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MEL - DRW

Find cheap flights from Melbourne to Darwin

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Thu 5/30
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These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Melbourne to Darwin, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Melbourne to Darwin, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 44,052,950 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

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Flights from Melbourne to Darwin - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Melbourne to Darwin to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Melbourne to Darwin?

The average price of all flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Darwin on a Monday and more expensive on a Friday. On your return trip to Melbourne, you should consider flying back on a Tuesday, and avoid Fridays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Melbourne Airport to Darwin?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin is March, where tickets cost $305 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of tickets is $474 and $433 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Darwin?

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Melbourne Airport to Darwin, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 59 days before departure.

Which airlines fly non-stop between Melbourne Airport and Darwin?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from Melbourne Airport to Darwin.
There are 3 airlines that fly nonstop from Melbourne Airport to Darwin. They are: Jetstar, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia. The cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with Virgin Australia at $243 for a one-way flight. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Jetstar.

How many flights are there between Melbourne Airport and Darwin per day?

Each day, there are between 2 and 4 nonstop flights that take off from Melbourne Airport and land in Darwin, with an average flight time of 4h 33m. The most common departure time is 8:00 pm and most flights take off in the evening. Each week, there are 21 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Friday, when 19% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Thursday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Melbourne Airport and Darwin?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 3 cabin class options for the route. These are Business, Economy and Prem Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

What’s the earliest departure time from Melbourne to Darwin?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Melbourne Airport at 11:00 am and will be landing in Darwin at 3:05 pm.

What’s the latest departure time from Melbourne to Darwin?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Melbourne Airport to Darwin jets off at 8:30 pm and lands at 12:30 am.

Good to know

Low season

February

High season

July
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 16% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 17% increase in price.

When to book flights from Melbourne to Darwin

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Melbourne to Darwin based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Melbourne to Darwin flights

  • What is the best way to reach Darwin centre from Darwin Airport?

    There is no public bus departing directly from Darwin Airport, but within a 5–15min walk, you can board the BusLink to Darwin centre. Tickets for the bus lie at approximately A$ 3–7, depending on how long you want the ticket to be valid. The closest bus stop to the airport is at Charles Eaton Drive, about 5min away.

  • Where can I find the car hire centre at Darwin Airport?

    One who wants to rent a car for their time in Darwin does not have to bother with public transport and can head straight to the many car hire desks in the Arrivals Hall. Just outside the baggage claim area, you find a variety of providers, including Avis, Hertz, and Thrifty, among many others.

  • What is the smoking policy at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport?

    Smoking is only permitted in a few areas and not possible once passengers have passed through the security screening. In general, it is difficult to find clearly marked smoking areas throughout the airport building, so it is best-advised to refrain altogether or inquire about safe smoking places at the information desk in the Departures Hall.

  • What shopping perks can I enjoy at Melbourne Airport?

    Melbourne Tullamarine offers a wide range of shops, including high-street brands like Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Emporio Armani. As part of their Shop & Collect policy, you can leave your purchases at Melbourne Airport and collect them when you return, so you don’t have to account for extra luggage space beforehand.

  • How fast can I be in Darwin by car from Darwin Airport?

    Darwin International Airport is merely 15min by car away from the centre of Darwin and about 10min from Charles Darwin National Park. The quickest route into the city leads via Bagot Road and Tiger Brennan Drive.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Melbourne and Darwin?

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from Melbourne to Darwin. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Melbourne to Darwin?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Melbourne to Darwin flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Melbourne to Darwin?

    SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between Melbourne and Darwin, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Melbourne to Darwin?

    There are nonstop flights from Melbourne to Darwin on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Melbourne to Darwin?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Melbourne to Darwin.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Melbourne to Darwin?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Darwin from Melbourne is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Melbourne to Darwin?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Darwin with an airline and back to Melbourne with another airline. Booking your flights between Melbourne and DRW can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Melbourne to Darwin?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Darwin from Melbourne up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from MEL to Darwin

  • Travellers on a budget should book with low-cost airline Jetstar for their flight from Melbourne to Darwin (DRW). The airline departs from both Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) and Melbourne Avalon (AVV), but choose Melbourne Tullamarine as your origin airport for a direct flight.
  • When you fly from Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL), you can spend the time before your flight in one of the open-access lounges inside the International Terminal. At the Marhaba Lounge on Level 3, you can work in peace, enjoy a hot drink and dinner, and watch the planes land and take off. In the Plaza Premium Lounge, there are also kids’ packages available.
  • When you arrive at Darwin International Airport (DRW) and need to change your baby, head to the baby changing facilities close to Gate 9 and the Green Bean Café.
  • If you depart from Terminal 3 at Melbourne Tullamarine, you can relax at one of the massage chairs available in the post-security area. For A$ 2, you can enjoy 5min on the massaging chairs to board entirely relaxed.
  • The Skybus services are your quickest public connection from Melbourne CBD to both Melbourne airports. Tickets to Avalon Airport cost approximately A$ 25, and are around A$ 20 to Melbourne Tullamarine.
  • If you opt to park your car at Melbourne Tullamarine to have it await your return, you can choose from various car parks. The cheapest is around A$ 100–150 per week in the long-term car park, located a bit away from the airport. A complimentary shuttle connects the lot with the terminal buildings.
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Prefer to fly non-stop from Melbourne to Darwin?

Find which airlines fly direct from Melbourne to Darwin, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

Melbourne to Darwin

Monday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

See more direct flights

Nonstop returns

Darwin to Melbourne

Monday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +6 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +7 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, Etihad Airways, +5 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +6 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 3 airlines serving from Melbourne to Darwin

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Melbourne to Darwin. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Melbourne to Darwin? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.7
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 672 reviews
6.8Food
7.6Comfort
8.4Crew
6.8Entertainment
7.9Boarding
Airline reviews

This time is good . Don’t cancel flight with out early notice .

