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| Cairns | Undara |
Cobbold Gorge |
Normanton |
Lawn Hill National Park |
Hells Gate |
Borroloola | Katherine |
Timber Creek |
Kununurra |
Turkey Creek Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) National Park |
Fitzroy Crossing |
Broome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Extending from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, to Broome in Western Australia, the Savannah Way spans the top end of Australia. This is Australia's ultimate adventure drive covering vast expanses of unique geographic formations, scenery and vegetation.
Note: sections of roads are dirt or gravel. Many of the roads within the National Parks are dirt tracks and accessible only with 4WD. 4WD is advised due to conditions and potential flooding. Check all road conditions before departure. The best time to visit this region is during the months May to October, to avoid the wet season when some roads become inaccessible.
From Cairns, head up the range to Millaa Millaa, an Aboriginal name meaning 'plenty water'. A 30-kilometre drive takes you on a scenic circuit of Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie and Elinjaa Falls. Continue on to Ravenshoe, just 3.5 kilometres west of Ravenshoe, on the Kennedy Highway, is the widest waterfall in Australia, the Millstream Falls.
Continue south-west to Undara via the Atherton Tablelands. The Undara Volcanic National Park is one of Australia's greatest geological wonders, boasting the best preserved and largest lava tubes system on earth. A Savannah Guide Station, Undara Experience, offers a variety of touring options.
The Undara system of volcanoes has some 164 craters. Around 190,000 years ago, the main Undara crater, the highest and most dominant vent, produced a geological phenomenon that is rare and fascinating - The Undara Lava Tubes. The tubes wind through old riverbeds for a distance of 160 km and can be accessed through the Savannah Guide Outstation at the Undara Experience.
Local overnight camping or lodge facilities are available, or continue on to Mount Surprise for the night.
About the Drive| Duration: | 3 hrs 45 mins |
| Distance: | 299 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
The trip to Cobbold Gorge takes you through Georgetown. Be sure to have a look around this old Gold mining town. Start at TerrEstrial, a collection of 3000 mineral specimens, which is all the work of one man, Ted Elliot. A true test of one man's passion for fossicking.
From Georgetown you turn south and follow the signs to Forsayth. Cobbold Gorge is located just 45 kilometres from Forsayth. A variety of tours of the Gorge are available with your own Savannah Guide. Return to Georgetown, some 85 kilometres away, to stay overnight.
Alternatively, overnight accommodation and camping is available at the Cobbold Gorge Savannah Guide Station.
About the Drive| Duration: | 2 hrs 45 mins |
| Distance: | 221 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
Head off early back via Forsayth and Georgetown towards Normanton. About 20 km west of Georgetown on the road to Croydon is the hand-made Cumberland Chimney - all that is left of an old gold crushing plant. Continue on to Normanton.
Around 30km to the south-west of Normanton is Camp 119, Burke and Wills' most northerly camp. The wetlands between Normanton and nearby Karumba are also excellent for birdwatching, particularly just after the summer `wet season.'
Stay overnight in Normanton.
About the Drive| Duration: | 6 hrs |
| Distance: | 488 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Unsealed Roads |
Today you will leave the Savannah Way for a highly recommended 'sidetrip' to the rainforest oasis of Lawn Hill National Park and the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields. The park has 20 kilometres of marked pathways, with breathtaking views of the towering sandstone walls of the gorge. As well as the spectacular scenery and wildlife, Lawn Hill also has two areas open to view Aboriginal art. Swim beneath the cooling waterfalls or paddle a canoe down the Gorge.
Overnight accommodation at the one and only Gregory Pub, or at Adel's Grove, an eco-style tourist park adjacent to Lawn Hill National Park.
About the Drive| Duration: | 5 hrs 30 mins |
| Distance: | 420 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Roads leading to Lawn Hill National Park are dirt or gravel. Between May and October these roads are generally suitable for conventional vehicles. 4WD is advised outside these months due to potential flooding. Check road conditions before departure. |
Head back to Gregory, and then north on the Wills Developmental Road to the Savannah Top Way, and then west towards the Queensland-Northern Territory border.
Just 50 kilometres inside the Queensland border and 145 kilometres northwest of Burketown is Hell's Gate Roadhouse. The roadhouse is the gateway to the Macassan Coast and provides accommodation and a campground.
