Darwin to Alice Springs road trip: Distance, driving time & attractions
The Darwin to Alice Springs drive is 1,497km long, with a driving time of around 15h9m. Turn it into a Northern Territory road trip, and you can take in Litchfield National Park, Katherine Gorge, the Mataranka Hot Springs and the Devils Marbles.
A Darwin to Alice Springs road trip connects the Northern Territory capital to the main hub for the Red Centre. Most people choose to fly between the two cities. Anyone deciding to go by car is about to get a tough lesson in just how big the Northern Territory is.
Darwin, meanwhile, brings schooner cruises, airboat tours and cage-swimming with massive crocodiles. To search for the best Darwin accommodation deals, head here. To check out the full range of tours and experiences available, go here.
Alice Springs offers hot air ballooning over the rugged outback, spectacular adventures in the West MacDonnell Ranges and quirky camel rides. For a bigger range of Alice Springs activities, step this way, and for Alice Springs accommodation, book here.
Seven essential Alice Springs activities to add to your trip.
- See imposing red rock cliffs and stunning swimming holes – on a West MacDonnell Ranges day trip.
- Glide across the changing morning colours of the outback – on a hot air balloon ride.
- See how education works across the outback – at the School of the Air.
- Take in the epic outback scenery – on a scenic flight.
- See the outback wildlife come to life – on a Desert Park nocturnal tour.
- Try camel rides through the red dirt landscape – and learn the weird history of Aussie camels.
- See stunning, often unvisited outback sites – on a Palm Valley 4wd tour.
Darwin to Alice Springs distance and driving time
The distance from Darwin to Alice Springs by car is 1,497km. That makes for a driving time of 15 hours and nine minutes. Very few people are going to make this long, punishing push down the Stuart Highway in one stint, therefore it is wise to look into overnight stops.
There are a few good attractions on the Darwin to Alice Springs drive, so the best bet is to plan out a road trip that allows you to take in as many of them as possible.
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.
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.
Darwin to Alice Springs drive: Litchfield National Park and Katherine
The 317km drive from Darwin to Katherine makes a logical first leg. This allows you to explore Litchfield National Park on the way down. Highlights here include the Buley Rockhole swimming hole, Wangi Falls and the huge Magnetic Termite Mounds.
Katherine is arguably the main highlight of the Darwin to Alice Springs drive. It’s best known as the gateway to Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, but there are plenty of other attractions around the town, too. Highlights include the Katherine Hot Springs, Katherine Museum, Katherine Outback Experience, Mimi Aboriginal Arts and Crafts and the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre.
For understanding Indigenous culture, the two hour, immersive Top Didj Cultural Experience is arguably the best bet.
Best Katherine accommodation
The best Katherine accommodation choices are:
- For a pool-based resort: Knotts Crossing Resort.
- For location next to Katherine Gorge: Nitmiluk Chalets.
- For really good value: Pine Tree Motel.
- For a solid holiday park: Big4 Breeze or Discovery Parks – Katherine.
- For glamping with a view: Gorge View Bush Retreat.
Katherine experiences to book in advance
- Two gorge boat cruise through Nitmiluk National Park – with commentary on nature, wildlife and Aboriginal Dreaming stories.
- Half day Nitmiluk Gorge canoe hire – get closer to nature, paddling through at your own pace.
- Outback show with live music, horse and working dog demonstrations.
- Top Didj Aboriginal cultural experience – learn about ancient customs and feed baby wallabies.
- Cutta Cutta Caves guided tour – spot bats and birds in the limestone cave system.
Darwin to Alice Springs road trip attractions: Mataranka and Daly Waters
The next leg of the Darwin to Alice Springs drive takes you 675km from Katherine to Tennant Creek. The first stop worth making is in Mataranka, where you can bathe in the Mataranka Hot Springs. These are in Elsey National Park, around the Roper River, next to the Mataranka Homestead.
You might choose to break the journey by staying overnight at the Daly Waters Pub, one the all-time great outback pubs. It’s near the junction with the Carpentaria Highway.
The Daly Waters to Tennant Creek stretch of the drive through the Northern Territory has slim pickings. You can stop at Lake Woods for birdwatching and the Threeways Roadhouse at the junction with the Barkly Highway for refreshment. But there’s not much else to do.
What to do between Darwin and Alice Springs: Tennant Creek and Devils Marbles
Things to do in Tennant Creek include the underground tour at the Battery Hill Mine and exploring Indigenous culture at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Cultural Centre.
From Tennant Creek to Alice Springs, it’s another 508km of highway. The best stops are the giant boulders of the Devils Marbles and the alien paraphernalia-covered Wycliffe Well roadhouse.
Alice Springs activities
Once in Alice Springs, attractions include the Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base and the Araluen Cultural Precinct.
Sort out your Red Centre transport now
Alice can also be used as a base for exploring the marvellous West MacDonnell Ranges. Sights to tick off here include Standley Chasm, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge and Ellery Creek Big Hole.
Best Alice Springs accommodation choices
These are the best Alice Springs accommodation picks:
- For a solid, relatively affordable motel: Elkira Court Motel.
- For villas, gardens and a lagoon-style pool: Desert Palms.
- For backpackers: Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn.
- For a kid-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Alice Springs.
- For business-friendly serviced apartments: Quest Alice Springs.
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.
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