Aquascene
28 Doctors Gully Road, Larrakeyah, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0820
During the 1950s, a resident of Doctors Gully began tossing breadcrumbs into the water at high tide, and fish started turning up for the free meal. Today hundreds of fish, including mullet, batfish, catfish, and milkfish, come near to shore for the daily feeding frenzy that disrupts the typically tranquil waters of the Gully.
The basics
Some 70,000 visitors come to participate in Aquascene each year; the spectacle has become so popular that it’s now a ticketed attraction. Visitors can hand-feed the fish for a closer look or sit back and watch the feeding frenzy from outside the “splash zone.”
Things to know before you go
- Aquascene is a popular attraction for families traveling with kids.
- Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
- Aquascene is wheelchair-accessible.
- Visitors will find public restrooms on-site.
How to get there
Aquascene is located along Doctors Gully in the heart of Darwin, within walking distance of many points of interest. Parking is available on-site, and the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus stops just outside the visitors center.
When to get there
Fish are only able to visit Aquascene for a few hours each day during high tide. The biggest numbers arrive during the highest tides, typically in the mornings between December and August. Feeding times are listed on the Aquascene website.
History of Doctors Gully
This small enclave in Darwin gets its name from Dr. Robert Peel, a surgeon who “discovered” the gully in 1869. The area quickly became a landing point for ships, and today, it’s an official marine sanctuary.
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