Council has 19 public ovals across Darwin, available to use for a range of sports, community events and informal physical activity.

Booking an Oval

Hire Fees

Hire fees apply to use an oval for any organised activity.  Please refer to the Sporting Ovals section of the 2023-24 Fees and Charges (p37-40).

Casual Bookings

All special events and casual bookings must be applied for. This applies to sporting clubs even if they have a Seasonal Oval Allocation and a home ground, and includes but is not limited to sign-on days, fundraisers, pre-season training, etc.

For casual bookings, please contact Customer Services on 8930 0300 or complete the Event Application/Permit

Seasonal and Pre-Season Oval Allocations

Dry Season
April – September

Wet Season
October – March

Pre-Season*
Up to 6 weeks before start of each season

*No pre-season training permitted on Gardens Oval One.

Seasonal and pre-season Oval Allocations must be applied for through your sport's Peak Body (eg AFL NT, Football NT or NT Cricket); please contact them in the first instance. If you are not affiliated with a Peak Sporting Body, please contact City of Darwin's Recreation Services Officer on 08 8930 0419.

Seasonal Oval Application packs are sent to key Peak Sporting Bodies six to eight weeks before the start of each season for distribution to their clubs.
Each Peak Sporting Body then co-ordinates the requests from their individual clubs and manage any conflicts.

Seasonal Oval bookings may not be shared without prior written approval of Council.

Every seasonal or pre-season booking must be applied for, particularly where there is a cross-over of pre-season training with existing in-season bookings.

Sports Field Lights

Sport Field Lights are available at Bagot Oval, Gardens Oval One, Malak Oval and Nightcliff Oval.

You are required to have an oval booking before arranging access the to the Sports Field Lights. There is an additional fee to use the lights, depending on the lux level. These fees can be found in the Fees and Charges (see link above).

Hours of operation for Sports Field Lights