Tropical North Queensland Holidays - Destinations - Gulf Savannah

Latitude 18 00 00

Want a taste of the outback? Look no further than the Gulf Savannah, just three hours from Cairns where lush tropical forests give way to an open land full of termite mounds and eucalyptus. The Gulf Savannah is an expansive region filled with dry grasslands, lava tubes, cascading hot springs, hidden gorges, sensational fishing spots, mining relics and full of abundant wildlife.

The Gulf Savannah offers loads of activities. If you want to discover the adventurer within you, take time out in the wonderful region where you can watch the sunrise over the Savannah. Perhaps its discovering thunder eggs, or canoeing through Lawn Hill Gorge as its 6 metre sandstone cliffs glow red in the morning sun or watching the skilled outback cowboys buck broncos at the local rodeo. For a more leisurely pace, the soothing waters at Innot Hot Springs are inviting, as is a hot cup of billy tea in the wilderness.

Within the Gulf Savannah are environments ranging from open woodlands and savannah grasslands to dramatic volcanic landforms, rugged escarpments and cool, fresh-water gorges. What the Gulf Savannah has in abundance is space, so don't try to cover the vast distances here in too short a time span. Soak in the scenery and uncover the treasures hidden in the savannah.

History and folklore are forever preserved in frontier towns like Croydon and Burketown, where there are still local characters as colourful as an outback sunset. Among the special assets in the Gulf are the Undara Lava Tubes near Mt Surprise, the breathtakingly beautiful Cobbold Gorge and the rainforest oasis of Lawn Hill National Park with its towering cliffs and peaceful waterways. Travelling in the Gulf also has a unique dimension with the superbly restored Gulflander and Savannahlander trains. Take your time rediscovering legendary Australia in the accessible outback of the Gulf Savannah.

One of the main features of this area is bird watching, or birding, as its practitioners know it. The terrain of ancient, weather-beaten acacia and bloodwood trees hosts an incredible diversity of bird life and organised interpretive tours can be booked at the tourist information centre.

This region is well named the 'Outback by the Sea'. Normanton, on the Norman River, is an important administrative and commercial centre. Highlights include the Old Gaol - during the gold rush days in the late 1800's, the town's penitentiary was the only penal establishment in the entire Gulf and had a staff of 18 - and 'Krys,' a life-size model of an eight metre Crocodile who welcomes visitors at the Shire Council's park. You'll probably need to relax afterwards with a cold beer at 'The Purple Pub', otherwise known as the National Hotel.

The historic Normanton Railway Station is the home of the 'Gulflander'. The train runs once a week to Croydon, departing on Wednesday mornings for the four-hour journey and returning at noon on Thursdays.

Karumba, at the mouth of the Norman River, is the port for the Savannah region and is the centre of the Gulf's prawning and barramundi fishing industries. Visit the Barramundi Farm where you can see, feed and even touch a "barra", take a scenic flight and island hop around the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Enjoy a river cruise to spot the "crocs", or just walk outside your holiday unit and watch the spectacular sunset.

The standard of fishing in this region is legendary, with excellent fishing guides, charter boats, and heli-fishing operators working almost year round. Each year Normanton hosts the 'Barra Classic' for the champion of all sport fishing, the barramundi, and Burketown follows up with the World Barramundi Championships.

Burketown is the main access point for the Lawn Hill National Park and World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields. This immense limestone field near the Queensland/Northern Territory border has been hailed as the fossil find of the century and was added to the World Heritage register in 1994.

The region is best visited from April to October as during the summer months, many of the roads may be closed due to the rainy season.

Maps

Gulf Savannah