Northern Territory Car Hire

Find the best car hire deals in Northern Territory

The biggest choice of cars from over 100 car hire suppliers, compare top brands like Avis, Alamo, National, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty and more.

  • The biggest brands and lowest prices
  • Exclusive deals you won’t find elsewhere
  • Find the best deal and book online

Compare Car Hire in Northern Territory

An Australian territory in the nation’s central-northern area, Northern Territory (AKA ‘NT’, ‘The T’ and ‘The Top End’) is flanked by Western Australia to the west, Queensland to the east and South Australia to the south. Its northern coastline faces the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea, with various islands of the Indonesian archipelago beyond. Darwin is the capital and largest city in the NT and other settlements include Alice Springs, Palmerston and Katherine. Humans first settled here approximately 60,000 years ago, it’s an important centre of Indigenous culture and the beating heart of the rugged Aussie outback, where the scenery has a raw and spellbinding beauty

It’s one of the world’s best places to explore by car and pre-booking your Northern Territory car hire with Enjoy Travel is easy. Hiring an economy car in Darwin like a Toyota Yaris costs just A$ 36.40 per day if you book ahead of time, a Toyota Corolla costs A$38.21 a day and a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV ̶ tough enough for outback adventures ̶ is A$43.17 per day. Rent a car in the Northern Territory with Enjoy Travel and discover the delights of the real Australia!

Guide to the Northern Territory

It’s believed humans have lived in the Northern Territory since roughly 50,000 to 70,000 years ago and despite some settlements being geographically remote, there’s evidence that for around five centuries preceding European arrival, Indigenous populations had established trade links with counterparts across the sea in Indonesia.

When the British arrived in the mid-19th Century, the area was first part of colonial New South Wales and then part of another colonial territory named North Australia. Subsequently (and slightly strangely) it became part of South Australia ̶ this massive strip of land bisecting the entire land mass was connected by the overland telegraph by 1872 and the Port of Darwin, founded in 1869, soon became a major centre for supplying the entire region. Railways, cattle farming, and the discovery of gold and copper bolstered the areas fortunes, it separated from South Australia in 1911 and by the mid-20th Century was more or less established in its current incarnation.

Northern Territory is a scared land for the Australian Aboriginal peoples and its red rock landmarks Uluru (formerly named Ayers Rock by Europeans) and Kata Tjuta are part of an otherworldly landscape which includes everything from arid desert to coastlines teeming with life and remote outback sand dunes to moist mangrove swamps.

The cities here have much to recommend them, but for many visitors their appeal is eclipsed by that of the majestic natural scenery, which is like no where else on Earth.

Things to do in Northern Territory

If you’ve been bitten by the wanderlust bug and appreciate natural beauty, Northern Territory is a place you’ll make memories that last a lifetime.

One of the most popular tourist activities is watching the chameleonic colours of Uluru at sunset ̶ a natural light show that sends the senses into overdrive. As the sun slowly sinks into the horizon like a collapsing candle, Uluru changes from bright red to burnished orange and a deep, velvety purple by the end of the process and it’s one of nature’s true wonders. There are several official viewing platforms, al fresco restaurants serving haute cuisine and sundowner cocktails, but if you’re more adventurous you can watch the sunset from the top of a camel or even from a parachute harness as you skydive into the desert.

Northern Territory is also a creative hub for Aboriginal art, which is now sold wide and praised for its authentic aesthetic qualities. If you’re a culture vulture you can sit and watch the Maruku artists work at Uluru, there are three famous art galleries on the Tiwi Islands near Darwin and several amazing Indigenous Art festivals are held throughout the year, such as Walking with Spirits near Katherine and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.

Another awesome Norther Territory activity is hiking and swimming at the West Macs (the West MacDonnell Mountain Range). Located near Alice Springs, these picturesque mountains are peppered with pretty swimming holes at Redbank Gorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Glen Helen Gorge and elsewhere. You can dry off as you scale escarpments like Standley Chasm, embrace close encounters with wildlife like rock wallabies and even sleep under the stars.

