Childcare in Darwin
There are 129 approved childcare services in the Darwin urban area: 58 offer long day care, 29 run a kindergarten or preschool program and 43 offer before and after school care. 10% of rated services are Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent, against 18% nationally.
Highest-rated suburbs
Suburbs with at least 5 rated services, ranked by the share rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent.
| Suburb | Rated services | Exceeding or Excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Durack | 6 | 2 (33%) |
| Gray | 5 | 1 (20%) |
| Nightcliff | 8 | 1 (13%) |
| Leanyer | 7 | 0 (0%) |
| Zuccoli | 6 | 0 (0%) |
| Berrimah | 5 | 0 (0%) |
| Moulden | 5 | 0 (0%) |
| Woodroffe | 5 | 0 (0%) |
How the ratings work: National Quality Standard ratings explained.
Types of care in Darwin
| Type of care | Services in Darwin |
|---|---|
| Long day care | 58 |
| Kindergarten or preschool program | 29 |
| Family day care schemes | 2 |
| Before and after school care | 43 |
| Vacation care | 37 |
Services that offer more than one type of care are counted once for each. Family day care is counted by scheme, not by educator.
What childcare costs in Darwin
The Department of Education publishes fees by state, not by city. Long day care in Northern Territory averaged $13.20 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $132 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. What a family pays after the subsidy depends on income:
| Family income | Subsidy rate | Daily gap fee |
|---|---|---|
| $80,000 | 90% | $13 |
| $120,000 | 84% | $21 |
| $180,000 | 72% | $37 |
For a 10-hour day at the Northern Territory average fee, one child under school age, before the 5% of the subsidy that is withheld until the year is balanced. Work out your own with the CCS calculator, or see childcare fees by state.
All suburbs in Darwin
- Alawa 2
- Anula 2
- Bakewell 4
- Bees Creek 1
- Berrimah 5
- Brinkin 2
- Darwin 4
- Driver 2
- Durack 6
- Eaton 1
- Farrar 2
- Girraween 1
- Gray 5
- Gunn 1
- Howard Springs 5
- Humpty Doo 1
- Jingili 3
- Karama 5
- Larrakeyah 2
- Leanyer 7
- Ludmilla 2
- Malak 2
- Marlow Lagoon 1
- Marrara 3
- Millner 4
- Moil 2
- Moulden 5
- Muirhead 1
- Nakara 2
- Nightcliff 8
- Palmerston 1
- Parap 4
- Rapid Creek 1
- Rosebery 3
- Stuart Park 4
- Tiwi 2
- Virginia 1
- Wagaman 3
- Wanguri 4
- Woodroffe 5
- Wulagi 3
- Yarrawonga 1
- Zuccoli 6
Frequently asked questions
How many childcare centres are there in Darwin?
There are 129 approved childcare services in the Darwin urban area, including 58 that offer long day care and 43 that offer before and after school care. Many services offer more than one type of care.
How much does childcare cost in Darwin?
Long day care in Northern Territory averaged $13.20 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $132 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. A family earning $120,000 pays about $21 a day after the subsidy. Fees vary by centre, so check each service directly.
How many Darwin childcare services are rated Exceeding?
12 of the 125 rated services in Darwin (10%) are rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent, compared with 18% across Australia.
Which Darwin suburbs have the most childcare?
Nightcliff (8), Leanyer (7) and Durack (6) have the most approved services in Darwin.
Services and ratings: ACECQA National Registers, export of 29 October 2026. City boundary: ABS Significant Urban Area (Darwin), ASGS Edition 3 (2021), matched to services by postcode. Fees: Department of Education, Child Care Subsidy data report, June quarter 2026.