Your Savannah travel route can start from Cairns through the deep outback gorges and end in the historic town of Broome or even in Kakadu National Park. We don't recommend it as this means driving fast and unsafe. You might be able to make your way from Cairns to Normanton and then down to Cloncurry (beautiful drive) and to Mt. Your destination for the night, Croydon, also has a gold-mining history and has an interesting heritage precinct. Can you please let me know places of interest to see along the way. BEST TIME OF YEAR: Save. Now youre starting to get really remote, and the next real stop is almost 700 kilometers away across the border in The Northern Territory, at the small town of Tennant Creek. 44 hours. As you head out the next day, Leliyn (Edith Falls) is another Nitmiluk National Park must-see just north of Katherine, where you can enjoy a swim or hike. 5:07 pm arrive in Darwin. With three peaceful pools and a sprawling picnic area, Berry Springs is a wonderful morning excursion about 50 minutes from Darwin's CBD. Fuel prices in the Cape vary and are generally cheapest closer to Cairns. On the way to Katherine gorge, the Lost-City rock formations are especially worth seeing. Bundaberg is a surprising stop that is great for visiting with kids. See amazing Aboriginal artwork at Nourlangie Rock and Ubirr. Woman cooling off at the waterholes of Lorella Springs. Limmen National Park has excellent estuary and river fishing locations.Another popular stop for canoeing and fishing is the Elsey Cemetery in Mataranka.Katherine Low Level National Park is great for fishing.And finally, Mary River National Park provides excellent opportunities for bushwalking and fishing. (nitmiluktours.com.au). Burketown on the Albert River is another terrific spot to tackle barramundi, so be sure to pack your fishing rod, or you can hire one locally. The longest distance without a petrol station is 700 km on the Burke Development Road. Enjoy your next road trip Cairns to Darwin. There are fuel stops at Victoria River Roadhouse and Timber Creek in the Northern Territory. Its definitely worth stopping at Black Mountain National Park and admiring the massive black boulders. The top stops along the way from Darwin to Cairns (with short detours) are Paronella Park, Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, and Nourlangie Creek. By keeping our speed between 100-116km/h we kept our fuel costs down to less than $300AUD for the entire journey. To get a taste of whats on offer in the outback Savannah, read our Savannah Way review here. You will find turquoise spring water pools perfect for a plunge in adjacent Elsey National Park, a landscape patchworked with savannah woodland, stone country and monsoon rainforest. We highly recommend the Sony RX100 III. As well as being a good place to stock up on any supplies you might need, Normanton has a curious collection of quirky giant statues. From the tropical, touristy, sunny Cairns, youll be heading west into the interior, where long stretches of seemingly endless road are punctuated by quirky small towns with resident populations that barely break out of the hundreds, where there are more kangaroos than people, and where life is truly a world away from the big cities of the east coast. I have travelled on at least three routes from Cairns to Darwin. Road Affair is reader-supported and may earn commission from purchases made through links in this article. The next stop in the Northern Territory is 400 kilometers north along the highway to Daly Waters. On the 45-Minute guided helicopter ride, you will tour the breathtaking Tybee Lighthouse and the Old Fort Jackson before the sun sets.A sightseeing boat cruise is another exciting way to tour Savannah Way, with food and drinks included. by: Ann Wareing . The final leg of your journey will see you traveling for just over an hour to Darwin, where you can relax in comparative comfort in the big city. Darwin to Perth Fuel Cost - Motorhome Hire - Gallivanting Oz Quick Tips for Road Trip Darwin to Cairns. Cyclones are a regular occurrence, and heavy rains can flood roads and isolate Outback towns for weeks on end. Feel the magic of Uluru. Located in West Bay, east Kimberley. Australian Traveller Media 2023. Mount Isa is an Outback crossroad where, if you arent already sick of mines from Cloncurry, you can check out the Hard Times Mine exhibition. Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. You are a gem Birgit, I love your site and am so grateful for all the energy you (and others) put into it. Australia is a huge country. These tours will take you through Cape Crawford, Lost City, Hells Gate QLD, and Caranbirini Nature Reserve, just to name a few places. Enter your name and email and get a FREE70 page Outback Guide! Ingham, Queensland. Could you recommend places to spend the night, and if there is something interesting to visit on the route, about nature. Day 17 Arrive in Darwin! The lowest prices to Darwin Intl. The roads from Hells Gate and beyond are really tough so take it easy and have an extra spare tyre. Oct. The Savannah highway is Australias longest and most interesting route that connects to major roads across the northern Australia. You have a great website. If you have extra time for your trip, there are plenty of places to stop and check out and spend the night, especially in the Atherton Tablelands. The distance from Cairns to Darwin is long and youll want to ensure that youve got plenty of time on your hands, otherwise, youll be driving endlessly and will have no time to stop off and enjoy the sights along the route. Along the way, call in at the beautiful Mataranka Hot Springs to relax in natural, thermal waters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The famous Outback service began in Cloncurry, and you can learn more at the John Flynn Place Museum in town. I'm not sure whether I'd be best going via Townsville, Mount Isa as opposed to the Savannah Way. Major towns like Weipa will have a couple of different fuel service . It's easy to do. 230km to Burketown, There is no shortage of fun with this activity :). Just stay as far away from the water as you can when you camp at night, but also avoid taking photos alongside the river or go swimming. ). They can be reached either on foot or by helicopter. Carry water and consider bringing a satellite phone, as mobile reception can be patchy or non-existent. If you do not have much time, we recommend that you take the helicopter flight, with which you can enjoy a unique view of the gorges and Arnhem Land from above. Ingham is the second major township along Bruce Highway between Cairns and Townsville. You might discover waterfalls, thermal springs, rock art and fossils. Take a sunset cruise or stargazing tour with indigenous-owned Yagurli Tours. Yes. Tip: Start a fire in the bush and cook with your camp-oven, enjoy the sunset over a glass of wine or beer in front of your campfire somewhere in the middle of nowhere - a priceless experience to remember.After 756 km you will reach Normanton, where you can stock up with food, water, fuel and even take a shower at one of the campsites. This is why most travelers choose to drive the east coast. See also our themed driving route, the Explorers Way. If you like a drink or five, be sure to stock up here, once you cross into the Northern Territory you will be paying a premium for anything containing alcohol. high-flow diesel pumps. Amal, Threeways Roadhouse is the roadhouse at the intersection of the Barkly and Stuart highways. Estimated Travel Distance: 3,530.7 kms. Myself and teenager. I have placed a previous post here requesting if anyone can offer a lift Mt Isa to Darwin. The next fuel stop along the highway is the Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn. There are camping sites along Savannah Way, such as Borroloola Caravan Park and Burketown Caravan Park located at the Gulf of Carpentaria. Your next stops should be former gold-rush town Pine Creek and Adelaide River, famous for its jumping crocodile cruises. USB charger for the cigarette lighter to charge smartphone, camera, etc. How to plan a drive from Darwin to Perth including must visit attractions. Avoid the wet season, as roads may be impassable and you risk getting stranded. Our truck-friendly network is complemented by an additional 900 service stations offering a comprehensive range of fuels, facilities and retail . Its a beautiful drive from Cairns to Darwin by car and we are confident you will love it as much as we did. You can camp where you want as no one cares or forbids it. Yes, definitely! Chevron Australia Products Leveraging global experience in fuels and lubricants, convenience marketing and supply. Day 11 King Ash Bay (153 kms, about 2 hours). Its super lightweight, compact, and the image quality is amazing. Get the latest travel news, reviews, offers and more, direct to your inbox. Stock up on supplies at Borroloola. Head on to the Undara Volcanic National Park, where you can discover many natural wonders. Just make sure you look for a suitable place to camp before sunset so that you have enough time to assemble your tent, collect wood, etc. You can also learn about the Aboriginal culture and Rock Art by visiting the local museums here. The barge comes from Darwin to Truscott about every 2 weeks. Handy table of driving distances between major cities and petrol prices: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville. Then head into the 4000-square-kilometre Lorella Springs Wilderness Park, which has a choice of camping or air-conditioned cabins. It appears the car will be written off. Aerial view of someone swimming at Florence Falls. This will however take an extra day. Stopping places include parking, toilets and even picnic areas. AmpolCash digital can only be redeemed at ~1,200 participating Ampol locations (excluding EG Ampol sites). The road can be slow depending on how Take care of our native animals Dont feed any animals in the wild and dont attempt to touch them either. No wonder Australias colonial father Captain James Cook chose to land here. A winding road leads from Cairns to the top of the plateau, where youll find charming farms, quaint villages, and volcanic crater lakes. Why not participate in