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. For this reason, red buoys are set up in various places in the river where saltwater crocodiles would bite them out of curiosity. Hello, we are renting a camper in June for one month, starting from Darwin and visiting the national parks we want to to drive to Cairns, following the route that you mentioned (via Mont Isa, Normanton). Dont swim without authoritative local advice, since waterways may be inhabited by saltwater crocodiles. Your email address will not be published. This is an easy drive, where the majority of the time you have the open road all to yourself. The barge comes from Darwin to Truscott about every 2 weeks. You can have a unique rail experience in the Outback by catching the famous Kuranda Scenic train that departs Cairns weekly. #3 Good Guidebook Lonely Planet guidebooks are still our favorites and their Australia edition is very thorough and a must for anybody traveling around Australia. Cant get enough fishing? Usually this would not be the case. Required fields are marked *. Enter your name and email and get a FREE70 page Outback Guide! Lake Mary Ann make sure for a nice spot to cool of fresh just a couple of minutes from town. Day 8 and 9 Boodjamulla National Park (214 kms, about 3 hours). The closest house is 500 km away from you and there is virtually no one in sight. Our truck-friendly network is complemented by an additional 900 service stations offering a comprehensive range of fuels, facilities and retail . Considering the distance youve just traveled, its really just down the road! Georgetown is located on the wide banks of the Etheridge River, and with a population of just 250 people, this is a small town in Australia. Townsville was our favourite stop between Brisbane and Cairns. Stock up on supplies in Mount Isa, because with a population of 20,000, this is the largest town youll be visiting for a while. Visit the fascinating Barramundi Discovery Centre and enjoy an evening meal at the Sunset Tavern. The first stop is into the Atherton Tablelands, with a great choice of the lovely towns to stay in. There are accommodations along the road in most villages as well as in Cape Crawford, 100 kilometres South-West of Borroloola. The distances involved on a journey from Cairns to Darwin are vast, and youll need to be comfortable driving for long periods of time with few breaks to the monotony. Plan your trip to map out the best fuel stations and roadhouses along the way. Really appreciate any advice including rest/fuel stops. Some people drive to the Cape in 2-3 days from Cairns. Pick up your campervan or car in Cairns today. In the dry season, many rivers and falls have dried up just like the Leichhardt Falls, for example, hence the reason Savanna Way becomes passable, In the dry season, not everything is dried up. For the timeframe we had, we needed to do one big section. Flannel as the next shower may be a few hundred kilometres away, Savannah Way Borroloola to Burketown = 492km, Borroloola - Katherine = 655km (Limmen National Park), Katherine - Jabiru = 297km (Kakadu National Park), Savannah Way Normanton to Burketown = 230km. Oct. Return to Outback Australia Travel Guide home page. Barkly Homestead is the first stop with Camooweal just over the Queensland border a further 250 k's along the road. 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. Cairns to Darwin. Day 1. Edith Falls is a series of pools and waterfalls that come together and are very beautiful. (Image: Tourism NT/Kate Flowers). Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. 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). 10 Day / 9 Night Savannah Way Tour (Cairns to Darwin or Darwin to Cairns) Fully Accommodated. 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. Forming part of the Savannah Way, this dry and desolate part of the country won't have you bumping into lots of people. You should spend 7 days from Cairns to Katherine and another 7 days from Katherine to Broome. Distance from Brisbane 362 KM | Distance from Cairns 1354 KM. The final town before you get to the border is Camooweal about 25km from the border. Book 3 nights and enjoy a complimentary cheese board, bottle of wine, decadent bath soak, relaxed late checkout & more! I would like to know what are the best accommodation places from Darwin to Townsville to stay overnight. Enjoy your next road trip Cairns to Darwin. In 2022, with global fuel price rises, Cape York fuel costs were between $2.11/L and 2.89/L. There is also the 8-day personalised car driving tour as a fully accommodated trip in a group of no more than six people. Roads are mostly unsealed. Your email address will not be published. Travel in the dry season (from May to October). Phone (Truscott) (08) 9161 4395 (Darwin) (08) 8922 0940. How to get half price tickets for the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Once you follow this route, it'll take 31 . Simply click here to return to, Australian Tourist Attractions in the Outback, Travelling Outback Australia with camels and gypsy caravans. With big distances between towns, make sure you carry extra water and petrol, and while you can mostly stay in hotels or roadhouses along the way, if you are willing to camp youll have a lot more flexibility. Sealed roads from Borroloola onwards. The city of Rockhampton in Central Queensland is one of the oldest cities in Queensland and in Northern Australia, formed during the gold rush, making it an interesting place to stop on the road trip. 185 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 May, returning Wed, 3 May.