There are 7 ways to get from Darwin to Cooktown by plane, train, bus, 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 to Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)DRW - CTN
9h 27m$540–1,565Fly to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Cairns (CNS)DRW - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
12h 29m$430–910Train, bus via Sydney
- Take the train from Darwin to Adelaide Parklands
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Southern Cross Station
- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
5d 1hBus, train
- Take the bus from Darwin to Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
5d 15h$3,007–6,920Drive 2,589.2 km
- Drive from Darwin to Cooktown2,589.2 km
37h 7m$507–732Train, bus
- Take the train from Darwin to Adelaide Parklands
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
5d 19h$5,341–15,002Train, bus #2
- Take the train from Darwin to Adelaide Parklands
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
5d 23h$5,475–8,821
Darwin to Cooktown by bus, foot, and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Darwin to Cooktown is to fly and bus which costs $430 - $950 and takes 12h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Darwin to Cooktown is to fly which takes 9h 27m and costs $500 - $1,600.
The distance between Darwin and Cooktown is 1612 km. The road distance is 2589.2 km.
The best way to get from Darwin to Cooktown without a car is to train and bus via Sydney which takes 5 days 1h and costs .
It takes approximately 9h 27m to get from Darwin to Cooktown, including transfers.
Cooktown is 30 min ahead of Darwin. It is currently 5:37 AM in Darwin and 6:07 AM in Cooktown.
Yes, the driving distance between Darwin to Cooktown is 2589 km. It takes approximately 37h 7m to drive from Darwin to Cooktown.
There are 27+ hotels available in Cooktown.
What companies run services between Darwin, NT, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Qantas, Hinterland Aviation, and Airnorth fly from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Cooktown Airport (CTN) 4 times a day.
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $490–1,500
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Gove, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $490–1,800
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Alice Springs, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,900
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $410–600
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–750
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Monday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $380–750
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–750
Train from Darwin to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 2h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,844
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,844
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,994
Train from Adelaide Station to Southern Cross Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/journeys/overland/
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 2m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $75–100
- First
- $100–140
- Sleeper
- $210–250
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- 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 to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 7h
- 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
- +61 7 3036 2070
- Website
- transnorthbus.com.au
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- https://www.transnorthbus.com.au/
- Book at
- https://www.tnbc.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Darwin to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 5m
- 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
Bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 55m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $210–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $210–300
- Advantage
- $250–380
- Flexible
- $330–500
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
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