THE Northern Territory Government has set aside $1.9 million to make Darwin and the NT the pilgrimage destination for Australian military history.
This year marks 76 years since the Japanese bombed the Top End of Australia in World War II.
In just one day, more bombs were dropped over Darwin than were used in the attack on Pearl Harbor just weeks earlier. Surprisingly, the bombing of Darwin remains one of Australia's most significant, yet little known, military events.
NT Tourism and Culture Minister Lauren Moss said she wanted military history visitors to see Darwin and the territory as the ultimate pilgrimage destination in Australia.
Sites include the Anzac Hill Memorial and Spencer Hill in Alice Springs, the Katherine Museum, a former WWII regional air terminal that holds an eclectic collection of artefacts, photographs and memorabilia, and the Adelaide River War Cemetery.
Travellers journeying south from Darwin along the Stuart Highway will discover many fascinating reminders of the time when the war came to Australia with several airfields dotted along the highway.
Top 10 military experiences in Darwin and surrounds
* Darwin Military Museum and Defence of Darwin Experience: Located at East Point Reserve, the museum features live footage and a captivating collection of artefacts including uniforms, weapons, artillery pieces and real life interviews with WWII veterans. Its cafe is steeped in lush tropical gardens.
* Australia's Frontline - Bombing of Darwin tour: Hit the water in Sea Darwin's Bombing of Darwin cruise. The one-hour journey gives a different view of historic sites such as Stokes Hill and Fort Hill Wharves, the pearling luggers and wreck sites of SS Neptuna and USS Peary. If you're keen for more, the cruise can be booked as part of a half-day tour on land.
* Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin tourist facility: History meets technology in this immersive attraction. Experience the bombing of Darwin Harbour through cutting edge virtual reality, see amazing stories told through holographic presentations, and have your questions answered by historical figures via interactive displays.
* Bombing of Darwin WWII heritage tours: Find out what really happened when Darwin was devastated during WWII. This four-hour morning tour visits many relics and reminders of this time, as you hear tales that bring the past to life again.
* Darwin History and Wartime Experience tour: See historic sites from the back of a WWII army truck as you explore Darwin's fascinating history. The interpretive guiding will introduce you to some of the colourful characters of the past who created modern day Darwin.
* Battle of Australia tour: Want to visit all the sites, but don't have time to spare? Darwin Tours' Battle of Australia tour is just the ticket. The one-day guided tour will take you to 15 WWII sites, including the RAAF Ammunition Storage Facility, Darwin Harbour and the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre. Tour includes morning tea, lunch, and hotel transfers.
* WWII Oil Storage Tunnels: Located in the Darwin Wharf Precinct, beneath the cliffs of Darwin city, lie the oil storage tunnels built during WWII. The tunnels feature a photographic display and new interpretative boards.
* Batchelor Museum: Spend an hour or two at this fascinating museum that tells how Batchelor became a strategic base for the Pacific region. Housed in the old single women's quarters, the museum also tells the stories of the local Aboriginal heritage, mining and pastoral histories.
* Walk Darwin tours: Join a local guide on a two-hour walking tour to hear the history and see the present day sights. There are many hidden treasures to see and local insights to hear.
* Darwin Aviation Museum: Boasting dozens of aircraft, engines and plane crash remnants, this museum covers the fateful bombings in 1942 and many other air battles of WII. The display includes the remains of a Japanese Zero fighter and one of the last B25 Bombers in the world.
