There are 4 ways to get from Sydney to Charles Darwin by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, 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
best- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)plane SYD - DRW
5h 59m$351–969Bus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Albury stationbus
- Take the bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin Stbus
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Darwinbus
2d 18h$545–1,314Train
- Take the train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklandstrain Syd-Adl 2026
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Darwintrain The Ghan
3d 9h$3,518–7,719Drive 3,966.6 km
- Drive from Sydney to Charles Darwincar 3,966.6 km
40h 43m$853–1,232
Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Darwin International Airport (DRW) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sydney to Charles Darwin is to fly which costs $350 - $1,000 and takes 5h 59m.
The fastest way to get from Sydney to Charles Darwin is to fly which takes 5h 59m and costs $350 - $1,000.
No, there is no direct bus from Sydney station to Charles Darwin. However, there are services departing from Central Station and arriving at Darwin via Albury Station/Hume Hwy, Adelaide and Alice Springs. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 18h.
No, there is no direct train from Sydney station to Charles Darwin. However, there are services departing from Central Station and arriving at Darwin via Adelaide Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 9h.
The distance between Sydney and Charles Darwin is 3177 km. The road distance is 3966.6 km.
The best way to get from Sydney to Charles Darwin without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 18h and costs $500 - $1,400.
It takes approximately 5h 59m to get from Sydney to Charles Darwin, including transfers.
Sydney to Charles Darwin bus services, operated by Firefly Express, depart from Central Station.
Sydney to Charles Darwin train services, operated by Journey Beyond - Indian Pacific, depart from Central Station.
The best way to get from Sydney to Charles Darwin is to fly which takes 5h 59m and costs $350 - $1,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $500 - $1,400 and takes 2 days 18h, you could also train, which costs $3,500 - $8,000 and takes 3 days 9h.
What companies run services between Sydney, NSW, Australia and Charles Darwin, NT, Australia?
Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Qantas fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Darwin International Airport (DRW) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Central Station to Charles Darwin via Albury Station/Hume Hwy, Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Darwin in around 2d 18h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $500–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $500–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $500–1,200
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $310–600
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–600
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Darwin International Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $310–600
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Journey Beyond
Train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–4,600
- Book at
- Journey Beyond
- Website
- Journey Beyond
- Everyday Daynighter Seat
- $400
- Advanced Gold Single Cabin
- $650–900
- Low Gold Single Cabin
- $700–950
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $850–1,100
- GOLD TWIN
- $1,200–2,200
- GOLD SINGLE
- $1,100–2,000
- PLATINUM
- $3,000–4,600
- GOLD PREMIUM TWIN
- $1,500–2,600
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Adelaide Station to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $3,089
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,789
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $3,089
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- [email protected]
- Website
- Firefly Express
Bus from Central Station to Albury station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $63–66
- Website
- Firefly Express
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Central Station to Albury station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $90–200
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $90–130
- Flexible
- $110–200
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Flexible
- $270–550
Bus from Alice Springs to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $210–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $210–310
- Flexible
- $260–550
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Central Station to Albury station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- [email protected]
- Website
- V/Line
Bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin St
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Read the travel guideBooking & Getting There
Sydney to Charles Darwin bus services, operated by Firefly Express, arrive at Albury station.
Charles Darwin is 1h 30m behind Sydney. It is currently 3:02 PM in Sydney and 1:32 PM in Charles Darwin.
Sydney to Charles Darwin train services, operated by Journey Beyond - Indian Pacific, arrive at Adelaide Parklands station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sydney to Charles Darwin is 3967 km. It takes approximately 40h 43m to drive from Sydney to Charles Darwin.
There are 487+ hotels available in Charles Darwin.