In short
- Our timetables list 38 bus routes in Greater Darwin and 8 in Alice Springs.
- Public buses in both cities are currently free for residents and visitors.
- In Darwin the main hubs are the Palmerston and Casuarina interchanges.
- The Ghan stops in Alice Springs on its way between Adelaide and Darwin.
The Northern Territory has two public bus networks on buses.app: Greater Darwin, with 38 routes in our timetables, and Alice Springs, with 8. The Northern Territory Government has extended free travel on public buses in both, so residents and visitors ride without paying (checked on 24 October 2026).
How does free travel work?
Just board the bus; no ticket is needed. The operator’s fares page states that free travel has been extended but does not give an end date, so check the Darwin tickets page or the operator before relying on it for a longer stay.
How do Darwin buses work?
Greater Darwin’s routes link the city with the northern suburbs and with Palmerston. The busiest stops in our data are the Palmerston Interchange and the Casuarina terminus on Bradshaw Terrace, next to the Casuarina shopping centre. Find every route in the Darwin timetables and on the Darwin map.
How do Alice Springs buses work?
Alice Springs has 8 routes, numbered from AS100 to AS500. They start in the town centre at the Alice Springs Interchange and on Hartley Street and run out to the suburbs. With only a few routes, the timetable matters: see the Alice Springs timetables before you set out.
How do I travel between Darwin and Alice Springs?
The Ghan, run by Journey Beyond, travels between Adelaide and Darwin through Alice Springs, and can also be booked from Alice Springs to Darwin. It is a tourist train and is not part of our timetables.
Live data is not published for the Northern Territory, so buses.app shows scheduled times.
