Travel Info / Essential Info / Getting around
Getting around the Northern Territory is as easy as booking a flight, getting a rail pass, hopping on a bus or fuelling up your car. Read on to find out how.
By Air
Flying around the Northern Territory has never been easier. There are regularly scheduled flights between the tourism centres of Darwin, Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt and Yulara, the location of Uluru/Ayers Rock. Charter flights can also be organised to more remote destinations like the Cobourg Peninsula, Tiwi Islands and Borroloola.
By Rail
For a fantastic journey and an overnight stay – hop on The Ghan and travel between Alice Springs and Darwin. You can even stop off in Katherine for a few hours or a few days to visit Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) and the surrounding attractions before continuing on to your destination.
Public transport
Darwin and Alice Springs both have scheduled bus services that connect the cities with outer areas. Taxis and private hire cars, coaches and limousines can also be booked here.
Coaches
A number of coach lines operate scheduled services from Alice Springs and Darwin to other destinations. Coach touring is often a cost-effective way to get around the Territory and it allows travellers to experience this destination's renowned changing scenery.
Self-drive touring
A driving holiday in the Northern Territory gives travellers the freedom and flexibility to explore some of the world’s most magnificent scenery at their own pace. Campervans are also very popular and there are options for tag-along tours.
If opting to drive, 96% of the major attractions are accessible by sealed roads and the others are accessible via four-wheel drive tracks or charter flights.
There are four major tourist drives:
- The Nature's Way winds through World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and Katherine.
- The Explorer's Way follows the footsteps of explorer John McDouall Stuart from Alice Springs to Darwin.
- The Red Centre Way carves an intrepid journey through Central Australia from Alice Springs to Uluru/Ayers Rock.
- The Savannah Way is an epic journey across the Top End, with both four-wheel drive tracks or sealed highway options.
