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World Travel Guide > Guides > Oceania > Australia > Northern Territory > Darwin

Local time Darwin

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Getting around Darwin

Public transport

Buslink (tel: +61 8 8944 2444; www.buslink.com.au) and Darwinbus (tel: +61 8 8924 7666; www.transport.nt.gov.au/public/bus/darwin) run the local buses. The city terminal is located on Harry Chan Avenue (near Bennett Street end of the Smith Street Mall). The suburban Casuarina terminal is in Bradshaw Terrace, and the suburban Palmerston terminal is on the edge of the Palmerston Shopping Centre.

Single and daily paper tickets are available from the driver, or you can load up a Tap and Ride card with a single ride, one-day pass, 10 trips or a weekly pass. Tap and Ride cards are available at bus interchanges (cash or credit card) or onboard the bus (correct change only).

Taxis

The main taxi company is Darwin Radio Taxis (tel: +61 8 8985 0708), or try Blue Taxi Company (tel: +61 8 1313 8294). Passengers usually round up the bill to the nearest dollar.

Driving

Driving is the best way to see Darwin as many of the sights are spread out. Parking is easy and traffic doesn't tend to get snarled up. Parking meters in the CBD take coins only, but several city-run off-street car parks accept credit cards.

Car hire

Car hire companies include Avis (tel: +61 8 8936 0600; www.avis.com.au), Budget (tel: +61 8 8981 9800; www.budget.com.au), Thrifty (+61 8 8924 0000; www.thrifty.com.au) and Hertz (tel: +61 8 8941 0944; www.hertz.com.au). Cedrent (+61 8 8268 1025; www.cedrent.com.au) have four-wheel drive vehicles for hire.

Bicycle hire

It's fairly easy to travel by bicycle in Darwin, and many hotels and hostels offer bicycles for rent. Darwin Scooter Hire at 9 Daly Street (tel: +61 8 8941 2434; www.thescootershop.com.au) rents out scooters and mountain bikes.

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Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

Value Inn

Don't be put off by the name, all the rooms in this affordable city centre hotel feature queen sized beds, a single bed, air conditioning and en suite facilities. There are also three pools, a licensed bar, and a spa available for guest use at Melaleuca on Mitchell, the award-winning backpackers hangout across the road.

Oaks Elan Darwin

This impressive newbie is a 301-room property with a range of one- and two-bed apartments. It has a decent central location, while the in-house restaurant, O.A.K., is another good reason to visit. Private balconies, air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi are all part of the deal too.

The Cavenagh

This centrally located hotel is a great base from which to explore Darwin's vibrant nightlife. The Cav also delivers a touch of luxury, with a large outdoor swimming pool, TV lounge and free Wi-Fi throughout, in addition to a cozy bar and restaurant.

Skycity Darwin

It's always a gamble staying at a casino, especially if you're open to temptations. This place is a winner, though. It's a casino hotel set among 7 hectares (17 acres) of tropical beachside gardens. There is a selection of dining options on-site as well as a pool. It's also very close to the Mindil Beach Markets.

Mantra Pandanas

Neatly situated in the heart of the city, Mantra Pandanas has 336 hotel rooms as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments, some with private balconies overlooking the harbour and city. Expect a chic tropical style, evident in the modern rooms and down at the pool, which features its own waterfall.

Chillis Backpackers

A lively backpacker joint in peak season, this hostel offers budget rooms in the heart of the city, with a mix of private doubles and shared dormitory accommodation. Facilities include a launderette, a pool, an internet cafe, a sun deck and a kitchen. There are even a couple of (mercifully cool) whirlpool Jacuzzis.

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