Cheap flights to Darwin are available from Perth and Adelaide with a flight time of 3 hours and 40 minutes. Departures from Brisbane are available with a flight time of just over 4 hours. Cheap flights from Brisbane may include a red-eye flight, typically leaving just after midnight. Flights departing from Cairns can include a transfer through Townsville and flights exiting Canberra could route via Sydney or Brisbane. Melbourne and Sydney departure points have a flight time of around four and a half hours and red-eye flight options may be available here. Tasmanian departures offer cheap flights stopping in Melbourne or Sydney. Darwin International Airport services both domestic and international travel into the city. The airport is 13km from the city and there are several transport options to get you there. The Darwin Airport Shuttle operates 24 hours a day. It is $16 for a one-way ticket and if you’re travelling with company the tickets become cheaper with each additional ticketholder. Public transport buses are available, however this is on a single route that takes you in the direction of Casuarina and this is away from the Darwin CBD. There is a taxi rank just outside the terminal and there are a number of car rental companies near the baggage claim area.

Making your way around Darwin can be exceptionally cheap and relatively easy. Show & Go tickets are available for $5.00 and allow unlimited travel on the public bus services for the day. Ferry services are a little more expensive, but these services are limited and would not be your typical mode of transport. During the cooler months the Tour Tub operates a hop on hop off open-air bus, servicing Darwin’s main attractions. The city itself is geared towards walkers and cyclists with an outstanding network of bicycle paths. With very little traffic, hiring a car is a relaxing way to see just about everything in Darwin.

Darwin is rich in colonial and WWII history, exotic landscapes, native reptiles and heat. Don’t miss the opportunity to walk through the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels, The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre and the Fannie Bay Gaol. Entry to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is free and celebrates diversity from Indigenous Australia through to our South East Asian neighbours. The experience of a lifetime awaits those brave enough to encounter giant Saltwater Crocodiles in the Cage of Death at Crocosaurus Cove. Both this venue and Crocodylus Park offer crocodile feeding but if you’re not keen on reptilian predators, Aquascene provides a lovely platform where you can hand feed wild fish. Pay the extra $5 on top of your ticket to come back and enjoy the whole community of friendly fish. Pack a picnic and head out of the city for freshwater swimming, hiking and dazzling waterfalls at Litchfield National Park or Berry Springs. For a cheap cool down, visit the Wave or Recreation Lagoon at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct. Entry to the Leanyer Recreation Park is free and offers water slides, a water park and several non-aquatic recreational areas. Time your visit between April and November to watch the sunset and a movie at the Deckchair Cinema – dress for comfort and take advantage of the free insect repellent when you arrive.

Darwin isn’t saturated with retail choices but you will find all you need at Casuarina Square. The market discoveries are an amazing alternative but some are seasonal so plan ahead. Visit the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets on Thursday and Sunday evenings or the Parap Village Market on Saturday mornings. Choose either the Nightcliff Markets or Rapid Creek Market for a lazy Sunday morning stroll. The markets are great for cheap selection of tasty cuisine across an eclectic array of cultures. Party at Monsoons on Mitchell Street or enjoy relaxing cocktails at The Tap. You can’t beat the Darwin Sailing Club for a beer with the best view and the Top End Hotel has a refreshing atmosphere. For fresh seafood try a casual offering from Stokes Hill Wharf or La Beach for fine dining. If you’re travelling with a group, sit down to a banquet at Hanuman. Dining is really where it’s at in Darwin and what better way to compliment your visit than a delectable plate of Coconut Crusted Crocodile Tail at Pee Wee’s at the Point.