Retail Services

Foreign Exchange

Foreign exchange is available through Thomas Cook outlets at the airport and Smith Street Mall, Darwin City during business hours. The Tourist Information Centre at the airport and at Beagle House, Cnr Knuckey and Mitchell Streets has the same service available 7 days a week. There is also another foreign exchange outlet in Smith Street Mall and one in the Tourist Precinct on Mitchell Street.

Banks

The major Australian banks operate branches in most centres throughout the region with EFTPOS facilities at many retail outlets, although the frequency of locations diminishes with the isolation of the area being travelled. Opening hours are from 9.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Thursday, and from 9.30am to 5.00pm Friday. All banks are closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Currency exchange is available at all bank branches, Thomas Cook Bureau De Change, and selected retail outlets.

The major banks in Australia operate web sites that provide details of branch locations and services and facilities provided. Information on Australian branches for foreign banks can be obtained from the Directory Of World Banks

Petrol Stations

Petrol (gasoline) is available throughout the Northern Territory in most towns and communities. When travelling in remote or sparsely populated regions, it is advisable to refuel fully at every opportunity. Most small outlets close between 6.00pm and 9.00pm, while larger centres such as Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine have one or more 24 hour service stations.

Roadhouses and remote community general stores may have limited trading hours, but you may be able to organise for them to be opened outside of normal business hours by prior arrangement. A late opening fee will apply.

The current fuel price is approximately A$1.05 per litre in Darwin, but ranges to over $1.30 per litre in remote communities.

Post Offices

Post Offices are situated in most major centres and are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm weekdays, and 9.00am to 11.00am on Saturdays, but are closed on Sundays and public holidays. The post closes at 4.30pm daily, although some remote centres may close off several hours earlier to coincide with scheduled surface and air mail courier services.

Some post offices are privately-owned and are open seven days from Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10.00am - 2.00pm. This is particularly the case where an agency is operated on the premises of a convenience store.

More information on postal services and charges, and post office locations can be found on the Australia Post web site.

Shopping

Normal hours of opening for retail outlets is 9am-5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am- 3pm Saturday. Late night shopping is on Thursday Night in the City and Friday Night in the Suburbs, this means many stores in the larger centres are open until 9pm. In more tourist oriented centres, these hours are more flexible with many stores trading until as late as 7pm on all 7 days of the week.

General stores on remote communities tend to have limited opening hours and may only be open for a few select hours per day, or only on certain days of the week. It is advisable to check in advance as these general stores are often the fuel outlet as well.

Large supermarkets, such as Woolworths, have 7 day trading, and you will find many corner stores and mini-marts who will be open from 7am-7pm 7 days per week.

In Darwin, 24 hour shopping is available at Coles in Casuarina and Palmerston. Woolworths in Darwin is open from 6:30am to 9:30pm Mon to Sat, and 8:00am to 8:00pm Sundays.