Some of the top Savannah Way highlights include the amazing rock formations of the Lost City, the ancient Australian aborigines rock art where you can learn more about the Australian aboriginal culture, the impressive waterfalls, and much more. Search for sites that accept Shell Card, including Liberty service stations, plan your trip and get directions. There is never any wood on campgrounds so its best that you collect it on the way before you get there. The best time of year to travel is the dry season, with the optimum period being from June to early September, when theres no risk of rainfall. Does it sounds like a very crazy plan to you or could be this done? Alternatively, you can drive through the sealed road. Katherine to Darwin. Go for a refreshing swim at Edith Falls. These hot springs can also be visited in Katherine. Cairns. Enjoy your next road trip Cairns to Darwin. At 860km/534mi, this was a big day; although Cooktown to Mareeba was a 300km stretch of backtracking. Take a break at Lake Eacham, and admire Little Millstream Falls near Ravenshoe. Stop off at Alice Springs and Uluru, two of Australia's most famous landmarks. This is the last place you will finding anything resembling a supermarket or department store for hundreds of kilometres. As with many sections on the Savannah Way, plan your fuel stops with hundreds of kilometres between roadhouses. Estimated Travel Distance: 3,530.7 kms. We even hiked up multiple mountains/volcanoes with them. Join in and write your own page! Families enjoying a sunset dip at Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Best Places to Stay in Tennant Creek:Goldfields Hotel Motel. There are plenty of free camping sites nearby, where you can enjoy the scenery during the wet season when the falls are running. In the NT, you'll drive through the major centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin. I will be in a sedan 2 wheel drive car in July 2016 next year. The Outback Way is one of Australia's great four wheel drive odysseys. Youre now on Route 1 (National Highway) all the way to Darwin. The roads from Hells Gate and beyond are really tough so take it easy and have an extra spare tyre. With plenty of detours and side trips . The large town of Katherine, 300 kilometers north, is the next port of call. Fill-up your tank at every petrol station you find in the Outback. 400 km of driving daily is realistic and feasible, but you should start early in the morning so you can arrive to your destination before it gets dark. Hours refer to driving time only. . There are just so many things to do here that youll want to stay for at least two days. Be sure to top up with fuel/gas here, the next stop is at Barkly Homestead and prices are very steep. After yesterdays long drive, relax in Undara Volcanic National Park, where the outback begins and 164 ancient volcanoes pepper the landscape. Travelling from Rockhampton to Darwin in the next couple of days (August 2016) and also wondering where are the best places to stay the night and space out driving times. Chevron Australia Products Leveraging global experience in fuels and lubricants, convenience marketing and supply. Cairns to Darwin. The weather in the Top End can be extreme, with the year divided into wet and dry seasons. Carry water and consider bringing a satellite phone, as mobile reception can be patchy or non-existent. Example: during our trip, in the Roper Bar Store Roadhouse, diesel cost about AUD2 per gallon, which at the time was 40% more expensive than in Cairns. To help you to plan your Outback experience, heres our guide to road tripping from Cairns to Darwin! There is a maximum of 300km between fuel stops in Laverton and Tjukayirla Roadhouse, so carry extra fuel. The best thing about Bundaberg is how much you can do on a budget. There are accommodations along the road in most villages as well as in Cape Crawford, 100 kilometres South-West of Borroloola. 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. A variety of factors go into the cost of a . However, for the best Outback experience, we recommend camping along the road, where you can watch the passing kangaroos at night, drink a beer or two, and enjoy cooking from your own camp oven. The outback scenery of Nitmiluk (Katherine) gorge. Google traffic. Theres no hiding the fact you have a long, lonely drive today, and not a single town along the way except Arnold, population about 30. You might discover waterfalls, thermal springs, rock art and fossils. Early morning is perfect for admiring the abundant birdlife. You will be driving 300 kilometers from Atherton to Georgetown and entering the heart of cattle country. Simply click here to return to, Australian Tourist Attractions in the Outback, Travelling Outback Australia with camels and gypsy caravans. A roadhouse basically is a fuel station with add-ons. Diesel needs to be pre-ordered from Darwin and pumped from the barge to your vessel. The Outback Way. Darwin. In Katherine and the surrounding area there is a lot to discover so it is worth planning an additional day. In Georgetown, you can visit the excellent TerrEstrial Centre, a museum dedicated to the geological history of Australia, where you can find one of the largest collections of rocks and minerals in the country, and enough stories and information to keep even the least scientifically inclined of travelers mesmerized. Also, the travelling time depends heavily on how many miles you want to drive every day.If you want to start your Savannah Way drive from Cairns and go to Katherine before heading over to Broome or pass the Kakadu National Park to Darwin, then you should allow at least 7-9 days.The distance from Cairns to Katherine is 2,100 kilometres. