a listing on Funtivities, checked against the place's own website. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check the listing before you go.
The day at a glance
- Morning: Darwin Museum WW2 Tunnels
- Late morning: Darwin Military Museum
- Afternoon: Kingpin Darwin
- Late afternoon: Smash It Darwin
Morning
Explore the WW2 Tunnels
Darwin Museum WW2 Tunnels, Darwin City · Museums & Science Centres · Ages 5-17 · From $0 · 4.2 stars (999 reviews)
Self-guided WWII oil storage tunnels at Darwin Waterfront, with an augmented reality experience. Self-guided means kids set their own pace. It is indoors, and underground.
Tip: Child (4 to 16) is listed at $8.50. The listing says it opens 9am to 1pm in the wet season, so confirm hours before you go.
Late morning
Head to the Military Museum
Darwin Military Museum, East Point · Museum · Ages 5-15 · From $0 · 4.6 stars (2173 reviews)
A military history museum at East Point with the Defence of Darwin Experience. The pack lists it for ages 5 to 15. Children under 5 are free.
Tip: Child (5 to 15) is listed at $11 and a family pass at $55. Open daily, with shorter hours on Sunday.
Afternoon
Bowl and play laser tag at Kingpin
Kingpin Darwin, Darwin City · Bowling & Arcade · Ages 6-14 · From $19 · 4.7 stars (3986 reviews)
A bowling, laser tag, arcade and karaoke venue at 1 Neale Street. You pick a package of one or two activities. The pack lists it for ages 6 to 14.
Tip: One-activity packages start at $19 on weekdays before 4pm and $23 at other times.
Late afternoon
Smash it or splash paint
Smash It Darwin, Pinelands · Arcade & Entertainment · Ages 5-17 · From $60 · 5.0 stars (124 reviews)
A smash room (ages 14 and over) and a paint Splash Room for ages 5 and over, in Pinelands. Sessions are booked online. It is a messy stop, which suits a day stuck indoors.
Tip: Open Friday to Sunday only. The Smash Room session is listed at $60 per person.
Before you go
- The whole plan works Friday to Sunday, because Smash It is closed Monday to Thursday. On Friday it opens at 4pm.
- Book Smash It online.
- The tunnels are listed as open 9am to 1pm in the wet season, so go there first.
- The stops are spread out, so plan to drive.
Questions parents ask
What is there to do in Darwin when it rains?
Darwin Museum WW2 Tunnels and the Darwin Military Museum are both indoors, and so are Kingpin Darwin and Smash It Darwin. Together they cover history, bowling, laser tag and smashing things.
Are there indoor activities for teenagers in Darwin?
Kingpin Darwin has bowling, laser tag, arcade and karaoke. Smash It Darwin in Pinelands has a Smash Room for ages 14 and over, booked online and open Friday to Sunday.
Can young children go to the Darwin Military Museum?
Yes. Children under 5 are listed as free, and children 5 to 15 are listed at $11. The museum is at East Point and has the Defence of Darwin Experience.
More days in Darwin with kids
- Your first day in Darwin with kids - The places to start with when you have one day and want the best of the city.
- A free day out in Darwin with kids - A full day where every stop has free entry.
- Darwin with toddlers and under-5s - Short distances, space to run and places built for under-5s.
- Darwin with teenagers - Things teenagers choose for themselves, not just tolerate.
- Visiting Darwin with kids: all guides