Northern Territory Transportation

The Northern Territory’s vast expanses make transportation a big concern. Darwin, Alice Springs, and Yulara are most-commonly reached by air. Trains are also an option; The Ghan (☎13 21 47; www.gsr.com.au) connects Darwin to Adelaide through Katherine and Alice Springs (see below). Fares in the Day/Nighter Class range from $355 to Alice Springs (students $225) up to $710 (students $450) for the entire length. Greyhound Australia (☎13 14 99 or 13 20 30) buses service most major tourist centers, but not the farther reaches of the national parks. Renting a car is the best way to see these areas, but it’s also the most expensive. Many national chains have offices all over the NT; Territory-Thrifty Car Rental (☎1800 891 125) and Budget (☎13 27 27) are the cheapest but limit kilometers (100-200km per day, each additional km $0.25-0.32), whereas Britz (☎1800 331 454) offers unlimited kilometers and rents 4WDs to customers under 25. Europcar (☎13 13 90) offers sedans from $58 per day, not including kilometer charges. Each company allows one-way rentals—at a high fee.

Major tourist centers are accessible by sealed or gravel roads. You’ll need a 4WD to venture onto dirt tracks; this is necessary to see many of the spectacular sights of Kakadu National Park and the MacDonnell Ranges. Furthermore, rentals are rarely insured for accidents on unsealed roads. Rental companies determine their own restrictions, even for 4WDs. If going to remote areas, ask for a high-clearance 4WD with two petrol tanks. Also, make sure the 4WD you rent is not so top-heavy that it could flip over in rough terrain driving. If going beyond the highways, bring lots of extra water, food, emergency materials (tire, tools, rope, jack, etc.), and check in with a friend, visitors center, or ranger station. HF radios, compatible with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (☎02 8238 3333; www.flyingdoctor.net), offer security for drives through remote areas where cellular phones and other radios don’t work. Avoid driving at dusk and dawn, when kangaroos and wild camels loiter in the road. Road trains can be up to 50m long and often leave dust storms in their wake. It is dangerous to pass road trains. When venturing onto unsealed roads, be sure to call ahead for road conditions (☎1800 246 199); some tracks may be washed out entirely. For weather reports, call ☎08 8982 3826. The Automobile Association of the Northern Territory (AANT; ☎13 11 11) provides valuable assistance.