NOW EXPERIENCING:Darwin Ski Club
Drinks Directory|Restaurant|Pet friendly|Casual catch-up

Darwin Ski Club

Monday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
20 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay, NT, 0820
Phone
(08) 8981 6630
Website
darwinskiclub.com.au
Instagram
@skiclubdarwin

Read time 1 Min

Posted 13 Jun 2023

By
Sam McCue

This relaxed outdoor venue offers Champagne views on a beer budget – the bucket of local prawns and bevvy combo is a steal – making it an ideal spot for a leisurely seaside sundowner.

Darwin Ski Club outdoor seating with a view
Why you goYou don’t have to be a squillionaire to relax on a patch of Darwin’s best real estate. If your strike-it-rich fantasies involve an icy drink in your hand, condensation beading the glass, a breeze gently caressing your sun-kissed limbs, and the waves lapping mere metres from your feet as the sun sinks into the glittering sea, you’ll be living the dream while paying a pittance at Darwin Ski Club. Established in 1964 as a hub for the northern capital’s water-skiing community, the open-air club definitely has a ‘child of the ’60s’ vibe. With its beachside Bali Bar, Darwin Ski Club has a reputation among locals for being a little less posh than its more upmarket neighbours, the Darwin Sailing Club and Darwin Trailer Boat Club, but it has much the same jaw-dropping location. 
All three clubs face west at the mouth of Darwin Harbour, so the sunsets seem like a magic trick to anyone accustomed to east coast sunsets over land. The kitchen serves good modern pub food (lunch and dinner daily), there’s live music most weekends, and a few times a year it’s the venue for a major concert – Lime Cordiale and The Cat Empire have performed there. Darwin Ski Club is also right next door to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, which hosts the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards and has an excellent natural-history section. Two birds, one stone. You’ll need to sign in – Darwin Ski Club is for members and guests only. 
Why you stayLook around. You’ll see men in mullets and tykes in tutus. You’ll see kids and their visiting grandparents at the playground, or perhaps swimming in the pool. You’ll see walkers and runners and dog walkers and pram pushers using the path between the club and the sea, the tide coming and going, the blue sky turning blazing gold, indigo and black. It’s pretty easy, then, to decide to stay for a meal and another drink – and then, perhaps, another as the live music begins. 
Enjoy with family and friends at Darwins Ski Club
Delicious food and drinks at the scenic Darwins Ski Club
What drink to orderOne of the most popular drinks at this no-fuss venue is draught Great Northern beer, but on weekends the cocktail is king. Our pick is the Tropical Negroni, featuring orange-infused Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Italy’s bittersweet Campari liqueur and Belsazar Rosé Vermouth. There are 10 or so beers and ciders on tap, and a decent range of spirits and wines by the bottle and the glass. 
What to pair it withThe bucket of local prawns and beer combo is a classic, and a steal at $28 a pop. And the other meals – dishes like lamb shanks, beer-battered local threadfin salmon and steak – produced by the kitchen team at Epikur are surprisingly good, veering strongly towards quality over quantity. Daily specials include the likes of Southern fried chicken and pork belly with scallops. 
Grab a bite of your favorite food with a view at Darwins Ski Club
Regular’s tipUnless you’re there for lunch, make sure you arrange your visit to coincide with sunset – any time from around 6:30pm in June to about 7:15pm in December. Be mindful that the tables closest to the sea fill fastest, so go early for a front-row seat or make a booking. Come to think of it, you could just stretch your lunch visit out until then. It’s been done before.
Darwin Ski Club's swimming pool by the sea
Don’t leave withoutBe sure to check out the membership deals. Ranging from $30 per year for seniors to $70 for families, membership gives you discounts, access to the swimming pool and preferred status for table bookings. And ask about the ski days the club hosts at Manton Dam. Yes, some members of the Darwin Ski Club do actually ski – and you could be one of them. 
Who to takeDo you have a friend who’s feeling frazzled? Take that person to Darwin Ski Club, point them towards the ocean, and watch their stress ebb away.
Authour image
Sam McCueDarwin writer Sam McCue loves food, words and travelling, even if it’s close to home.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryCasual catch-upOutdoor areaGood for groupsCafeDarwinBarRestaurantMeal and a bevPet friendlyFamily affairWheelchair accessible
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