Darwin car hire

Top tips for hiring a car in Darwin

• As the most tropical climate out of all Australian capital cities, having a temperature-controlled car in Darwin is vital. Hiring a car in Darwin also offers superb freedom to explore the surrounding nature reserves that are not connected by public transport. Go hiking and discover waterfalls in the famous Litchfield National Park, which can be reached with a 1h drive, or get a look out over the city in Charles Darwin National Park, which is only 15min away. Bus services in Darwin generally finish at around 20:00, meaning a hire car will open up more night-time activities. Attractions in the city of Darwin are also spread out, with places such as the Military Museum and MAGNT more than 4 km from the CBD, and it is not quite time-efficient to visit all of them on public transport.
• The offices of car hire companies, including Avis, Budget, Europcar and Thrifty, are located on the ground floor at Darwin International Airport (DRW). The reception desks are directly across from the baggage claim in the Arrivals Hall, while the pick-up area is only a short walk outside the terminal.
• Be aware that trucks carrying multiple trailers, known as road trains, are common on major highways around Darwin. Take extra care and keep a safe distance from the vehicles when driving, remembering that you need plenty of space and time to overtake. Familiarise yourself with the windscreen wipers in your hire car as dust often rises off the road and impairs visibility. Keep a watchful eye out for wild animals and livestock, especially at night, as they are known to wander onto the road in rural areas.
• Traffic flows freely throughout most of the day in Darwin; however, increased congestion is certainly noticed between 07:30–08:30 and 16:00–17:00. Stuart Hwy handles the majority of commuters entering and leaving the city for work, thus it’s best to avoid it at peak periods on weekdays.
• 25% of our users found a car hire in Darwin for $40 or less
• Book your car hire in Darwin at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
• Off-airport car hire locations in Darwin are around 51% more expensive than airport locations on average
• Economy car hires in Darwin are around 36% cheaper than other car types, on average