Territory Day recognises the day the NT declared independence from the Commonwealth Government in 1978. Many Territorians celebrate this special occasion with their own fireworks display. Play it safe on Territory Day! Celebrate responsibly and be mindful of other people, pets and our environment.

Keeping our open spaces, playgrounds and facilities safe and clean

In preparation for Territory Day, City of Darwin takes a number of safety measures to protect the environment, animals and community assets including:

• Providing skip bins in key locations for people to dispose of their used fireworks – from Tuesday 1 July, these skip bins will be placed in car parks along Bundilla, Fannie Bay, East Point and Nightcliff foreshore, Bicentennial Park, Malak Oval and Anula Park.
• Rostering extra rangers to pick up displaced animals and pets 
• Locking City of Darwin owned tennis courts from 6:30 pm on Territory Day to 6:00 am the following morning 
• Fencing synthetic cricket wickets and turf wickets 
• Locking the gates to East Point Reserve at 5:00 pm to prevent both vehicle and pedestrian access, protecting the reserve and minimising disturbances to wildlife (access will remain closed until 5:00 am the following morning)

Help us look after our open spaces, playgrounds and sporting facilities:

• Be mindful where you let off fireworks to reduce disturbance to local wildlife
• Bin your used fireworks at the end of the night:
  • Pick up all litter and dispose of used fireworks in the skip bins provided in car parks along Bundilla, Fannie Bay, East Point, Nightcliff foreshore, Bicentennial Park, Malak Oval and Anula Park.
• Dispose of unused or defective fireworks: 
  • Drop them off at a NT WorkSafe office, they will dispose of them in a safe manner for you
  • They can also be handed in to a police station front counter
• Join community clean-up efforts across Darwin beaches and open spaces on 2 July 2025 to help ensure litter doesn’t enter our waterways and harm our wildlife
• When attending Territory Day events, observe local parking regulations
  • If attending the Territory Day fireworks at Mindil Beach, ensure you use designated parking areas and avoid parking on verges

Your pets and Territory Day 

City of Darwin notice a significant increase in calls reporting lost pets on Territory Day and pet dogs in particular become highly stressed by the noise of fireworks.

Owners are encouraged to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their pets. Some of our top tips to keep your pet safe include:

• keep your pet inside while fireworks are going off
• stay home with them, close any windows or curtains and provide background noise such as a fan, television or music at your pet’s level 
• give your dog something to focus on like brain games or long-lasting chews 
• use calming pheromone products such as ADAPTIL or Pet Relax to help your pet feel at ease 
• avoid punishing fearful behaviours and offer comfort if your pet seeks it 
• ensure your boundary fence is secure and that your pet can’t escape 
• make sure your pet is microchipped and registered with up-to-date details, so it can be quickly reunited with you if it gets lost 
• check darwin.nt.gov.au/pet-events for upcoming free pet workshops  
• consult a vet to discuss additional options. 

If you do lose your pet on Territory night or need to report an issue call City of Darwin on 8930 0606 during business hours or 8930 0900 between 5pm and 8am

For additional resources on how to enjoy Territory Day safely and legally, visit NT Police, Fire and Emergency services.