The ferry operates from 08.00-12.00 and then from 13.00 - 17.00, daily in the dry season. 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. Tour Kakadu National Park from the southern end, where you can go swimming at the amazing Gunlom Falls or follow the signs to Yurmikmik walks to explore the diverse rock formations. With an average flight time of 2h 30min from Cairns to Darwin, you'll be exploring the city in no time. Some roads are also narrow and have soft edges, hence the reason a 2WD will not be safe for driving on such roads. Phone (Truscott) (08) 9161 4395 (Darwin) (08) 8922 0940. Darwin to Perth road trip is one of the great Australian journeys. Animals thrive when theyre left to their own devices, instincts and natural environment. It's easy to do. Cairns to Darwin. 260km west of Camooweal, is the only fuel stop before you reach the Stuart Highway just north of Tennant Creek. The bite marks on the buoys would indicate whether a new saltwater crocodile is in the river or not. Burketown has plenty of fishing holes and you can even join the annual Barramundi Fishing Competition held every Easter. Be sure to have good tires and drive below the speed limit during the wet conditions. A free shower is also available at the boat ramp.From Normanton, the distances between places are shorter so you can stock up with food supplies daily. If you have extra time while in the Cairns region, why not give Cooktown a go? They are comfortable, lightweight and sturdy. Once you reach Cloncurry and join onto the Barkly Highway you will start to notice a lot more traffic, this is the main traffic route between Townsville and Mount Isa. For this reason, red buoys are set up in various places in the river where saltwater crocodiles would bite them out of curiosity. This means it is very important to ensure that you do not run out of food. Tip: Download the Savannah Way map on your smartphone and save it as image. And it is easy to navigate. Day 13 Katherine (276 kms, about 3 hours). Darwin. As you head north, generally the prices increase. There is never any wood on campgrounds so its best that you collect it on the way before you get there. Hours refer to driving time only. While it is sometimes impossible to avoid driving in the dark, it is important to drive slowly (70 km / h) in order to spot the animals on the road ahead.Tip: When youre renting a car, check whether the insurance policy covers damages caused by hitting animals during night trips. Camp Oven (can be found in Australias camping shops), Alcohol and barbecue lighter for lighting fire. If you've got more time, the Alice Springs Route covers all the wonders of the Direct Route plus a detour to Alice Springs. Continue west to Undara Experience try to arrive in time for a sunset wildlife tour. You can get a quick quote below. Stopping places include parking, toilets and even picnic areas. Although we could have gone straight from Cairns, having never been to Cooktown before, we decided to start our journey with a 2 day pit stop in Cooktown (a 700km/435mi detour). Cairns is very easy to navigate around and is the ideal starting point for many different road trips. Required fields are marked *. (Please note that cost of fuel per litre can change and is an estimate only). Crocodiles can frequent the park, so swimming during the wet season (November-April) is off-limits and warnings should be heeded year-round. 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. Mount Isa is a big mining town, just 2 hours from the Northern Territoy border. And of course the Great Barrier Reef and the Kuranda Sky Rail are other . The route makes use of sealed and unsealed roads, so youll need one of our awesome 4WDsor 4WD Campervans. I'm not sure whether I'd be best going via Townsville, Mount Isa as opposed to the Savannah Way. Check the weather and road conditions in Queensland, Croydon, the Heritage Capital of the Gulf. See roadhouses on our Savannah Way detailed map. Bundaberg is a surprising stop that is great for visiting with kids. Simply click here to return to Australian Outback Travel Questions. Rest areas are a place where you can stop and rest, making your journey safer and more enjoyable. (Image: Tourism NT/Jackson Groves). Best time to travel: in the dry season from May to September. It begins in . Book 3 nights and enjoy a complimentary cheese board, bottle of wine, decadent bath soak, relaxed late checkout & more! Handy table of driving distances between major cities and petrol prices: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville. Along the way, call in at the beautiful Mataranka Hot Springs to relax in natural, thermal waters. Katherine to Darwin. Google traffic. Burketown on the Albert River is another terrific spot to tackle barramundi, so be sure to pack your fishing rod, or you can hire one locally. At 860km/534mi, this was a big day; although Cooktown to Mareeba was a 300km stretch of backtracking. Check road conditions before visiting. Go for a swim in Lake Eacham or take a cruise at Lake Barrine, and sample the local produce like coffee and mango wine. If you have the time Katherine Gorge comes highly recommended. 