Getting around Darwin
Getting around Darwin is quick and easy, with clean, efficient and affordable public transport.
By Mark Sariban
While Darwin is the smallest of Australia’s major cities, it still has plenty of transport options for visitors, including buses, driving, cycling and walking. Here’s how to move around Darwin like a local.
Transport in Darwin
SeaLink NT, Cullen Bay, Tiwi Islands, NT © Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
To use the extensive public bus network in Darwin, you can purchase a Tap and Ride card or buy single tickets on board (cash only).
- Tap and Ride cards are available for purchase as you board the bus (cash only) or from bus interchanges. To start your ride, tap your card on the card reader when you board.
- Buy a Multi-trip Tap and Ride card to take 10 bus trips of up to three hours each.
- Purchase a Weekly Tap and Ride card for seven consecutive days of unlimited travel.
- You can purchase single paper tickets, valid for three hours, or a daily paper ticket, which gives you one full day of unlimited bus travel.
Getting around Darwin on public transport
Hop On Hop Off Bus, Darwin, NT © Tourism Australia
Most buses in Darwin travel between bus interchanges. Use the Journey Planner tool to plan your trip, or download the official bus network map.
- The most useful bus for visitors is the route 4 bus, which travels from Darwin Bus Interchange to Casuarina Bus Interchange via the waterfront. This bus stops by popular attractions such as Crocosaurus Cove, Mindil Beach Sunset Market, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory, and Fannie Bay Gaol. Services run every 10-35 minutes throughout the day.
- There’s also a free Waterfront Shuttle linking Stokes Hill Wharf, the Waterfront precinct and the Cruise Ship Terminal.
Getting around Darwin by car
Touring the Territory, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Steve Strike
Darwin is a compact city with a good network of public buses, so you may find it’s easier to explore the Northern Territory capital’s attractions without a car. If you do opt to rent a vehicle at the airport or in the city, you may want to check whether your hotel charges a daily parking fee.
- Darwin City has 10 off-street car parks providing more than 1,700 spaces and charging modest fees.
- If you plan to explore the Territory on a self-drive adventure, there are plenty of vehicle rental options, from campervans and motorhomes to four-wheel-drive cars.
Other forms of transport in Darwin
SeaLink NT, Bathurst Island, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
The Big Bus Tours hop-on, hop-off bus is another great way to see Darwin’s city attractions. You can purchase a one-day or two-day ticket. The bus will take you from the Tourist Information Centre to all the major sights, including Cullen Bay Marina, Darwin Military Museum, and the Waterfront precinct.
