How to get to Darwin
Flying to Darwin
From Overseas...
Darwin is becoming a popular stop over for travelers flying into Australia from Asia. The Singapore – Darwin route is especially popular as flight times are just under 4 hours. Other popular departure points include Bali and Vietnam. If you are coming from the Americas, visitors must enter via another Australian city and then hop on board a domestic airline to Darwin.
International Airlines
From Australia...
Darwin International Airport is serviced by many Domestic and Regional airline carriers. Flights mainly operate out of Australia’s capital cities and generally take between 3 – 4 hours. Qantas flies into Darwin regularly with flights leaving from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns. Other airlines are listed however they do not service the airport as frequently from as many destinations. Airport Transfers and car hire companies are available at Darwin Airport.
Domestic Airlines
Regional Airlines
- Australasian Jet
- Direct Air
- Vincent Aviation
- Pearl Aviation
- Regional Link
- Skywest
- Tiwi Travel & Freight
Darwin by Train
The Ghan describes itself as “..the ultimate journey through the heart of the continent.” It was always The Ghan’s dream to join Adelaide to Alice Springs to Darwin and 80 years later this is finally a reality – since 2004 the train has been running twice weekly from Adelaide to Darwin.
The train covers a distance of 2979km and takes two nights with your days free to marvel at our remarkable countryside speeding past. There are varying levels of service including Platinum, Gold, Red and even Private Carriages.
Driving into Darwin
There are a number of entry ways into Darwin, most roads are sealed however some are for the more adventurous 4 wheel drivers. If you are coming from Queensland the best route to take is the Overlander’s Way / Barkly Highway from Mt Isa.
If you are leaving from Cairns you can take the Savannah Way which is a rugged, unsealed road which crosses the top of Australia from Cairns to Broome. You can also use the Savannah Way as an access from Western Australia.
Other roads leading from WA to Darwin include the Tanami Road that runs across the Tanami Desert and to the north the Butine Highway. The drive from South Australia is especially scenic as you follow the Explorer’s Way through Coober Pedy and past the major centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin.