There are 5 ways to get from Melbourne to Darwin by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)MEL - DRW
5h 55m$327–908Bus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Adelaide
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Darwin
2d 6h$495–1,089Train
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Adelaide StationThe Overland
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to DarwinThe Ghan
2d 17h$3,017–3,258Drive 3,734 km
- Drive from Melbourne to Darwin3,734 km
37h 8m$708–1,022Bus, train
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to AdelaideAdelaide
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to DarwinThe Ghan
2d 18h$2,974–2,988
Melbourne to Darwin by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Darwin is to fly which costs $320 - $950 and takes 5h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne to Darwin is to fly which takes 5h 55m and costs $320 - $950.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne to Darwin. However, there are services departing from Southern Cross Coach Terminal and arriving at Darwin via Adelaide and Alice Springs. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 6h.
The distance between Melbourne and Darwin is 3165 km. The road distance is 3734 km.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Darwin without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 6h and costs $490 - $1,100.
It takes approximately 5h 55m to get from Melbourne to Darwin, including transfers.
Melbourne to Darwin bus services, operated by Firefly Express, depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal station.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Darwin is to fly which takes 5h 55m and costs $320 - $950. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $490 - $1,100 and takes 2 days 6h, you could also train, which costs $3,000 - $3,300 and takes 2 days 17h.
Melbourne to Darwin bus services, operated by Firefly Express, arrive at Adelaide station.
Darwin is 1h 30m behind Melbourne. It is currently 4:52 PM in Melbourne and 3:22 PM in Darwin.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Darwin, NT, Australia?
Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Qantas fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Darwin International Airport (DRW) 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Darwin via Adelaide and Alice Springs in around 2d 6h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin International Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $410–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin International Airport via Canberra
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $410–1,200
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–850
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin International Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $260–850
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–800
Train from Southern Cross Station to Adelaide Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $140–380
- Website
- https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/journeys/overland/
- Red Standard Readyrail
- $140–170
- Red Standard Everyday
- $190–230
- Red Premium Readyrail
- $260–310
- Red Premium Everyday
- $320–380
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
- 1300 730 740
- enquiries@fireflyexpress.com.au
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- http://www.fireflyexpress.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
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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Melbourne to Darwin is 3734 km. It takes approximately 37h 8m to drive from Melbourne to Darwin.
There are 466+ hotels available in Darwin.