Travel to Darwin
Flying to Darwin
Although there are no direct flights to Darwin from the UK, several airlines offer through tickets, including Malaysia Airlines (connecting in Kuala Lumpur), Qantas (connecting in Melbourne or Sydney) and Singapore Airlines (connecting in Singapore). From the USA, the quickest route is from Los Angeles via Brisbane with Qantas. The cheapest time to fly to the city is between April and June.
Flight times
From London - 19 hours (including stopover); New York - 27 hours (including stopovers); Los Angeles - 20 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); Toronto - 27 hours (including stopovers); Sydney - 4 hours 40 minutes.
Travel by road
Traffic in Australia drives on the left side of the road and highways are numbered, although they are more commonly known by name.
The minimum age for driving is 16 years. Speed limits in the Northern Territory are 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas (reduced to 50kph/31mph in some areas and 40kph/25mph near schools) and 110kph outside built-up areas.
You can drive in the Northern Territory for up to three months with a valid foreign driving licence; this should be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Insurance for temporarily imported overseas motor vehicles is generally not available, although RACWA does offer a tourist insurance policy (excluding left-hand drive vehicles).
Outback northern Australia is extremely dry and hot for most of the year and drivers planning to cross long distances are advised to take a large supply of drinking water, in addition to fuel, spare tyres and an emergency kit.
Emergency breakdown services
Automobile Association of the Northern Territory (AANT) (tel: +61 8 8925 5901; www.aant.asn.au).
Routes
It's 1,480km (920 miles) to Darwin from Alice Springs, along the desolate Stuart Highway. From the east, the Barkly Highway connects with the Stuart Highway at Warumungu, 960km (596miles) south of Darwin. From the west, the Victoria Highway joins the Stuart Highway at Katherine, 314km (195 miles) south of Darwin.
Coaches
Greyhound Australia (tel: +61 7 4690 9850; www.greyhound.com.au) is the main operator and offers routes to over 1,100 destinations in Australia including Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne. Buses arrive at and depart from Darwin's Transit Centre, 69 Mitchell Street.
Time to city
From Uluru/Ayers Rock - 24 hours; Alice Springs - 17 hours 30 minutes; Litchfield National Park - 2 hours; Kakadu National Park - 2 hours 30 minutes; Tennant Creek - 11 hours 15 minutes.
Travel by Rail
Services
Train links to Darwin are limited.
Darwin railway station is situated 20km (12 miles) from the city, about a 20-minute drive from the city centre on Berrimah Road, and only serves The Ghan, the iconic luxury train which travels the 2,979km (1,851 miles) to Adelaide via Alice Springs.
Operators
Great Southern Rail (tel: +61 8 8213 4401; www.greatsouthernrail.com.au) operates The Ghan, a unique rail route that traverses Australia from north to south coast. The train from Darwin to Adelaide through Alice Springs leaves on Wednesdays between November and March, and the train from Darwin straight to Adelaide leaves on Wednesdays between May and October.
Journey times
To Alice Springs - 24 hours; to Adelaide - 3 days.
Transfer
Great Southern Rail runs shuttle buses between the city centre and the station.
