Leaders Creek
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Tide times and information
Leaders Creek tides, January 2026 – December 2027 (pick a month below): Darwin tide predictions with 1 h 30 min added to every time. Darwin time (ACST). Heights are Darwin's, in metres. One day per row with its tide graph.
Fishing Log: Record all the fish you catch at Leaders Creek →Sign up to get Leaders Creek updates and member benefits.
Fishing news, competition alerts and tide reminders from Amazing XR. Optional: you don’t need it to use the tides.
Disclaimer and safety
Times are estimates. Roads, weather, crocs, safety gear, trip plans and emergencies.
Tide times and heights are derived from the Bureau of Meteorology's tide predictions for Darwin, with 1 hour 30 minutes added to each time to estimate tide times at Leaders Creek. Heights are Darwin heights and have not been adjusted for Leaders Creek. All times shown, including the "Avoid" periods and the 2 m, 3 m and 4 m times, are estimates; allow 15–30 minutes either side. Actual tides can differ because of wind, atmospheric pressure, river flow and local conditions. This information is provided in good faith as a guide only, without any warranty of accuracy or completeness, and is not for navigation. Use it at your own risk; to the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted for any direct, indirect or consequential loss, damage, injury or inconvenience arising from its use. Always check conditions on the day.
Check road conditions: Before travelling, check the condition of the road to Leaders Creek, especially during the wet season when roads can flood or close. See the NT Road Report at roadreport.nt.gov.au.
Check weather forecasts: Before heading out, check the latest weather and marine forecasts and warnings, including wind, storms and, in the wet season (November to April), tropical cyclone advice. Conditions on the water can change quickly. See the Bureau of Meteorology at bom.gov.au.
Be Crocwise: Saltwater crocodiles live in Leaders Creek and the surrounding waters. Never swim or wade, stay well back from the water's edge when launching, retrieving or cleaning fish, and never leave food scraps or fish frames at the ramp. See becrocwise.nt.gov.au.
Boat safety gear: Make sure you carry the required safety equipment for your boat and where you are going (life jackets, flares, EPIRB, anchor, bailer and so on), and that it is in good condition. See the NT minimum safety equipment requirements and the Safety guide for recreational boating.
Trip plan: Lodge your trip plan with someone you know — where you’re launching, where you’re going, who’s on board and when you expect to be back — and let them know when you return.
Emergency contact: Mobile coverage at Leaders Creek is limited or unavailable. Some newer mobile phones and plans can send emergency text messages via satellite when there is no mobile signal, but not all phones or plans support this, so check yours before you go and do not rely on it. Carry an EPIRB or PLB and, ideally, a marine VHF radio. In an emergency call 000 (or 112 from a mobile). See the ACMA guide to making emergency calls.
Local hazards: Leaders Creek has a rock bar not far from the ramp, and some bends have sand banks on them. Take extra care around low tide and keep a good lookout.
Keep to the right: In rivers and narrow channels, keep to the starboard (right-hand) side as far as is safe, so oncoming boats pass port to port (left side to left side). See "Steering and sailing rules" in the NT Marine safety guide for recreational and pleasure craft.
Fishing information
Million Dollar Fish, size and possession limits, fish ID and protected species.
Million Dollar Fish: Register for Million Dollar Fish Season 12 (1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027) before you go fishing. Catch a red-tagged barramundi and you could win $1 million, and registering also enters you in the monthly prize draws. Register at milliondollarfish.com.au.
Fishing rules: Check the current NT recreational fishing possession and size limits before you go.
Fish ID poster: Size and possession limits differ between species, and some look alike (for example the different snappers and jewfish), so be sure you can identify what you catch before you keep it. See the NT Government Common NT fish identification poster.
Marine protected species: Some species found in NT waters are protected, including sawfish, some sharks and rays, sea turtles, sea snakes, marine mammals, and seahorses and pipefish. They must not be kept; if you catch one, release it quickly and carefully, and you are encouraged to report the interaction to NT Marine WildWatch on 1800 453 941. See the NT Fisheries Marine protected species identification guide.
Barotrauma: Fish brought up from deep water (deeper than about 10 m) can suffer barotrauma, where expanding gases injure them. If releasing fish, do it quickly and follow the NT Fisheries barotrauma guide, and stop fishing once you have enough for your needs.
Leaders Creek Fishing Base
Secure parking, kiosk with ice and bait, campsites and rooms.
Leaders Creek Fishing Base is located approximately a one-hour drive from Darwin in the Northern Territory, directly opposite the Leaders Creek Boat Ramp. It is ideally suited to self-drive fishing enthusiasts with their own boat, or a hire boat, who want to launch from Leaders Creek Boat Ramp.
Leaders Creek offers around 15 km of sheltered waterways where you can enjoy fishing, crabbing, or simply spend a day on the water exploring the mangrove ecosystem and local wildlife. It is also an ideal starting point for trips to the Vernons, Melville Island, Bathurst Island, Ruby Island, Cape Hotham, the Blue Holes, Salt Water Arm, the Adelaide River, the Wilshires and more. The area is home to a wide range of tropical sportfish and succulent mud crabs.
For day trips, Leaders Creek Fishing Base offers secure parking for $20, so you can relax knowing your belongings are safe while you make the most of your visit. You’ll also have access to amenities and the kiosk, which stocks ice, bait, refreshments and other essentials. Leaders Creek Fishing Base will log your fishing trip, monitor your expected return, and can alert emergency services if you become overdue — a simple way to enjoy your adventure with an extra layer of safety.
Leaders Creek Fishing Base also offers campsites and basic air-conditioned rooms with shared amenities, making it easy to stay a little longer.
Come for a day trip, or come and stay a while — Leaders Creek Fishing Base looks forward to welcoming you.
For more details, see their Facebook page and website, or phone (08) 8983 5009.
Simulated Fishing Experience
Keep fishing when the weather keeps the boat at home.
Rain, storms or a flooded road don’t have to end your fishing. With Amazing XR’s Simulated Fishing Experience you can keep fishing in air-conditioned comfort, even when the wet season keeps the boat at home. It’s a fun way to hook the big one without leaving dry land, at home, at a party or at your next event.
The fishing simulator is available for hire for private and public events in Darwin and across the NT.
See the fishing simulator in action on Amazing XR’s Facebook page and website, or phone 0427 615 097.
Tide graph key
What the colours and labels on the graphs mean.
In each day's graph: HIGH / LOW with tide time and height (teal = high, brown = low, red height = under 3 m). Below: red = passes 3 m, orange = passes 4 m going out, yellow = passes 2 m coming in. All 24-hour. Hover over (or tap) a graph to see the tide height at any time.