World War II history

On 19 February 1942, 242 Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin in the largest single attack ever mounted on Australia by a foreign power. As we mark the 85th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin in 2027, discover the Northern Territory's remarkable wartime history and the experiences that bring it to life.

During World War II, the Northern Territory was attacked more than 60 times, playing a significant role in Australia's wartime history.

85 years on, the stories remain. Stand where history happened, explore historic wartime sites and discover the Territory's ongoing military connections, including major international exercises like Pitch Black.

Experience history where it happened

The Northern Territory played a pivotal role in World War II, with more bombs dropped on Darwin during the first raid than on Pearl Harbor. Today, explore historic sites and uncover wartime stories in the very places where history unfolded.

Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility

The Darwin History and Wartime Experience

AU$25 – $125

AU$59 – $69

AU$145

Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility & Museum

WWII Heritage Tour, Sightseeing & Gourmet Meal

AU$1,279 – $2,279

AU$220

WWII Noonamah Cricket Pitch and Oval, near Strauss Airfield

Katherine Railway Heritage Station Precinct

An Extended Military History Tour of Darwin, Batchelor, Adelaide River and Coomalie Airfield

Batchelor Airfield and Anti-Aircraft Battery

AU$59

WWII Quarantine Anti Aircraft Battery Site

WWII RAAF Explosive Storage Area, Darwin

World War II Manbulloo Airfield Operations Centre and Abattoir

WWII Pell Airstrip Camp A 4RSU Workshop, Adelaide River

WWII Noonamah Railway Siding and Stores Depot

Adelaide River Railway Siding and Railway Bridge

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

AU$399

Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

WWII Navy Oil Storage Tunnels 5 & 6, Darwin

Military history quiz

How well do you know the NT’s war story? From surprising WWII facts to historic military sites and experiences across the Northern Territory, how much do you really know? Put your knowledge to the test with our six question quiz.

Featured deals

Planning a military history trip to the Northern Territory? Discover the latest travel deals and offers.

Explore the Territory’s wartime routes

World War II history extends well beyond Darwin. Across the Top End and Red Centre, key sites and stories reveal the scale of the Northern Territory’s role in Australia’s wartime effort.

Alice Springs military history, heritage & the Red Centre in 3 days

This 3-day Alice Springs itinerary is ideal for travellers interested in military history, communications, and outback heritage, combined with iconic Red Centre landscapes and wildlife experiences. It balances guided touring with free time and is well suited to first-time visitors.

This military history itinerary focuses on Darwin and the Top End, covering key World War II sites connected to the Bombing of Darwin and Australia’s northern defence history. It is designed for travellers who want to delve into the Northern Territory’s rich military history.

Darwin’s military history in 3 days <span>Follow the Top End’s historic WWII trail</span>

Immerse yourself in Darwin’s military history with a 3-day exploration of the places and events that gave the Top End such an important role in Australia’s defence during World War II. The city is a living memorial to those who fought and died here, both in the bombing of Darwin and in the years before and after it.

Northern Territory military history

Uncover the stories behind history. Delve deeper into the NT’s World War II history. Discover the people, places and pivotal events that shaped the Territory’s wartime past and uncover stories you may never have heard before.

Target Darwin <span>The Bombing of Darwin</span>

Target Darwin The Bombing of Darwin

In a speech given on 17 February 1942 Prime Minister Curtin called the fall of Singapore “Australia’s Dunkirk”; 2 days later, mainland Australia was attacked for the first time.

Darwin Harbour in WWII

On 9 February 1942, the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto sent a top-secret order to Admiral Chûichi Nagumo, Commander of the 1st Attack Fleet, to ‘annihilate the enemy strength in the Port Darwin area. For the surprise attack on Port Darwin on 19 February, the task force will advance to the Arafura Sea’.

Up the track: the Stuart Highway

Locally known as ‘the Track’ or ‘the Bitumen’, the Stuart Highway is the Territory’s most valuable legacy of World War II.

Alice Springs in WWII

In 1939, Alice Springs was a small, tight-knit community of less than a thousand people whose livelihoods depended upon supplying the outlying pastoral industry.

Darwin’s role in World War II hits home

For the past nine months, they’ve travelled 35,000km aboard their chariot, a gleaming white Fiat Ducato with an Avan Ovation home on the back. Paula calls it the ‘Hilton’ with a cheeky smile and says the best thing about it is climbing in the cabin and having a wonderful sense of freedom without a worry in the world.

Adelaide River in WWII

As the Stuart Highway pushes toward Darwin, the now quiet townships of Adelaide River and Batchelor still show signs of the intense wartime activity in the region. Adelaide River became a major Australian and American centre of operations, crucial to the infrastructure needed to fight the war in the North.

Katherine in WWII

The town of Katherine marks the southern most point of Japanese bombing raids on the Northern Territory in World War II. It was bombed once in the early afternoon of 22 March, 1942. Dorothy Hall was preparing lunch for her family that day. Ann Cox also witnessed the attack, and later wrote of her experience.

Australia’s Air War

One of the most vivid images of the Territory in wartime remains the roadside airstrips. Flat tracks carved out of the tropical bush; home to the courageous pilots and aircrews who fought the Air War over Northern Australia and the enemy to the North.

NT Military Explorer app

Step into the NT’s military history with the new NT Military Explorer app. The Northern Territory’s military history can now be experienced in a whole new way with the launch of the free NT Military Explorer app.

Discover the fascinating story of the Catalina Flying Boats and their important role during World War II.

The Story of Jack Mulholland at the Darwin Military Museum

Be transported into the story of Jack Mulholland, a Darwin gunner whose courage and service during World War II left a lasting mark on the Territory's military history.