Getting here and around
The Northern Territory is well serviced by air, rail or road and is an excellent self-drive destination.
Air access
International air travel
Darwin International Airport is a major gateway into Australia for international flights, offering easy access to and from Europe, North America and Asia. For shorter trips, Darwin’s proximity to Asia makes it an easy destination to reach from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Japan, China and Hong Kong.
Note: All passengers arriving in Australia are required to comply with local immigration, customs and quarantine regulations.
Domestic air travel
The Northern Territory is easily accessible from destinations all over the country. Domestic flights to the NT are operated by Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Airnorth. Daily flights operate in and out of Uluru, Alice Springs and Darwin airports.
Helicopter and light plane
The Territory spans 1.4 million km2 making charter flights and helicopters a popular option if time is limited. There are a number of light plane and helicopter charter companies servicing remote and inaccessible locations in the Northern Territory.
Self-Drive
Travelling by car and caravan or campervan is one of the best ways to explore the Territory. Well-maintained, sealed highways provide the most direct routes between the Northern Territory from South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
Vehicle hire: cars, four wheel drive, campervans, motorhomes
National car hire businesses with expert regional knowledge operate out of Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru, including Thrifty, Apollo, Britz, Europcar, Hertz, Budget and Enterprise. Hire companies offer a broad range of vehicles, including automatic and manual cars, four wheel drives, campervans, motorhomes and minibuses – some even include camping equipment.
We recommend rental vehicles are booked in advance. Pick-up from airports, train stations and accommodation can be arranged. A credit card is usually required for vehicle hire.
Before hiring a vehicle, check licensing requirements and read the insurance fine print closely, as restrictions can apply to off-road travel, driving after dark, and to younger drivers. See our FAQs for more details.
Travelling from Queensland
Driving west from Queensland, the most easily accessible route is the fully sealed Barkly Highway from Mt Isa. Alternatively, you can drive the unsealed portion of the Victoria Highway from Cairns. See also our themed driving route, the Savannah Way.
Travelling from Western Australia
There are a few access points from Western Australia, including the Victoria Highway and Buntine Highway in the north, and the Tanami Road that runs across the Tanami Desert to the south. Find out more about our themed driving route, the Savannah Way.
Travelling from South Australia
Driving north from South Australia, take the Stuart Highway from Adelaide through Coober Pedy into the Northern Territory. In the NT, you’ll drive through the major centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin. Find out more about our themed driving route, the Explorers Way.
Driving routes
Once you cross the border, there are several themed driving routes travellers can take around the Territory: Nature’s Way, through Kakadu National Park and Katherine; the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs to Uluru; and Binns Track, an intrepid 4WD trail.
Rail
The Ghan is one of the world’s great train journeys and travels between Darwin and Adelaide. It has scheduled services run twice a week in both directions from June until September and once a week at other times. The journey takes three days and two nights, with sight-seeing tours offered in Alice Springs and Katherine en-route.
Darwin’s train station is located on Berrimah Road, 15km from the city centre. Shuttle buses are available to transport passengers between the station and the Transit Centre in Mitchell Street. The Alice Springs train station is located on George Crescent, off the Stuart Highway.