About the Drive| Duration: | 4 hrs 45 mins |
| Distance: | 315 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Most sections of the road are gravel and unsuitable for conventional 2WD vehicles. Check road conditions before departure. |
Borroloola is a remote fishing community beside the McArthur River in the gulf region of the Northern Territory. It is famed for unique history, characters and excellent fishing. Many visitors use Borroloola as a base for barramundi fishing expeditions. The town is an ideal location to stock up before exploring the Gulf region.
About the Drive| Duration: | 12 hrs |
| Distance: | 352 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Unsealed |
On the way to Katherine, make time to visit the small community of Roper Bar, situated on the tidal pandanus-fringed Roper River. About 25km downstream is the wreck of the Young Australian which was used for towing large sailing vessels carrying supplies for the Overland Telegraph Line in 1872.
Katherine is a bustling trade town in the heart of the top end. Home to over 10,000 people, highlights include the Springvale Homestead, NT Rare Rocks, the Katherine Museum, and the Katherine School of the Air.
Overnight in Katherine; hotels, motels and camping available.
About the Drive| Duration: | 8 hrs |
| Distance: | 655 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
Take a day's rest from driving and visit the famous Katherine Gorge / Nitmiluk National Park, one of the Territory's most scenic natural attractions. There are 13 gorges in the system carved out of ochre sandstone and separated by rapids. The Gorge can be explored by cruise boats, canoes, fixed wing and helicopter flights, bushwalking and swimming. Walk for 66km along the Jatbula trail to Edith Falls, cruise the Gorges on a 2, 4 or 6 hour cruise, or just have lunch at the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. Overnight again in Katherine.
Next day, head south-west to Timber Creek. Located on the doorstep of Gregory National Park, the township of Timber Creek is a major stopping point between Katherine and Kununurra on the Western Australian border. Local fish are Timber Creek's biggest drawcard and the magnificent Gregory National Park is its backyard. Covering an area of approximately 13,000 square kilometres, Gregory's awesome landscape is composed of red rimmed escarpment ranges, plunging gorges and intriguing boab trees.
Stay overnight in accommodation in Timber Creek, or camp in Gregory National Park.
About the Drive| Duration: | 5 hrs |
| Distance: | 320 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
Kununurra is the eastern gateway to Western Australia's top end. Nearby Lake Argyle is a massive inland sea that spreads out over an area of 1,000 square kilometres and contains 12 times the water volume of Sydney Harbour. Overnight in Kununurra.
About the Drive| Duration: | 2 hrs 45 mins |
| Distance: | 230 kms |
Purnululu National Park, in the East Kimberley Region of Western Australia, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003, for its outstanding universal natural heritage values. Twenty million years of weathering has produced the eroded sandstone towers and banded beehive structures of the Bungle Bungle Range, the geographic highlight of this National Park.There are camping facilities at Walardi or Kurrajong Camp with both sites having toilets and water. Petrol and supplies are available from nearby Turkey Creek.
About the Drive| Duration: | 7 hrs 15 mins |
| Distance: | 617 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
Spend the day exploring Purnululu National Park. For a breath-taking view of the Bungle Bungles take a scenic flight - available from nearby Hall's Creek.
Follow the Great North Highway west to Fitzroy Crossing. The town is approximately 114 metres above sea level and is surrounded by vast flood plains of the Fitzroy River. The magnificent Geikie Gorge National Park is 18 kilometres from the town on a sealed road.
Stay overnight in Fitzroy Crossing, or camp nearby at Geike Gorge National Park
About the Drive| Duration: | 6 hrs 30 mins |
| Distance: | 547 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
Broome was once the pearling capital of the world and drew its population from a range of nations whose people came on the promise of pearls and in the hope of making a fortune. Its colourful history has resulted in a multi-cultural feel. Broome is famous for Cable Beach - all 22 kilometres of it. This is undoubtedly one of the world's most stunning beaches - a white band of sand bordering a brilliant blue ocean. End your journey with a swim and watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean.
About the Drive| Duration: | 4 hrs 45 mins |
| Distance: | 395 kms |
| Road Conditions: | Sealed |
