Free buses in Darwin

3 min read · As of 26 October 2026

In the Northern Territory, public buses are free to ride, so there’s no ticket to buy.

As of 26 October 2026. Fares and free-travel rules in 2026 have been changing quickly. Treat every dollar figure and date here as a guide, and check the official page linked at the bottom before you rely on it.

What’s free

The NT Government says all public bus services are free, in the Greater Darwin Region (including Casuarina, Palmerston and the rural area) and in Alice Springs. Its fares page says free travel continues from 1 July 2025.

How long will it last?

The NT Government’s page doesn’t give an end date for free travel. Before you rely on it, check the Bus tickets and fares page for the latest.

Finding your bus

The NT Government publishes timetables and maps for Darwin and Palmerston and for Alice Springs, plus an online journey planner.
The NT Government’s free bus tracking app shows your bus in real time, plans trips and sends notifications for bus arrival and upcoming stops. It works on iOS 16 or later and Android 11 or later, and there is a web version.
Special event buses run for New Year’s Eve, the Royal Darwin Show and Anzac Day.

Changes and help

Route changes and alerts are posted on the NT Government site. For general bus enquiries call 08 8924 7666 (Monday to Friday 7 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm).

Sources

NT Government: bus tickets and fares (checked 26 Oct 2026)
NT Government: public buses (checked 26 Oct 2026)
NT Government: bus tracking app (checked 26 Oct 2026)

Checked 26 October 2026. Rules and prices change: the official page is always right.

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