a 3-week guided motorbike riding tour from Cairns to Broome along some of the most secluded tracks in Australia, where you can experience the most scenic Outback. Suggested Time: 4 days. Learn how your comment data is processed. Phone (Truscott) (08) 9161 4395 (Darwin) (08) 8922 0940. For our road trip Cairns to Darwin, in total we travelled just under 3000km in our fully loaded little blue car. However, never go into the water as there are crocodiles everywhere. Savannah Way map from Cairns to Katherine. If you have time, do not miss going a little further north to the Kakadu National Park and Darwin. Crocodiles can frequent the park, so swimming during the wet season (November-April) is off-limits and warnings should be heeded year-round. Before you reach the Outback youll drive west into the Atherton Tablelands, where youll find a cooler climate and a welcome break from the humidity of the coast. Good luck to anyone that's going to do it and you'll be knackered at . Overall, the Savannah Way is 3,700 km long so our recommended route starts from Cairns to Katherine for a total of 2130 km. Day 15 Kakadu Gunlom Campground (196 kms, about 2 hours 30 mins). The location and details of places to stop during your trip are provided to help ensure a safer journey. It is not uncommon to drive for 560km before finding a petrol station, so best to take an extra fuel canister. stay for about 1 hour. This great personalised tour is fully accommodated and you will travel in a group of no more than 12 people. #4 Good Water Bottle The sun can be brutal in Australia, so make sure to always carry a refillable water bottle with you. So many options, so little time choosing which tours to do in Kakadu can be bamboozling because they all sound so great, so we've taken the hard wo For the best travel inspiration delivered straight to your door. Yes. Finish your day in accommodation at Batchelor, gateway to Litchfield National Park, or camp in the park itself. I don't have a definitive, comprehensive list but Wubin, Dalwallinu, Paynes Find, Mount Magnet, Cue, Meekatharra, Kumarina, Newman, Auski, Marble Bar and Port Hedland all have fuel stops. Not a pleasant experience for you, and certainly not for the whales. Stay safe on your road trip. The loneliest stretch is between Camooweal and the Threeways. Recommendation: If you are renting a car for this Cairns to Darwin road trip, make sure to check out Rentalcars.com, an aggregation site that searches and displays prices and availability from hundreds of car rental companies so that you can be sure of getting the best possible car for your budget. Hoping to get there in with 3 overnight stops - 4 at the most as on a time limit with work. to go. The eccentric outback pub features bras hanging from the ceiling, and great beef-and-barramundi barbecues during the dry season. Leave early and follow the Bruce Highway south from Cairns. Cairns to Darwin. drive for about 6 hours. This isnt a road trip for first-time travelers to Australia. The wet season runs from November to April, and youll want to avoid this time of year completely. The Barkly Highway ends and joins up with the Stuart Highway at Three Ways. Cairns to Townsville Depart this morning and take the National Highway A1 to the Bruce Highway/ State Route 14 in Burdell. Cairns. Many people are apprehensive about whether they'll run out of fuel somewhere along the vast expanses of the . From Cairns to Darwin drive via Kakadu = 2,680 km. This is a great tour to do during the dry season, generally between May and October. Although we could have gone straight from Cairns, having never been to Cooktown before, we decided to start our journey with a 2 day pit stop in Cooktown (a 700km/435mi detour). You need four-wheel drive to complete this journey. Your email address will not be published. I was hoping you could advise me of the best route to take from Cairns to Darwin in a conventional 2WD. The Adventurous Cairns to Darwin Trip Via Savannah Way, Start: Cairns End: Darwin Estimated Travel Distance: 3,530.7 kms Estimated Travel Period: 17 Days including Kakadu National Park. Roads are mostly unsealed. About 65 km from Cape Crawford and 46 km to Borroloola at the Caranbirini Conservation Reserve there are also Lost Cities, which can be explored on foot (about 2 km trail). Day 12 Daly Waters (426 kms, about 5 hours). Go canoeing on Katherine Gorge, and make friends with the wildlife at Nitmiluk National Park on scenic walking tracks. Overnight in Katherine or 20 minutes away at Katherine Gorge, where youll find campgrounds and the luxury Cicada Lodge. Folks this information on fuel stops between Darwin and Alice Springs was correct in 2016. Early morning is perfect for admiring the abundant birdlife. You'll have the time of your life's. Now youre getting closer to Darwin than Cairns. (Image: David Hancock), Youll want to spend the day in this series of spectacular gorges in Nitmiluk National Park and stay for sunset, when the cliffs glow red. Read more. Lorella Springs Wilderness Park, so swimming during the dry season, roads. 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