Darwin

Darwin, with its lush vegetation and diverse population, is a surprisingly vibrant city considering its small size. The city’s diversity is reflected in the its array of Asian and Western eating places, ranging from upmarket restaurants to budget-priced food stalls at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.

Local transport

Darwin has a relatively good bus network for a small city. Darwin’s buses are supplemented by minibuses, which are a good way to get around.

The city centre is small enough to easily walk to most destinations.

Bus

Darwinbus operates a good network of bus routes, which are a handy way to get around suburban areas. The most useful routes are routes 4 and 10, which run between the city centre and Casuarina Shopping Centre via the Mindil Beach and Parap markets and buses 4, 6 and 19 go to Fannie Bay Gaol and the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Buses go down Mitchell and Cavenagh Streets with the main terminus on Harry Chan Avenue. On weekdays most buses run at half-hourly intervals.

Single fares cost $3 for three hours unlimited bus travel and a pack of 10 tickets costs $20. A daily ticket costs $7 and a weekly pass is $20.

Minibus

Darwin’s minibuses are a bit like a cross between a bus and a taxi. For a flat fare, they will take you wherever you want to go in the city centre, which includes Cullen Bay Marina and Stokes Hill Wharf. Once you leave the central area, prices increase substantially.

Minibuses depart from a stand near the corner of Knuckey Street and the Smith Street Mall; they wait here until they have several passengers before leaving.

Arafura Shuttle, Metro Mini Bus and People Movers NT are the main minibus companies.

Ferry

The Sealink ferry service runs between Cullen Bay marina and Mandorah. The return fare is a steep $25, but the weekly pass is better value at $72.50.