How to travel from Darwin to Port Douglas, Australia
The distance between Darwin and Port Douglas is around 1,764km (1,096 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 4h 50m.
4 routes found
We've found 4 different ways to get from Darwin to Port Douglas by bus, plane, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Port Douglas → Darwin if you're planning a return trip.
Bus and Plane
Take the bus to Casuarina Terminus then fly from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS).
- Duration4h 50m
- Flight time2h 30m
- Typical costA$290($195)
Multiple operators
Bus and Train
Take the bus to Alice Springs and then to Adelaide then take the train to Central Station and then to Brisbane then take the bus to Cairns Central Station and then to Port Douglas.
- Duration4 days 19h
- Departsonce a week
- Typical costA$1,355($910)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Drive
Drive to Port Douglas.
- Duration1 day 4h
- Distance2,817km (1,750 miles)
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Darwin and Port Douglas
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Darwin to Port Douglas by bus, plane, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then fly which costs around A$290 ($195) and will take around 4h 50m.
The distance between Darwin and Port Douglas is around 1,764km (1,096 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,636km (1,017 miles)
It takes around 4h 50m to get from Darwin and Port Douglas by bus and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 4h to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Darwin to Port Douglas is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 4h 50m and will set you back approx A$290 ($195).
The cheapest way to travel between Darwin and Port Douglas, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then fly which will typically cost around A$290 ($195) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Darwin and Port Douglas. We recommend that you take the bus to Casuarina Terminus then fly from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 4h 50m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Darwin and Port Douglas. We recommend that you take the bus to Casuarina Terminus then fly from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 4h 50m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Darwin to Port Douglas. We recommend that you take the bus to Casuarina Terminus then fly from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 4h 50m.
The closest major airport to Port Douglas is Cairns Airport (CNS) (CNS) which is approximately 53km (33 miles) from Port Douglas. Cooktown Airport (CTN) (CTN) and Palm Island Airport (PMK) (PMK) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
Yes it is possible to drive from Darwin and Port Douglas. The distance is around 2,817km (1,750 miles) by road and it will take around 1 day 4h in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Darwin to Port Douglas is to take the bus and then fly which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around A$290 ($195).
Compare travel optionsbetween Darwin and Port Douglas
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Plane | 4h 50m | A$290($195) | every 20 mins | 1,764km (1,096 miles) |
Bus and Train + 1 similar | 4 days 19h | A$1,355($910) | once a week | 7,772km (4,829 miles) |
| Train and Bus | 4 days 22h | A$1,850($1,245) | once a week | 7,390km (4,592 miles) |
Drive | 1 day 4h | A$375($250) | on demand | 2,817km (1,750 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Darwin and Port Douglas
Train operators
Great Southern Rail - Indian Pacific
NSW TrainLink
Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
Queensland Rail Travel
Great Southern
Bus companies
Northern Territory Government
Premier Motor Service
Trans North Bus & Coach
Airlines
Qantas
Airnorth
Alliance Airlines
Airports near Port Douglas
The following major airports near Port Douglas offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.
Cairns Airport (CNS)
- Distance
- 53km (33 miles) from Port Douglas
Cooktown Airport (CTN)
- Distance
- 120km (74 miles) from Port Douglas
Palm Island Airport (PMK)
- Distance
- 279km (173 miles) from Port Douglas