Adelaide to Darwin road trip tips: Distance, time & best stops
Adelaide to Darwin: Litchfield and Kakadu
It’s arguably better to do the latter, then come back down the Stuart Highway for a day trip to the waterfalls and termite mounds of Litchfield National Park. That said, you can go camping in Litchfield or take on the multi-day Tabletop Track.
If you plump for the Top End driving route via World Heritage-listed Kakadu, top attractions include the Yellow Water crocodile-spotting cruise, the powerful Jim Jim Falls and the Anbangbang rock art gallery in Nourlangie.
There’s more Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr near Cahills Crossing, while you can learn about the Indigenous six seasons at the Bowali Visitor Centre in Jabiru.
Jabiru is the best place to stay in Kakadu, not least because it has a unique crocodile-shaped hotel.
On the final 254km drive from Jabiru to Darwin along the Arnhem Highway, there are a few stops worth investigating. There’s great birdwatching to be had at the Mamukala Wetlands, while there are crocodile cruises on the Corroboree Billabong and Adelaide River. The former are more sedate, while the Adelaide River cruises are notorious for the crocodiles jumping out of the water.
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.
15 fabulous Adelaide experiences to supercharge your visit
- DOLPHINS 🐬: Swim with wild dolphins, kayak with the resident bottlenose pod or watch them on a dolphin cruise.
- FOOD AND WINE 🍷: Indulge on Adelaide food tour including Adelaide Central Market. Or try a wine discovery tour with tastings at the National Wine Centre. Or the ultimate Penfolds Magill Estate experience with full estate tour & Grange tasting.
- WILDLIFE 🐨: Spot koalas on a guided Morialta nature hike. Or walk from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty with entrance to Cleland Wildlife Park.
- CRUISES ⛵: Watch the sun set on a twilight coastal cruise, get to know the city on a Torrens River cruise or take a high tea cruise aboard the Popeye.
- SPORT 🏏: Dare to take on the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb or enter the fabled scoreboard on the behind-the-scenes stadium tour.
- ACTION 🚵♂️: Descend Mount Lofty on a downhill mountain bike tour or kayak along the Torrens River.
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.