Matilda Highway
From Barringun to Karumba

Trip Length: 4 days  Total Distance: 1812 km  Road Conditions: All sealed roads

Barringun

Cunnamulla

Charleville

Blackall

Barcaldine

Longreach

Winton

Cloncurry

Normanton

Karumba

Travel a few kilometres to the west of any coastal town or city and some would have it that you are in the Outback. It doesn't really come that easy, as the real Outback starts a hundred or so kilometres west of the Great Dividing Range. And, you'll also know when you're in the Outback. Fewer vehicles, friendlier people (although some will test you out with their dry sense of humour), colder beer, gidgea trees and Mitchell grass - and longer distances between drinks.

Probably, once you have arrived at the Matilda Highway, you're well and truly in the Outback and your Akubra doesn't look out of place, the RM's almost make you look like a wealthy station owner, and you're even talking slower, dropping the 'g's', and walking with a pronounced bushman's gait.

Welcome to the Matilda Highway, a fully sealed 1812 kilometre stretch of road from the New South Wales border, all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

This is one road which most definitely leads to adventure, and a different one each day.

The highway can be completed in as little of 24 hours, but that's one heck of a drive and you'll be missing out on the 'real Outback'... that is, the people, the attractions and natural sites.

Four days is a comfortable drive, depending on how long you stay in each town.

Just be wary of certain sections which are unfenced. Also avoid travelling around sunset or at night, as kangaroos and cattle also occasionally like to share your side of the road- sometimes both sides...

Between Cloncurry and Karumba there are some narrow stretches which means you and a road train cannot possibly be on the same strip of bitumen, at the same time. Best advice is to slow down, keeping the right hand side wheels on the bitumen and thereby demonstrating courtesy (and some wisdom) to oncoming heavy traffic.

Check the byways along the route, where plenty of side-trips add much to the overall Outback experience.