Pine Creek to Darwin, NT: Distance, drive time & best stops

The best stops on the Pine Creek to Darwin drive are Adelaide River, Litchfield National park and Humpty Doo. The distance from Pine Creek to Darwin is 225km, with a driving time of around 2h13m.

The drive from Pine Creek to Darwin is, for many, the last leg on a longer road trip. The drives from Townsville to Darwin, Adelaide to Darwin and Melbourne to Darwin come through this way.

Perhaps more importantly, Pine Creek is where the Kakadu Highway joins the Stuart Highway. If you’re doing a Top End road trip, the Pine Creek to Darwin drive is likely to be the homeward leg on the way out of Kakadu National Park.

To search for the best Darwin accommodation deals, head here. To check out the full range of tours and experiences available, go here.

4 Kakadu experiences worth booking in advance

Full day Kakadu tour from Darwin.

Corroboree Billabong wetland cruises.

Full day Arnhem Land tour from Jabiru.

The Yellow Water crocodile cruise in Cooinda.

Pine Creek to Darwin distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Pine Creek to Darwin is 225km. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 13 minutes.

The Old Railway Station and Railway Museum is worth a look in Pine Creek, as is the Enterprise Pit Mine Lookout. The latter is a former open cut mine that has now filled with water. It makes for a rather bizarre-looking lake.

Next up on the way north up the Stuart Highway is Adelaide River. There was a large World War II military base here, and the Adelaide River War Cemetery is the only war cemetery in Australia.

Beware: This is not where the infamous jumping crocodile cruises depart from They run on the Adelaide River, but upstream, just off the Arnhem Highway.

Six amazing day trips from Darwin that will improve your visit

Litchfield National Park day tour – including jumping crocodile cruise. (💲 Great value 💲)
Tiwi Islands Indigenous cultural experience including ferry.
One day or four day Kakadu National Park tour.
Kakadu scenic flight – with gorges, waterfalls and epic floodplains. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Full day Katherine day tour – including Katherine Gorge cruise.
Arnhem Land full day tour – with ancient rock art.

BOOK NOW, PAY LATER

Pine Creek to Darwin drive: Litchfield National Park

The key attraction on the Pine Creek to Darwin drive, however, is Litchfield National Park. You need to turn off at Batchelor for waterfalls such as Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls and Wangi Falls. Other highlights of Litchfield include swims in the Buley Rockhole and the fields of giant termite mounds.

For an overnight stay, take a look at the Batchelor Butterfly Farm, Litchfield Tourist Park and Litchfield Outback Resort. There are also multiple Litchfield National Park campgrounds.

Pine Creek to Darwin road trip: Manton Dam and Humpty Doo

Continue along the Stuart Highway, and you pass the Manton Dam Recreation Area before arriving at the junction with the Arnhem Highway.

The small settlement of Humpty Doo hosts the Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Didgeridoo Hut and Art Gallery and birdwatcher-haven McMinn’s Lagoon.

Howard Springs to Darwin

The drive into Darwin comes via unexciting satellite towns Howard Springs and Palmerston. The route also passes croc farm Crocodylus Park and the mangrove-lined Charles Darwin National Park.

Top Darwin accommodation picks include the well-located Adina Darwin Waterfront and the apartment-style Oaks Elan Darwin.

7 great Darwin experiences to book before arriving

Swim face to face with an enormous crocodile in the Cage of Death.
Enjoy the romance of Darwin Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise aboard a traditional fishing ketch.
Explore Darwin’s food and art scenes on a 3.5 hour walking tour – with lunch or dinner included.
Flit between Darwin’s top attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
Combine a wildlife tour with the famous jumping crocodiles cruise.
Get a history fix on a Bombing of Darwin WWII tour and harbour cruise.
Get the adrenalin pumping on a high speed airboat or jetski tour.

Darwin attractions include the Darwin Ferris Wheel, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the Wave Lagoon and the Cage of Death crocodile swim.

For experiences, take a look at sunset dinner cruises, jet ski tours and the Darwin water park.

The best places to stay in Darwin

You can check out deals on a wide range of Darwin accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.

For luxury on a special occasion: The superior suites with direct lagoon pool access at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
For the buzziest location at the Waterfront: Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront.
The one with the best guest ratings: Hudson Parap.
For affordable city centre apartments with a pool: City Gardens Apartments.
For the magic combo of quality, price and location: Travelodge Resort Darwin.