Australia's most delayed flight routes revealed

A new report has ranked Australia’s worst-performing domestic and international flight routes.

Travellers flying out of Darwin may want to build some extra buffer into their itineraries. New research has revealed the most delayed flight routes in Australia, with some services arriving nearly an hour late on average – and the Northern Territory capital features three times in the top 10.

The Delay to Departure Report , published by business communications platform Esendex Australia, analysed hundreds of domestic and international routes from Australia’s busiest airports over the past year, using Flightradar24 data to compare scheduled versus actual arrival times.

sunset over the western side of groote eylandt — The Darwin to Groote Eylandt route is the most delayed in Australia. (Credit: Getty Images / CUHRIG)

Darwin to Groote Eylandt tops the list with an average arrival delay of 46 minutes – the worst result of any route in the country. The 10 most delayed domestic routes are:

Darwin – Groote Eylandt: 46 minutes
Alice Springs – Perth: 37 minutes
Darwin – Townsville: 36 minutes
Newcastle – Perth: 33 minutes
Perth – Kununurra: 26 minutes
Adelaide – Broken Hill: 25 minutes
Brisbane – Charleville: 24 minutes
Darwin – Elcho Island: 23 minutes
Brisbane – Weipa: 22 minutes
Launceston – Melbourne: 18 minutes

aircrafts on field of Alice Springs airport in the Northern Territory — Alice Springs to Perth is the second most delayed route in Australia. (Credit: Getty Images / fotofritz16)

On international routes, Brisbane to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea takes the top spot with an average 27-minute delay – followed by Melbourne to Delhi at 25 minutes. Melbourne features three times on the international list in total. The most delayed international departures from Australia are:

Brisbane – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: 27 minutes
Melbourne – Delhi, India: 25 minutes
Perth – Tansonnhat, Vietnam / Sydney – Christchurch, New Zealand: 19 minutes
Perth – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Brisbane – Honiara, Solomon Islands: 18 minutes
Melbourne – Los Angeles, USA / Melbourne – Colombo, Sri Lanka: 15 minutes

Jonathan Walsh, General Manager at Esendex Australia, said the downstream impact of delays is often underestimated.

“Delayed flights can have a real knock-on effect for travellers, particularly on routes where people are relying on onward connections, ground transport, or tight schedules at the other end," he said.

“Disruption is often unavoidable, but how that disruption is communicated makes a significant difference. Clear, timely updates help travellers make informed decisions, reducing stress and regaining a sense of control when plans change."

The report analysed 185 domestic routes across Australia’s major airports, plus 80 international routes from the country’s four busiest airports. On-time performance was measured against a 15-minute threshold. Data is current as of January 2026.

Video credit: Tourism Australia

From pink salt landscapes to oases fringed by forests of red gums, the lakes of this rural region are astounding.

You’re going to find peace and quiet when you take a road trip through the lakes of the Wimmera Mallee region. Whether it’s mirror-like pink salt lakes that look like an inland sea, or lakes fringed by forests of red gums that showcase Victoria’s arid beauty, there’s a lake for you out here somewhere.

1. Lake Tyrrell

Located in the dead heart of the Mallee, Victoria’s largest salt lake, Lake Tyrrell , is a landscape photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink salt flats look like a gigantic mirror. It’s easy to camp or park a caravan nearby, too, though the tiny town of Sea Lake is just south (with accommodation). In winter, shallow water covers the salt, creating surreal reflections of the sky.

2. Nhill Lake

There’s a permanent water source here, so there’s always plenty of water for water skiing, swimming and fishing (the trout and redfin fishing here is legendary). Located beside the pretty heritage town of Nhill with its main street of historic buildings, there’s options for eating and drinking right next door. There’s also a barbecue area with plenty of shady picnic spots and a boardwalk for walking around the lake.

3. Lake Bringalbert

Lake Bringalert is a great spot for aquatic adventures.

Located south-west of the pretty Mallee town of Kaniva, Lake Bringalbert epitomises the best of ‘outback’ Victoria. It’s ringed by red gums and red mallee and feels completely hidden from the world – you’ll barely ever see another person. There’s basic camping on its foreshore and Kaniva offers more accommodation options. It’s the perfect lake for swimming, kayaking and skiing, and the stars at night come without even a hint of city glow.

4. Lake Hindmarsh

If you’re a bird fan, you’ll love Lake Hindmarsh . Located north of Dimboola, Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake is like an inland sea full of pelicans, swans and numerous species of ducks – but it also teems with everything from spoonbills to parrots. Sunsets here will blow your mind – the lake is a mirror for the pinks and golds you’ll see on the horizon. There’s free camping spots along the foreshore if you’d like to really contemplate the magic of the lake.

5. Pink Lake

Also known as Loch Lel , the summer months offer up some seriously vivid pink water colour at this lake north of Dimboola. The pink varies throughout the year, but is best after rain (hence why summer is the time to visit).

There’s plenty of birds, including wedge-tailed eagles, but you’re as likely to spot big lace monitors, kangaroos and echidnas. Nearby, check out the uber-cute heritage town of Dimboola and its eclectic shops, and Little Desert National Park, full of walking trails through mallee heathland.

6. Lake Lascelles

On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere better for a cooling dip, kayak or boat ride. You can camp by the lake , or at powered caravan sites – or the pretty town of Hopetoun offers numerous accommodation options a short walk away. At night you’ll see the lights of Hopetoun reflect off the lake. Fish for yellow belly, redfin or catfish, or try water-skiing. There’s also a great walking trail around the lake, where there’s more birds than you can count.

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