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DRW → MEL
Which side of the plane to sit from Darwin International Airport (Darwin) to Melbourne International Airport (Melbourne)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers superior views of Australia's vast internal drainage basins, including the spectacular salt pans of Lake Eyre, and usually provides a better angle of the Melbourne skyline during landing.
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Top End Wetlands
The intricate river systems and floodplains surrounding the Mary and Adelaide rivers.
Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda)
A massive, shimmering white salt pan that is one of the most iconic sights in the Australian outback.
Flinders Ranges
Ancient, folded mountain ridges including the natural amphitheater of Wilpena Pound.
Melbourne CBD
High-altitude views of the city skyline and Port Phillip Bay during the standard approach into MEL.
Choose the right side specifically to see the massive salt lakes of South Australia. If the flight is in the late afternoon, the low sun creates dramatic shadows over the Flinders Ranges, highlighting their unique geological structure.
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Nitmiluk Plateau
Deeply fissured sandstone landscapes of the Katherine region visible shortly after takeoff.
Simpson Desert
The striking parallel red dunes that define central Australia's arid heart.
Murray River
A winding green lifeline of vegetation cutting through the dry agricultural plains of the south.
Victorian Highlands
The rugged southern end of the Great Dividing Range appearing as the plane nears Melbourne.
Sit on the left for morning flights to keep the sun behind you, which enhances the saturation of the red desert sands. It is also the better side for viewing the agricultural mosaic of northern Victoria during the descent.
Get eSIMs for Australia
Get eSIMs for AustraliaDistance: 3,132 km (1,946 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 41 min
Departure: DRW (-12.41469955444336, 130.87699890136722)
Arrival: MEL (-37.673302, 144.843002)
Route Type: Domestic
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