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Doctors Gully

Darwins Doctors Gully is known for Aquascene Fish Feeding and as the Darwin Catalina Flying Boat base. It was the site of Chinese market gardens and the first fresh water supply.

Doctor's Gully with Naval base in background

Fish feeding at Doctors Gully Aquascene

At Aquascene milkfish, mullet, catfish, barramundi, rays and others feed on bread.

At high tide the water boils with hundreds of fish looking for a free feed, and the visitors are happy to oblige. This scene has become one of Darwin's best known tourist attractions and brings hundreds of people to the area at high tide when the fish come in.

Check the times before you go, as this is entirely controlled by tides.

Peel's Well - historic site

Black & white photo of early market gardens

Market gardens in early Darwin

This is also the site of a heritage listed area known as Peel's Well, a well which was gazetted on 19 April 1877 and provided water for the first gardens in the settlement and visiting ships.

Named after Doctor Robert Peel, the medical officer attached to Goyder's survey party in 1869, the area became known by the colloquial name 'Doctor's Gully'.

Most of the early gardeners were Chinese, with the first formal lease issued on 30 March 1875 to three Chinese settlers.

Catalina Flying Boat at Doctors Gully

During Wold War 11 this was an important base for Catalina Flying Boats.
Some remains of wartime equipment can be still seen at low tide.

rock climbing and activity area in WW11 oil tank

Rock climbing inside WW11 oil tank.

An old WW II oil tank has found a new life as Darwin's rock climbing gym.

Now climbers ranging from beginners to advanced can practice here.
Music, play maze, archery, trampolines, abseiling, Laser gun skirmish, picturesque gardens and an excellent outdoor play area make this a great activity centre.

Only a short walk from the city, the gully can be accessed via staircase and path through dense rain forest leading down from behind the YWCA in Mitchell St.

Alternatively take the Tour Tub which calls in on it's round trips. Check tide times to arrive when the fish are feeding at high tide.