If you like fishing, you’ll love trying to catch the area’s famous solver barramundi ̶ a muscular and athletic fish that leaps explosively out of the water and presents a serious challenge even to experienced anglers. From a base at Darwin you can take an organised barramundi fishing trip, head into the barramundi homeland of Arnhem Land under your own steam or even try helifishing, where you’re whisked to the Northern Territory’s sweetest fishing spots on a chopper!

Eating out in the Northern Territory

Whether you’re a gourmet, a fan of classic everyday cuisine or a connoisseur of international street food, plenty of lip-smacking delights await foodies in the Northern territory.

The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are a terrific place to tantalise your taste buds if you’re in Darwin during the May-October dry season. This lovely location typically has more than 60 varied and vibrant food stalls where you can sample dishes from all over the world, including delicious dishes from Portugal, Brazil, India and Japan. Enjoying a delish dish and a cold drink with the sand between your toes as you watch the sun set over the sea is one of life’s purest pleasures!

Wharf One Food & Wine in Darwin CBD offers modern Australian fare, and its signature dish is grilled pork belly with wombok, lemon, chilli caramel and green chilli. Whatever you choose from the eclectic menu, the views across the lagoon and harbour are beautiful.

Berry Springs Tavern at 795 Cox Peninsula Road, Berry Springs, is famous for a menu that’s basically pub grub plus  ̶  think fully loaded mega burgers with succulent homemade ground beef patties an chips with BBQ sauce, all washed down with delicious ice cold beer. This relaxed, rustic setting is ideal for a family meal and the customer service is superb.

Le Bistro Rakuya in Casuarina is a fabulous French and Japanese fusion restaurant where you can tuck into dazzling dishes like the famous fresh salmon tartare poke bowl, which is packed with pickled cabbage, rice, sweetcorn, and lettuce, topped off with a tasty soy and lime dressing.

Racheal’s Seafood Shack in Darwin CBD does exactly what is says on the tin and very well indeed. This Fisherman’s Wharf location specialises in fabulous grilled fish tacos, which comprise a soft tortilla stuffed with grilled fish, lettuce, avocado and tomato, enhanced by a piquant pineapple and seafood sauce salsa.

Transport in Northern Territory

Airports in Northern Territory

Airports in the Northern Territory include Darwin International Airport (DRW), Alice Springs Airport (ASP ), Boroloola Airport (BOX) and more. You can arrange car hire in the Northern Territory from Enjoy Travel at or near the region’s main international and national airports in a few clicks, then simply hop behind the wheel when you land and hit the road.

You’ll find daily flights between Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru, and public transport options in the NT’s cities and towns include bus networks, taxis and bicycles.

The Ghan train runs between Adelaide and Darwin, it’s one of the world’s most romantic railway journeys and a must for fans of rail travel. The whole journey is a whopping 2797km with stops at Alice Springs and Katherine, with guests relaxing in plush sleeper cabins and glamorous dining carriages.

You should always drive on the left side of the road in the Northern Territory, as you do in all parts of Australia.

There are several stunning road trips available here, including Nature’s Way, which takes you through Katherine and Kakadu National Park, the thrilling Binns Track 4WD route, the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs to Uluru and the Explorers Way from Alice Springs to Darwin. Audio tours and podcasts for all of these routes are widely available and they’re a great way of enhancing your four-wheeled adventures. Remember that the Northern Territory is vast, so check your vehicle tyre pressures and all other essentials before setting off, ensure you have plenty of provisions and pre-plan your rest stops. Be wary of road trains and livestock crossing on highways, wear your seatbelts at all times and avoid night driving wherever possible.p>

With Enjoy Travel, you can hire your perfect car with ease and look forward to discovering the heartbeat of Australia in the Northern Territory!

Got a Question? Chat with our support team

Our online chat is available 8:30am to 5:00pm weekdays. Email: [email protected]

ENJOY FAIR FUEL POLICY

FAQs about car hire in the Northern Territory

Most frequently asked questions about hiring a car in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory in Australia covers 1.421 million km²
South Australia covers 983,482K km²
New South Wales covers 801,150 km²
Darwin
Darwin airport (DRW)

Enter your email address for the latest discount codes and special offers across car hire, holiday accomodation and much more!

Get the latest travel news and offers
Thanks for signing up