10 Day / 9 Night Savannah Way Tour (Cairns to Darwin or Darwin to Cairns) Fully Accommodated. And there you have it the ultimate road trip itinerary. Your email address will not be published. Road trip route from Brisbane to Darwin. With plenty of detours and side trips . Morning fog at Litchfield National Park. After that, you can pop into the Purple Pub, a classic Outback tavern, before checking out the giant Salmon statue which is also in the town. . Day 7 Burketown (292 kms, about 4 hours). For the timeframe we had, we needed to do one big section. 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. 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. Our favorite is the Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle. There is also the 8-day personalised car driving tour as a fully accommodated trip in a group of no more than six people. Direct. Group in Undara Lava tubes. Go birdwatching in the early mornings, tour the breathtaking lava tubes or see a spectacular bat emergence from the tubes at sunset. Join in and write your own page! Swim in the lower pool for about 30 mins. Canoe the majestic gorge and discover fossils at Riversleigh World heritage site. Those seeking more unsealed adventure can travel to Lorella Springs for a night and Roper Bar to Mataranka (588km, about 9 hours). Return to Outback Australia Travel Guide home page. Highlights However, the roads are not sealed completely so unless your caravan is a 4WD and in top condition, you will face problems on these roads. A Cairns to Darwin road trip isnt for the inexperienced traveler, but if you are looking to see real Outback Australia and the vast emptiness of the Top End, then this is the adventure you need. Towing a small jayco :), Two friends and I are planning to go in two weeks, any advice appreciated. Leave early and follow the Bruce Highway south from Cairns. Folks this information on fuel stops between Darwin and Alice Springs was correct in 2016. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland). Then explore the amazing lava tubes, go bushwalking or mountain biking, and admire bats and stars after sunset. Cairns to Townsville Depart this morning and take the National Highway A1 to the Bruce Highway/ State Route 14 in Burdell. Gear up for an ultimate driving adventure holiday in Savanna Way, with 5 World Heritage sites and 15 national parks waiting to be explored. You will be driving 300 kilometers from Atherton to Georgetown and entering the heart of cattle country. Clustering. Cost of Driving from Cairns, Australia to Darwin, Australia Rest every two hours for at least 15 minutes. Usually this would not be the case. The route covers 2,610mi (4,200km) from the Great Ocean Road (near Melbourne) to Cairns, the best base to explore the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. #4 Good Water Bottle The sun can be brutal in Australia, so make sure to always carry a refillable water bottle with you. 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. You will find turquoise spring water pools perfect for a plunge in adjacent Elsey National Park, a landscape patchworked with savannah woodland, stone country and monsoon rainforest. This will however take an extra day. In its heyday, it was the third largest town in northern Queensland and Chillagoe is on an Alternate Route of the Savannah Way and well worth a detour. This is mining country, and you can visit the remnants of an abandoned copper mine on the edge of town or take tours of working mines in the area. This is really just a refreshment stop, as Daly Waters is famous for its roadhouse, the Daly Waters Pub. Search for sites that accept Shell Card, including Liberty service stations, plan your trip and get directions. Enjoy your next road trip Cairns to Darwin. From Georgetown, carry along Highway 1 for another 300 kilometers until you reach Normanton, the last stop on the sealed northern road before it turns to gravel. 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. Driving north from South Australia, take the Stuart Highway from Adelaide through Coober Pedy into the Northern Territory. You can have a unique rail experience in the Outback by catching the famous Kuranda Scenic train that departs Cairns weekly. It also said Darwin-based customers would be able to book seats on board the flight and travel non-stop to London. Adventure by: Doug Hi, I drove from Port Douglas to Darwin in 1991 and it'll be a trip I'll never forget, it was an absolutely brilliant time and I would love to do it again. Stay at the Barklay Homestead on the Barklay highway. Estimated Travel Period: 17 Days including Kakadu National Park. This Top End Explorer is a fantastic way to experience a memorable journey along the "Savannah Way" between Darwin and Cairns. All station information is added and edit by users like yourself. You can always use it offline whenever you need to. How? Additional terms apply. For more of the best in travel sign up to our newsletter! June to November. 311km's, approx 4hrs + stops. The route may look simple on the map, but youll need to factor in which roads are sealed and unsealed, which are four by four only, and which have supply stops along the way. (Image: Tourism NT/Kate Flowers). Qantas has been operating direct Australia-to-London flights since March 2018. 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