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Cairns on Tue, 2 May, arriving in Darwin.Inbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Darwin on Wed, 3 May, arriving in Cairns.Price includes . Here you will have to take an extra fuel canister. Fuel Map also shows real-time fuel prices for WA, NSW, and QLD sourced from . Embrace the steamy weather for a Northern Territory Christmas youll never forget. For travel insurance we recommend SafetyWing. Enjoy an evening meal at the Karumba Sunset Tavern. (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. . 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. Leichhardt Falls are 70 km south of Burketown. Watch the sunset in Charles Darwin National Park or just enjoy a nice warm evening in one of the many accommodation options in Darwin. Australia is a huge country. Fuel Finder. (Image: Tourism NT/Kate Flowers). drive for about 3 hours. We decided to stay in Tennant Creek which was 25km south of the turn off. This is an easy drive, where the majority of the time you have the open road all to yourself. stay for about 1 hour. high-flow diesel pumps. You might discover waterfalls, thermal springs, rock art and fossils. Take your time in visiting the historic Burns Philp Traders Building and jump aboard the historic Gulflander Train in Normanton and try your luck at catching barramundi in Karumba. Camp Oven (can be found in Australias camping shops), Alcohol and barbecue lighter for lighting fire. Birdwatchers should detour to Caranbirini Conservation Reserve, keen anglers to King Ash Bay, renowned for its barramundi. If you have extra time while in the Cairns region, why not give Cooktown a go? Could you recommend places to spend the night, and if there is something interesting to visit on the route, about nature. Hard to resist pausing in Normanton for a photo of its eight-metre crocodile. 311km's, approx 4hrs + stops. Especially around September when the 'Carnival of Flowers' takes place. Some interesting little stops every 50-100kms. Some roads are also narrow and have soft edges, hence the reason a 2WD will not be safe for driving on such roads. There are just so many things to do here that youll want to stay for at least two days. Cairns is very easy to navigate around and is the ideal starting point for many different road trips. Thanks so much, going to make the trip easy and will have a cold one for you. Youre now on Route 1 (National Highway) all the way to Darwin. It's essentially a big country town with some really beautiful places and fun attractions. This isnt a road trip for first-time travelers to Australia. Spend the night in Atherton, before preparing yourself to travel inland. You'll have the time of your life's. Swim in the lower pool for about 30 mins. Rest every two hours for at least 15 minutes. Rockhampton marks, roughly, the halfway point between Townsville and Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. Can you please let me know places of interest to see along the way. The Savannah Way, which links Cairns and Broome by way of 3,700km of sealed and unsealed roads, is broadly regarded as Australia's greatest adventure drive.What to expectThe journey will take travellers through five world heritage sites and no less than 15 national parks, all the while showcasing the Top End's natural, historical and cultural essence. You can camp where you want as no one cares or forbids it. Where are Savannah Way fuel stops? There are 3 different rest areas available to help you manage your fatigue: motorist rest areasfor general and recreational vehicles (including caravans and motorhomes) only. Qantas has been operating direct Australia-to-London flights since March 2018. Continue west to former gold-mining settlement Georgetown and check out the mineral collection at The Terrestrial Centre. Day 11 King Ash Bay (153 kms, about 2 hours). How to see England on a Budget; Our top tips. In July 2020, Chevron re-entered the Downstream market in Australia through the acquisition of Puma Energy (Australia) Holdings. As you head north, generally the prices increase. Starting in Tropical North Queensland and finishing in the Top End, this epic 3500-kilometre journey of a lifetime from Cairns to Darwin cuts through a sensational swathe of northern Australia's tablelands, savannah, cattle stations and rust-red outback. Once you pass Ravenshoe (Queenslands highest town) the highway is very easy. It also said Darwin-based customers would be able to book seats on board the flight and travel non-stop to London. The wet season runs from November to April, and youll want to avoid this time of year completely. 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. This is a 671km/417mi stretch. You can visit the local museums, take sunset cruises out into the harbor, and if you have a few days to spare, head out into nearby Kakadu National Park to experience more of the Northern Territorys stunning natural scenery. Keep watch on the fuel gauge, as petrol stations are infrequent. Burketown has plenty of fishing holes and you can even join the annual Barramundi Fishing Competition held every Easter. Compared to other road trips in Australia, you only have a small window of time each year to make the journey from Cairns to Darwin. This quirky Outback pub has cold drinks and roadhouse food, and for years, travelers passing through have been leaving behind mementoes from their journeys, filling the establishment with a ramshackle collection of bizarre souvenirs from across the world. A 10-day 4WD safari tour will take you and your friends (maximum 4 people) through East Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Mataranka, the Lost City, and all the way to Cairns with meals included as well as overnight stays in Savannah Way motel accommodations. Cairns to Darwin. Australian Traveller Media 2023. With plenty of detours and side trips . Plan a route. Theres no denying that fact, but its still easy to underestimate the kilometers involved. With a population of over 1000 residents, Normanton is a real hub in the Outback, and this is where the landscapes turn from green to red. Shell can also help you stay in touch with your local area. With the state of travel around the world, it looks like travelling within our own backyard will become more and more popular. It's easy to do. Another stop on the way should be at Mataranka, where you can bathe in the 34 C warm, natural thermal springs, surrounded by crystal clear waters and tropical plants with palm trees. Crocodiles are everywhere and just because you cannot see them does not mean they are not there. This is the quintessential NT wilderness experience. Our go to shoes are Nike Free 5.0. Nice pool, cold beer and clean rooms or camping facilities. Know what to expect when travelling long distances across WA. (Image: Tourism NT/Jackson Groves). 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. This is why most travelers choose to drive the east coast. The outback scenery of Nitmiluk (Katherine) gorge. Road Affair is reader-supported and may earn commission from purchases made through links in this article. We highly recommend the Sony RX100 III. (Image: Tourism NT/Mitch Cox). In Cooktown you can get both ocean sunrises and sunsets; not too many places where thats possible. Check out the 8-meter long saltwater crocodile replica, which is a monument dedicated to Krys, one of the largest crocs ever captured in Australia. Our truck stops offer facilities such as: B-double access and parking. I plan to go through June school holidays. Enjoy birdwatching, fishing for trevally and mackerel, and chatting to the Shadforth family about their traditional Garawa culture. It becomes quite hilly with a lot of very long trucks (road trains), so patience is a must for the last hour or so. The train journey starts from the town of Cairns and goes through the village of Kuranda and further on through the Savannah country. It begins in . Early morning is perfect for admiring the abundant birdlife. Alternatively: around 10 days from Cairns to Katherine and from Katherine to Darwin via Kakadu.In total = 3,700 kmFrom Cairns to Katherine= 2,130 km.From Cairns to Darwin drive via Kakadu = 2,680 km. A variety of factors go into the cost of a . Distance: 113km's from Adelaide River, about 1hr, 15 mins. The quickest route, in terms of the shortest number of kilometers covered, takes you right along the Top End from Cairns to Darwin, but halfway across Outback Queensland the road turns from bitumen to gravel, and unless you have a four by four, youll need to follow the sealed road to the south, adding many more kilometers to your journey. Enjoy a days R&R at Lorella Springs Wilderness Park, which is surrounded by Indigenous land and Limmen National Parks abundant waterways, savannah, beach-scalloped coast, gorges and rocks formations such as the rusted columns nicknamed the Lost City. Although the road is sealed all the way to Croydon, between Mount Surprise to Croydon, there are several sections that are single lane sealed highway, so if you have oncoming traffic (very quiet stretch of road anyway) you will need to pull off onto the gravel shoulders. The Outback has many shops closed on Sundays, as opposed to coastal resorts. On this expedition, you will enjoy the true Outback of the Northern Territory and Queensland along the way. On the mid August winters day that we stopped here the temperature still climbed to a very warm 39degrees celsius/102F. (Please note that cost of fuel per litre can change and is an estimate only). Day 15 Kakadu Gunlom Campground (196 kms, about 2 hours 30 mins). Find your nearest Puma Energy Fuel station or 24-hour diesel site in Australia with our service station finder now! (Image: Tourism Australia/Nicholas Kavo). Stateroom Review Enchanted Princess Obstructed Balcony L103. Learn how your comment data is processed. In the NT, you'll drive through the major centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin. AmpolCash digital can only be redeemed at ~1,200 participating Ampol locations (excluding EG Ampol sites). There is a maximum of 300km between fuel stops in Laverton and Tjukayirla Roadhouse, so carry extra fuel. Travelling from South Australia. Yes. Famously traversing three Australian states and territories, twenty national parks and five World Heritage Sites, the Savannah Way is one of Australia's most incredible drive journeys. 2023 Road Affair, LLC. The Alice Springs Route covers 4,154 . day 5 driving 6 hours. Google traffic. While leaving Cairns, I would like to travel the Savanah but would also like other suggestions. This is also the home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. However, the Burke Development road is unsealed so you will need a 4x4 car. The Barkly Highway is the . The weather is cooler during the dry season too which will make the trip much more enjoyable. Unfortunately I will have to make the trip in late March which is not ideal with respect to the weather.I may also be travelling alone and as a young female would prefer a route with plenty of stops and sealed roads. And travel non-stop to London distance: 113km & # x27 ; s essentially a big town. 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