The Northern Territory is two separate trips: the Top End around Darwin, and the Red Centre around Alice Springs and Uluru, about 1,500 km apart by road. Pick the region first, fly into its airport and hire there, because the distances are long and fuel stops can be hundreds of kilometres apart. Some hire companies restrict unsealed roads, so check what your rental agreement allows before planning Kakadu's side roads or the Mereenie Loop.
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The search starts at Darwin Airport [DRW]; change the pick-up to any airport or city. Prices are in Australian dollars.
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Outside built-up areas the default limit is 110 km/h unless a sign says otherwise, and some sections of the Barkly, Stuart, Victoria and Arnhem highways are signed at 130 km/h. NT Road Safety warns that trucks can be nearly 60 m long and to give them plenty of room when overtaking.
Over 70% of NT roads are unsealed. Kakadu's own guidance says some car hire companies will not allow a 2WD on unsealed roads such as those to Two Mile Hole, Kubara, Yurmikmik and Gunlom. Rules differ by company and are set in your rental agreement, so read that clause before you book, not at the counter.
Visitors need an NT Parks Visitor Pass for parks such as Litchfield, Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), Watarrka (Kings Canyon) and Tjoritja/West MacDonnell; it is sold online only, $10 for one adult day or $60 for a year. Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta are run by Parks Australia and need their own passes.
Distances between fuel and water stops can span hundreds of kilometres, and conditions change quickly, particularly in the wet season from October to May. NT Road Safety points drivers to Road Report NT or 1800 246 199.
The gravel Mereenie Loop route to Kings Canyon needs a permit (roughly $5 per vehicle, valid three days; confirm the price when you buy). Four-wheel drive is recommended, and your rental agreement must allow unsealed roads. A fully sealed alternative to Kings Canyon runs via the Stuart Highway, Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road.
Kakadu's access report dated 11 September 2026 lists Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls as closed for 2026, and Old Jim Jim Road as open to 4WD only.
Top End dry season, mid May to October
Kakadu lists an adult pass at $40 for 15 May to 31 October and $25 for 1 November to 14 May, and says passes bought to visit between 1 July and 31 October 2026 will be charged at wet season rates. Check the current price on its passes page.
Top End wet season, November to April
Tourism NT describes the wet as a tropical summer from November to April, with monsoonal rain and storms. NT Road Safety says road conditions can change quickly from October to May.
Red Centre summer, December to February
Average highs reach about 35 C, and temperatures can climb well above that.
Red Centre winter, June to August
Temperatures can drop below freezing overnight, so allow for frost on early starts.
Where the answer depends on your rental agreement, we say so rather than guess.
Yes, the Stuart Highway links the two, about 1,500 km, via Katherine (about 310 km from Darwin) and Tennant Creek. Whether you can drop the car at the other end depends on one-way availability, which you can test by entering a different return location in the search box above.
Not for the main sights on sealed roads. Kakadu says many attractions can be reached in a normal 2WD, and the Red Centre Way has a completely sealed alternative for 2WD vehicles. Kakadu lists Old Jim Jim Road as 4WD access only, and Tourism Central Australia recommends four-wheel drive vehicles on the Mereenie Loop.
Kilometre allowances differ by company and by rental. Because the distances are large (Alice Springs to Uluru is 465 km each way), check the kilometres-included line on the booking before you pay.
Yes. Visitors need an NT Parks Visitor Pass for NT Government parks such as Litchfield, Nitmiluk, Watarrka and West MacDonnell (online only; $10 for one adult day), plus separate Parks Australia passes for Kakadu and for Uluru-Kata Tjuta (adult $38 for three days).
Allow at least six days for the Red Centre Way. Darwin to Kakadu is about three hours each way, so it suits a night or two rather than a day trip.