There are 6 ways to get from Cooktown to Darwin by plane, bus, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Cooktown Airport (CTN) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)plane CTN - DRW
4h 44m$453–1,304Bus, train via Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Cooktown to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Darwinbus
5d 12h$2,994–6,913Bus, train
- Take the bus from Cooktown to Cairnsbus
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Darwintrain
5d 19h$5,339–14,993Drive 2,589 km
- Drive from Cooktown to Darwincar 2,589 km
37h 12m$489–707Bus to Cairns, fly
- Take the bus from Cooktown to Cairnsbus
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)plane CNS - DRW
9h 36m$453–943Bus, train #2
- Take the bus from Cooktown to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Darwintrain
5d 23h$5,473–8,812
Cooktown to Darwin by bus, foot, and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cooktown to Darwin is to drive which costs $480 - $750 and takes 37h 12m.
The fastest way to get from Cooktown to Darwin is to fly which takes 4h 44m and costs $450 - $1,300.
The distance between Cooktown and Darwin is 1604 km. The road distance is 2589 km.
The best way to get from Cooktown to Darwin without a car is to bus and train via Alice Springs which takes 5 days 12h and costs $2,900 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 4h 44m to get from Cooktown to Darwin, including transfers.
Darwin is 30 min behind Cooktown. It is currently 2:52 PM in Cooktown and 2:22 PM in Darwin.
Yes, the driving distance between Cooktown to Darwin is 2589 km. It takes approximately 37h 12m to drive from Cooktown to Darwin.
There are 458+ hotels available in Darwin.
What companies run services between Cooktown, QLD, Australia and Darwin, NT, Australia?
Hinterland Aviation, Qantas, and Airnorth fly from Cooktown Airport (CTN) to Darwin International Airport (DRW) twice daily.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cooktown Airport to Darwin International Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,200
Flights from Cooktown Airport to Darwin International Airport via Cairns, Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 27m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,300
Flights from Cooktown Airport to Darwin International Airport via Cairns, Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $440–1,500
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–1,000
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–800
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Cooktown Airport to Darwin International Airport via Cairns, Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 27m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,300
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–800
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 4h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,365–5,390
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $2,365
- Gold Premium
- $3,390
- Platinum
- $5,390
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $85–6,171
- Book at
- https://queenslandrailtravel-booking.opendestinations.com/BookingSite/rail/search
- Website
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Timetable.aspx
- BQuick
- $85–390
- AChoice
- $85–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
Train from Adelaide Station to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $2,839
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,839
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,989
- Phone
- +61 7 3036 2070
- Website
- transnorthbus.com.au
Bus from Cooktown to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- https://www.transnorthbus.com.au/
- Book at
- https://www.tnbc.com.au/
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $200–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $200–300
- Advantage
- $250–380
- Flexible
- $330–500
Bus from Alice Springs to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $200–490
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $200–290
- Advantage
- $250–370
- Flexible
- $320–490
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide













