Most visitors hire a car in Darwin for the trips out of town: Litchfield is about 120 km south-west, Kakadu is about three hours away and Katherine is about 310 km south. Check your rental agreement for unsealed roads and kilometre limits, because some hire companies do not allow a 2WD on gravel roads.
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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
There are no city depots here. Eight rental brands operate at the airport (see the Darwin Airport page), and hiring from the airport is the option to look at first.
Decide where you'll collect. Darwin Airport is 8 km from the city, and ground transport includes 13Cabs, Uber, a hotel shuttle and a public bus stop about 600 m and an 8-minute walk from the terminal.
Buy your NT Parks Visitor Pass online before you go if you're visiting Litchfield or Nitmiluk; the pass is sold online only. Kakadu passes are separate and are sold at Humpty Doo Post Office on the Arnhem Highway, among other outlets.
Ask what the rental agreement says about unsealed roads and whether kilometres are unlimited, particularly for Kakadu side roads or Katherine (about 310 km).
Fill the tank before leaving town for Kakadu: fuel is available at Jabiru and Cooinda; refuel as frequently as possible.
Confirm the return address and opening hours on your rental confirmation. Airport counter locations and after-hours return rules are set by each company.
If returning after Kakadu, allow for the drive of about three hours each way, and check Road Report NT before you set off.
If you're flying out of Darwin, the airport is 8 km from the CBD; ground transport includes taxis, Uber, a hotel shuttle and a public bus stop about a 600 m walk from the terminal.
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
about 3 hours
The main Top End trip. Jabiru to Ubirr is 20 minutes and Jabiru to Cooinda 30 minutes, but the Jim Jim and Twin Falls area is closed for 2026. Kakadu passes for visits between 1 July and 31 October 2026 are charged at the wet-season rate.
about 120 km
Popular swimming spots include Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole; swimming is not permitted at Tolmer Falls. Litchfield needs an NT Parks Visitor Pass, which you buy online before you go.
about 310 km
Down the Stuart Highway to the gateway for Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge). Katherine is also an entry to Kakadu via the Kakadu Highway, about three hours, and the Katherine Visitor Centre sells Kakadu passes.
about 1,500 km
The full Stuart Highway run. Katherine (about 310 km from Darwin) and Tennant Creek are on the route. Check one-way return availability first.
Many Kakadu attractions are reachable in a normal 2WD, but some hire companies will not allow a 2WD on the unsealed roads to Two Mile Hole, Kubara, Yurmikmik and Gunlom. Whether your company allows it is a matter for your rental agreement.
Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls gorge and the escarpment walk were closed in September 2026, while Old Jim Jim Road was open to 4WD only. Check current access alerts before you plan around them.
Trucks can be nearly 60 m long; give them plenty of room when overtaking, and stop every two hours on long trips.
Road conditions can change quickly between October and May. Litchfield can also close unexpectedly because of flooding or bushfires.
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Kilometre allowances vary by company and by rental. Katherine is about 310 km each way and Kakadu about three hours each way, so confirm the kilometres-included line at booking.
You can enter longer dates in the search box. Long-term terms differ by company, so check kilometre limits, the return location and any one-way condition on the booking page. If you're driving a long way (Darwin to Alice Springs is about 1,500 km), a limited-km rental can add up.
Yes, to the main sights. Many Kakadu attractions are accessible with a normal 2WD, but check the Kakadu access report for road openings before you go. Side roads to places like Gunlom are a different matter, as some hire companies do not allow 2WD on unsealed roads.
Kakadu passes are available at Humpty Doo Post Office (340 Arnhem Highway), Corroboree Park Tavern at Marrakai, Bowali Visitor Centre in Jabiru, Cooinda Lodge and Katherine Visitor Centre, or you can buy online. Passes are valid for 7 days.
Check the park notice and Road Report NT for which Litchfield roads are 2WD-accessible. The park is about 120 km south-west of Darwin and needs an NT Parks Visitor Pass, bought online.
Enter Darwin as the pick-up and Alice Springs as the return in the search box to see whether a one-way rental is offered. Ask about any one-way fee and the kilometres included, as the drive is about 1,500 km.
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.