'Reward for Covid zero': Hundreds of Aussie partygoers stranded on sandbar

About 300 litres of alcohol was seized by police over the weekend as about 600 partygoers made a mad dash from a Darwin sandbar while the tide rose.

NT Police were called to the sandbar, adjacent to the Cullen Bay Marina, on Saturday about 2.30pm.

People were drinking “excessively”, police said, and as the tide rose revellers were forced to flee the sandbar quickly.

There were also a number of boat crashes including one capsizing. A 48-year-old man had to be taken to hospital after being involved in an altercation.

Police said 300 litres of alcohol was seized at the gathering and destroyed.

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Watch Commander Xavier McMahon said police are still investigating.

“People don’t realise how quickly a situation can change with the NT tides, and it was disappointing to see such a large crowd be so irresponsible and put so many people at risk,” he said.

Sandbar party attendee Lucy Beare told the NT News “the water came up so quick” as the tide rose and partygoers felt like they were going to sink.

Ms Beare added people were stranded and began trying to get lifts off the sandbar.

An event organiser, who did not want to be named, told the NT News it was made “super clear” to partygoers it was their own responsibility to organise transport.

Residents in the NT have enjoyed many freedoms while NSW and Victoria remain in lockdown due to Covid-19.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Michael Gunner posted a video on Facebook of people on the sandbar before it turned pear-shaped.

"You can’t do this in Bondi, but you can do this in Darwin," he wrote.

"This is the reward for Covid Zero and hard borders - freedom and fun."

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