New high-tech tourism attraction opens in Darwin

  • 27 July 2016
Bomber Plane at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Attraction
A new tourism attraction has opened in Darwin featuring virtual reality and holographic experiences of the Bombing of Darwin Harbour.

The Bombing of Darwin Harbour and Royal Flying Doctor Service Experience at Stokes Hill Wharf is a multi-million dollar new facility that is not to be missed.

Visitors are transported back in time to Darwin on 19 February 1942 to experience what it was like on that fateful day during the Bombing of Darwin Harbour – the largest ever single attack mounted on Australia by a foreign power.

Alongside virtual reality headsets depicting the bombing of Darwin harbour by Japanese forces, holographic technology tells the little known story of the commanding officer of the USS William B Preston, Etheridge (Jim) Grant, who observed the attack from the water after being blown from his tender trying to return to his ship.

This new attraction will complement the range of other military experiences on offer in Darwin and establish the Northern Territory as a leader in Australia's war history.

The Royal flying Doctor Service (RFDS) was the successful proponent of Tourism NT's Investing in the NT strategy that led to Northern Territory Government Expression of Interest process to fit out and operate the new attraction with the RFDS investing more than $4 million in the venture.

The new tourism facility brings together two iconic Territory stories in the one location at Stokes Hills Wharf Darwin: the RFDS, which began operations in the NT in 1939, and the Bombing of Darwin Harbour in 1942 during World War II.

To support the launch of the new attraction, Tourism NT is investing $225,000 in a new dedicated military tourism campaign which will promote the wide range of tours, attractions and historical sites on offer right across the Territory.

This will be an ongoing campaign which will help attract more visitors to the NT and exploit our strengths in military heritage.

To find out more about the new tourism attraction go to: www.rfdsdarwin.com.au or watch the videos below.

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