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Mar 2024BNE - MEL
Read more about Virgin Australia reviews

This time is good . Don’t cancel flight with out early notice .

Very good experience, considering the short flight the meals were served promptly after takeoff.

X class seats in row 3 with the new configuration are very poor in fact I feel 3B and 3E should no longer be considered as X class seat as there is no forward seat pocket available to these seats and greatly reduced leg room due the intrusion of the business class armrests/table module

It was pretty good. Everyone friendly. Like all airlines, the draconian limitations on baggage and weight and not giving even a free soda kind of drags down the experience a bit.

Last 10 minutes boarding they canceled the flight and didn’t organise anything

Estheticly the plane looks great, although the seats are way too upright. If the seats were just slightly more reclined then the comfort level would increase tenfold. I had the stiffest neck after just a short flight due to this. A nap was almost out of the question.

Cabin crew were very professional and welcoming. They certainly appeared to have lifted their game. Congratulations

I know not directly a Virgin "thing" but I hold Virgin responsible for their subcontractors. Had to wait 45 minutes waiting for baggage at PER before the belt conveyor even started. This is unacceptable and hopefully Virgin engages with whoever to pull their fingers out. I realise PER staff are generally slow at the best of times but this was ridiculous. Maybe more seating for those waiting, a cafe in the baggage area for a light meal while we wait or at the very least a troop of dancing girls to entertain the punters while they stare at the conveyor belt start light almost willing it to fire up.

Very poor. Flight was cancelled due to captain exceeding hours. Told to fend for ourselves for 12 hours until a new flight could be done. This meant overnight accommodation in Hobart. Next plane was delayed and no food onboard. No apologies from Virgin. Extremely disappointing.

Flight was cancelled due to a mechanical fault - Virgin rebooked me on a flight 6 hours later so I cancelled and flew with another carrier

There was nothing I didn’t like, prices a little lower would help

Following a marathon flight riddled by delays and changes from Santiago, Chile, my flight to Melbourne from Sydney was on schedule but I was transferred to the next flight. The reason by ticketing and the floor manager was I missed the entry to flight by one minute! That's right, the emphasised that if I was 1 minute earlier I would be on the flight. I asked what was the point them emphasising 1minute overdue and how that helped me or the situation. They didn't care at all. Replying that if it was one minute earlier they would've done something and smirking delivering the information. Australian's do call Australia home, Qantas calls Australian's suckers.

1) crackly headphone jack 2) one of the emergency seats recline. Usually second row does. But in this case neither did 3) food was scrambled eggs or fruit. 4) fruit should not be the option to eggs 5)miserable unpleasant crew not a smile. Thought that was a virgin thing

The staff we fantastic and seemed to work very well with each other

Business lounge in Melbourne mediocre. Look at Emirates or Qatar, Qantas! Great friendly crew. Food was good but Emirates is a level above. Business seat good. But can’t compare to Qatar. Main reason for booking Qantas is loyalty and terrific connection via Perth to LHR.

I was pleasantly surprised with my flight to LA with Qantas. Although seats were not the roomies, service was excellent.

Wonderful crew, good food. Absolutely loved the wine spritz and wish I could buy it!

It's only a short trip from Sydney to Melbourne, which i have done many times. The trip met my expectations

I really appreciated the fact that when I checked my bags at the Quantas counter after arriving from an international flight an hour early, the agent noticed I had a very long layover. He then found an earlier flight that allowed me to get to Cairns several hours earlier than I planned. That was amazing because I had already traveled over 20 hours and wasn’t looking forward to such a long layover. It allowed me to see my daughter and grandchildren much earlier (it had been two years since I visited last).

Qantas cancelled my flight for no good reason and rebooked me into a middle seat.

Note that food has to be purchased in flight. No free food. And no entertainment in flight. So I’ve treated these two items as okay which, in this case, means neutral/not applicable.

My Dad needed assistance to board the plane. The Jetstar staff were excellent with him and made the experience a lot easier😁

No food taken so can't rate also no entertainment so can't rate.

Would be better if can provide small free snacks on a long flight

Boarding was easy and unstressful, though the early "final call" was a bit off-putting. The crew were pleasant, and the seats were comfortable. The prices for food and drink were reasonable, apart from tea and coffee, where simple percolated coffee was charged at espresso prices. Deboarding was OK, though some Jetstar passengers appear to have a bad habit of pushing forward from their assigned rows, making it more difficult to get out for passengers that have paid a premium to sit up-front. Jetstar might want to look to address this to stop it from spreading.

I was allocated an exit row seat and was told to move so it could be given away to someone who had purchased two extra legroom seats and one regular seat but wanted the three to sit together. I was also charged for entertainment after booking but before checking in, and the ground crew couldn't do anything about refunding it. When the whole plane was given access to the entertainment as an apology for the flight being four hours late, I was told they couldn't do anything about that either, so I was charged for something I didn't want even though it would have been free anyway

I got to the airport earlier than I expected, and they let me change to an earlier flight with no trouble.

It was a super crowded time to travel out of Melbourne, but the flight was OK

Worst flying experience of my life. FIVE HOURS delayed! Rude and unhelpful staff and poor communication from the grounds team. Never flying Jetstar again

Worst experience ever flying Melbourne to Phuket. 5 hours delayed! Didn’t land till 1am in the morning. Staff were rude and unhelpful

Book cheap flights from Melbourne to Darwin

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Melbourne - Darwin Flights

Departure:

Melbourne (MEL)Australia

Destination:

Darwin (DRW)Australia

Return flight deals:

Darwin - Melbourne

Cabin classes:

$1,218
$370

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