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. On this expedition, you will enjoy the true Outback of the Northern Territory and Queensland along the way. These comments give me peace of mind as I am about to drive to perth from Cairns in a 2wd as a 27 year old female, also single. How? During the wet season, torrential streams can be seen here, and during the dry season these falls are almost completely dried up. The ultimate Cairns to Darwin road trip itinerary. The famous Outback service began in Cloncurry, and you can learn more at the John Flynn Place Museum in town. Rest areas are a place where you can stop and rest, making your journey safer and more enjoyable. On the way to Katherine gorge, the Lost-City rock formations are especially worth seeing. This is another long stretch of around 638km/396mi. Continue along State Route 14 and drive to Denham Street/ State Route 16 in Townsville City. I plan to go through June school holidays. You could, however, do the first and last sections in a 2WD. My son and his girlfriend were driving from Gold Coast to Darwin but have had an accident outside Mt Isa and are now stranded in Mt Isa. The roads are partly sealed. You need a 4WD, as sections of road on this route are unsealed. Book 3 nights and enjoy a complimentary cheese board, bottle of wine, decadent bath soak, relaxed late checkout & more! The is where the sealed road heading west ends, and instead our itinerary has you traveling south along the paved road for 400 kilometers to Cloncurry. Start: Cairns. There are camping sites along Savannah Way, such as Borroloola Caravan Park and Burketown Caravan Park located at the Gulf of Carpentaria. Again making it a good spot to stop for fuel and other supplies, particularly if you've not stocked up and are doing the trip in the other direction. Continue west to Undara Experience try to arrive in time for a sunset wildlife tour. Stay overnight at the luxury Cicada Lodge. If youre traveling from Queensland to the Northern Territory, there are so many places to see and things to do that you will want to be on the road for a long time. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Wildlife can be a danger this far north too, so avoid driving at night if you dont want a run-in with a kangaroo or a herd of cattle or camel on the road. You can stop for fuel in Jabiru, Mataranka, Borroloola, Cape Crawford, Burketown, Dumadgee, Normanton, Katherine, Cairns, Mareeba, Chillagoe, and Darwin. Handy table of driving distances between major cities and petrol prices: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville. Berry Springs Nature Park, where the cooling blue-green woodland pools call out for a swim. (Image: Tourism Australia/Nicholas Kavo). Fuel stops; Threeways, Barkly Homestead, Camooweal, Mt Isa. The Savannah highway is Australias longest and most interesting route that connects to major roads across the northern Australia. Katherine to Darwin. I will be ducking down to check out Uluru though and then over to Broome (already done Darwin). Distance: 2858km. Turn onto Route 52 into the rainforest-clad Atherton Tablelands. Visit Caranbirini Conservation Reserves walking trails and or helicopter over the lost cities in Limmen National Park before a rewarding cold one at the Daly Waters Pub. 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. There are fuel stops at Victoria River Roadhouse and Timber Creek in the Northern Territory. The weather is cooler during the dry season too which will make the trip much more enjoyable. 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. 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. Cant get enough fishing? For the timeframe we had, we needed to do one big section. Darwin to Perth road trip is one of the great Australian journeys. The majority of it is on very quiet long stretches of road, again some single lane sections. You can hike to natural swimming pools, camp out under the stars, and see the unusual, giant termite mounds. Being the halfway point on this particular . stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am. See roadhouses on our Savannah Way detailed map. Our itinerary takes you along sealed roads, meaning that you can rent cars and campervans to complete the journey without worrying about your rental companys off-road policy. Our favorite is the Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle. It is worth splashing out on a scenic flight, which offers breathtaking views over the stunning countryside. Driving north from South Australia, take the Stuart Highway from Adelaide through Coober Pedy into the Northern Territory. To get a taste of whats on offer in the outback Savannah, read our Savannah Way review here. Day 15 Kakadu Gunlom Campground (196 kms, about 2 hours 30 mins). This makes for a driving time of around 39 hours, which obviously no-one is going to attempt in one stint behind the wheel. With the state of travel around the world, it looks like travelling within our own backyard will become more and more popular. Best Places to Stay in Katherine:Pine Tree Motel Beagle Motor Inn Knotts Crossing Resort. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lorella Springs is a 4WD wonderland but make sure you go there before the waterholes dry out. 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. If you have the time Katherine Gorge comes highly recommended. 100 Things To Do In Australia Youve Never Heard Of, The ultimate Cairns to Darwin road trip itinerary, Book 3 nights and enjoy a complimentary cheese board, bottle of wine, decadent bath soak, relaxed late checkout. Remember that saltwater crocodiles inhabit many of the Gulf Savannahs waterways, so stay back from the waters edge, avoid repetitive Cape Crawford through Roper Bar to Mataranka (unsealed route) This is remote 4WD country with some spectacular spots. In July 2020, Chevron re-entered the Downstream market in Australia through the acquisition of Puma Energy (Australia) Holdings. Required fields are marked *. This is the quintessential NT wilderness experience. Thinking of a family self drive hire vacation - then search here for a one way rental . Plan your trip to map out the best fuel stations and roadhouses along the way. Carry on north for another 300 kilometers to reach Litchfield National Park, a beautiful area of lush rainforest and stunning waterfalls which stand in stark contrast to the dusty red landscapes youre leaving behind. Some interesting little stops every 50-100kms. Watch the scenery change from one day to the next as you leave Darwin and drive through . Travel in the dry season (from May to October). Fuel will likely be your biggest expence besides tours/activites with the average price being around $1.49 per litre for unleaded and $1.30 for diesal. Read more. Filter by 'AmpolCash Digital Accepted' for a location near you. Darwin lays claim to more crocodiles than any other city With its unparalleled beauty and endless reaches, the Aussie outback holds its own. I have travelled on at least three routes from Cairns to Darwin. 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