Darwin Airport to Kakadu (Jabiru)
about 3 hours from Darwin
Via the Stuart and Arnhem highways. Fuel is available at Jabiru and Cooinda. The Jim Jim and Twin Falls area is closed for 2026.
Darwin Airport car hire
Darwin Airport (DRW) lists eight car hire brands: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, Sixt, Thrifty and Bargain. The services are run by external providers, so use your booking confirmation for the pick-up and return point. The city is 8 km away and Kakadu is about three hours' drive, so collecting here suits a trip straight out of town.
Updated
Darwin Airport at a glance
- Airport code
- DRW, on Henry Wrigley Drive in Eaton
- Distance to Darwin city
- 8 km from the city centre
- Car hire brands listed
- Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, Sixt, Thrifty, Bargain
- Who runs the desks
- External providers, not the airport itself
- Short-stay car park
- Directly in front of the terminal; up to 10 minutes free
- Only airport
- Darwin International is the only airport serving Darwin
Compare cars at Darwin Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Collecting your car at Darwin Airport
These are the brands listed for Darwin Airport. Counter locations vary by brand, so check the location on your confirmation.
| Company | Where |
|---|---|
| Avis | Listed by the airport |
| Budget | Listed by the airport |
| Europcar | Listed by the airport |
| Hertz | Listed by the airport |
| Redspot | Listed by the airport |
| Sixt | Listed by the airport |
| Thrifty | Listed by the airport |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Listed by the airport |
Collecting the car
- 1
Check the pick-up point on your booking confirmation: eight brands operate at the airport and counter positions differ by company.
- 2
Ask what the agreement says about unsealed roads and whether kilometres are unlimited, particularly for Kakadu or a drive to Katherine.
- 3
For Litchfield, Nitmiluk or Kings Canyon, buy the NT Parks Visitor Pass online first ($10 for one adult day). Kakadu passes are sold separately, including at Humpty Doo Post Office on the Arnhem Highway.
Returning a car at Darwin Airport
- 1
Use the return point on your rental confirmation. Return areas and after-hours procedures differ by company.
- 2
For a lift to the city afterwards, the airport lists 13Cabs, Uber and a hotel shuttle service, and a public bus stop about a 600 m, 8-minute walk from the terminal.
- 3
For a drop-off by a friend, short-stay parking is directly in front of the terminal and free for up to 10 minutes.
Drives from Darwin Airport
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Darwin Airport to Litchfield National Park
about 120 km south-west of Darwin
Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole are popular swimming spots. The park needs an NT Parks Visitor Pass, bought online.
Darwin to Katherine
about 310 km · about 3.5 hours
Down the Stuart Highway through Adelaide River, Burrundie and Pine Creek; Katherine is the gateway to Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge).
Guides for trips from Darwin Airport
Best time for an Australia road tripAustralia has different road trip seasons: northern wet months run October to April, while southern mountain routes face winter hazardsDarwin to Alice Springs driveDarwin to Alice Springs is almost 1,500 km on the sealed Stuart HighwayDarwin to Kakadu driveDarwin to Kakadu is about 250 km and three hours to the park on the sealed Nature’s Way routeDarwin to Katherine DriveDarwin to Katherine is about three hours on the Stuart HighwayDarwin to Litchfield DriveLitchfield National Park is about 120 km south-west of DarwinJim Jim Falls Road Status and Hire Car AccessJim Jim Falls and Twin Falls are closed for 2026Kakadu Without a 4WDA 2WD can reach many Kakadu sites, but some falls need a 4WDNT park passes for a road tripNT Parks Visitor Pass covers Litchfield and Watarrka, but Kakadu and Uluṟu need separate passesTop End Self-Drive ItineraryFollow the sealed Nature’s Way circuit from Darwin through Kakadu, Katherine and LitchfieldAdelaide to Darwin driveAdelaide to Darwin is a long run on the sealed Stuart HighwayOutback driving, fuel and distancePlan outback drives around fuel, water, rest stops and road trains, and check the kilometre allowance on your hire agreement before you leave town.Overseas Licence Rules by Australian StateVisitor driving periods differ across Australia
Driving around Darwin Airport
Airport is close to the city
The airport is 8 km from the CBD. If you're only staying in Darwin for a night or two you may not need the car until you head out to a park.
Unsealed roads in Kakadu
Kakadu's guide says some hire companies won't allow a 2WD on unsealed roads like those to Two Mile Hole, Kubara, Yurmikmik and Gunlom. Check your agreement, since it is the rental company's rule that applies.
Speed limits on the highways
The default rural limit is 110 km/h, with some sections of the Stuart and Arnhem highways signed at 130 km/h. Always follow the sign.
Road trains and animals
NT Road Safety mentions wandering animals on roads and says trucks can be nearly 60 m long. It advises giving trucks plenty of room when overtaking and stopping every two hours on long trips.
Darwin Airport car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Which car hire companies are at Darwin Airport?
The airport lists Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, Sixt, Thrifty and Bargain Car Rentals. These services are operated by external providers, so check your confirmation for the counter location.
How do I return a hire car at Darwin Airport?
Follow the return instructions on your confirmation. Return areas and after-hours arrangements are set by each company.
How far is Darwin Airport from the city?
About 8 km to the city centre. The airport's transport page lists taxis, Uber, a shuttle to major hotels and a public bus stop about a 600 m, 8-minute walk from the terminal.
Can I take a Darwin Airport hire car to Kakadu?
You can drive the sealed highways to the main sights: the trip takes about three hours. Your agreement governs unsealed roads, and Kakadu warns that some companies won't allow a 2WD on roads such as those to Gunlom.
Is unlimited kilometre car hire available at Darwin Airport?
Each company sets its own terms, so read them in the offer before you pay. Confirm kilometres included before you book, especially for Kakadu (about three hours each way) or Katherine (about 310 km).
Nearby and often combined
Darwin cityLitchfield and Kakadu from the cityAlice Springs AirportRed Centre, West MacDonnells and UluruBroome AirportCable Beach and the KimberleyNorthern Territory car hireEvery Northern Territory pickup, road rules and seasonsCar hire in AustraliaLicences, tolls and where to fly in, state by state
Compare Darwin Airport car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.