Head on to the Undara Volcanic National Park, where you can discover many natural wonders. It appears the car will be written off. 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. Travelling from South Australia. Youre now on Route 1 (National Highway) all the way to Darwin. Stay safe on your road trip. . Once you follow this route, it'll take 31 . Prices and availability are subject to change. The next fuel stop along the highway is the Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn. (Image: Tourism Australia/Nicholas Kavo). Distance: 94km's from Palmerston, about 1hr, 15 mins. drive for about 4 hours. The Savannah Way skirts the Gulf of Carpentaria, but this is one of a few chances to see the coast. Our go to shoes are Nike Free 5.0. drive for about 3 hours. 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. Then explore the amazing lava tubes, go bushwalking or mountain biking, and admire bats and stars after sunset. 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. And there you have it the ultimate road trip itinerary. Stopping places include parking, toilets and even picnic areas. Fuel Map also shows real-time fuel prices for WA, NSW, and QLD sourced from . After just spending a day in the outback, your 4WD will get a new image luckily we managed to find a "car wash facility" :). (Image: Tourism NT/Jackson Groves). Katherine Gorge consists of 13 impressive canyons, which can be explored by boat, helicopter or on foot. With plenty of detours and side trips . We decided to stay in Tennant Creek which was 25km south of the turn off. Start: Cairns. 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. It's disgusting and looks like something out of Wolf Creek (Australian horror movie). After yesterdays long drive, relax in Undara Volcanic National Park, where the outback begins and 164 ancient volcanoes pepper the landscape. Required fields are marked *. Rockhampton marks, roughly, the halfway point between Townsville and Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. Take a sunset cruise or stargazing tour with indigenous-owned Yagurli Tours. Estimated Fuel Cost: $250-$300 depending on vehicle and whether you're towing. But what makes Ingham particularly interesting is Lee's Hotel (formerly known as the . They can be reached either on foot or by helicopter. The barge comes from Darwin to Truscott about every 2 weeks. These hot springs can also be visited in Katherine. Best Places to Stay in CairnsCairns City Palms Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside Southern Cross Atrium Apartments. Your most adventurous driving day will take you to a remote bush camp at Robinson River Crossing.. Alternatively you can stay at the Aboriginal owned Seven Emu Station, about another 80km. There are just so many things to do here that youll want to stay for at least two days. You will be driving 300 kilometers from Atherton to Georgetown and entering the heart of cattle country. Never stay at Three Ways. Forming part of the Savannah Way, this dry and desolate part of the country won't have you bumping into lots of people. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland). However, if you camp in the bush and not on the campgrounds you wont need to worry about wood;)Planning is essential for Outback. There is never any wood on campgrounds so its best that you collect it on the way before you get there. June to November. To get a taste of whats on offer in the outback Savannah, read our Savannah Way review here. By keeping our speed between 100-116km/h we kept our fuel costs down to less than $300AUD for the entire journey. Dont forget to stop for a photo at the peculiar looking magnetic termite mounds along the way, which take on an orange glow at sunset. Darwin is the bustling hub of the Top End. There are plenty of waterfalls and waterholes in Litchfield National Park that are accessible via sealed roads: Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole are popular among both locals and visitors. The eccentric outback pub features bras hanging from the ceiling, and great beef-and-barramundi barbecues during the dry season. Its a beautiful drive from Cairns to Darwin by car and we are confident you will love it as much as we did. Some roads are also narrow and have soft edges, hence the reason a 2WD will not be safe for driving on such roads. This is an easy drive, where the majority of the time you have the open road all to yourself. Heres everything youll ever need to know Pamela Wright takes a dip with a movie star, Burt the crocodile, in Darwin's Cage of Death. The best Savannah Way roadhouse? The Alice Springs Route covers 4,154 . Great, thanks for all the adive on this site! 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. Day 1. Accommodation here ranges from cabins to converted railway carriages and a campground. Learn how your comment data is processed. The bite marks on the buoys would indicate whether a new saltwater crocodile is in the river or not. It is always hot here. Discover the magic of Wilpena Pound with a glamping experience in the cultural heartland of the Flinders Ranges. From Cairns to Darwin, our suggested route covers a minimum of 2800 kilometers. showers and laundry facilities. The Aussie Christmas you never thought of, The only Alice to Uluru itinerary youll ever need, Swim with crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove Darwin, 8 tips for travelling (& surviving) the outback as a family, How to road trip Kakadu and itineraries for visiting, 2 nights in a Ikara Safari tent for two people, Access to all the resort facilities including complementary Welcome to Country each evening. See also our themed driving route, the Explorers Way. Real Fuel Costs. Estimated Travel Period: 17 Days including Kakadu National Park. 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. Only swim at safe swimming spots, and be careful around waterways and rivers, as Australias biggest saltwater crocodiles are found in the Top End. If you have the time Katherine Gorge comes highly recommended. The weather is cooler during the dry season too which will make the trip much more enjoyable. by: Ann Wareing . stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. This is really just a refreshment stop, as Daly Waters is famous for its roadhouse, the Daly Waters Pub. The final leg of your journey will see you traveling for just over an hour to Darwin, where you can relax in comparative comfort in the big city. Townsville was our favourite stop between Brisbane and Cairns. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. In northern Australia, there are more crocodiles than humans, so you should not be their next meal. All rights reserved. Folks this information on fuel stops between Darwin and Alice Springs was correct in 2016. However, avoid swimming in the gorges because even if saltwater crocodiles have been removed for tourism purposes, there is still the danger of one or two lurking in the gorge. Adelaide to Darwin Itinerary | Britz Campervans AU It took us four days to drive from Cairns to Darwin, a distance of 2850 . Sealed roads from Borroloola onwards. Along the way, call in at the beautiful Mataranka Hot Springs to relax in natural, thermal waters. Find your nearest Puma Energy Fuel station or 24-hour diesel site in Australia with our service station finder now! Head Office. Be sure to top up with fuel/gas here, the next stop is at Barkly Homestead and prices are very steep. Visit the fascinating Barramundi Discovery Centre and enjoy an evening meal at the Sunset Tavern. Show only these on map. The outback scenery of Nitmiluk (Katherine) gorge. Many people have reported "bumping" whales when sailing up the East Coast of Australia. Explore the historic town of Croydon, a living museum where gold was discovered in the late 1800s. 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. Your email address will not be published. Georgetown is located on the wide banks of the Etheridge River, and with a population of just 250 people, this is a small town in Australia. A winding road leads from Cairns to the top of the plateau, where youll find charming farms, quaint villages, and volcanic crater lakes. This is also the home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Katherine is known for its spectacular canyon, the Nitmiluk Gorge, which is found in the nearby national park. You can stop for fuel in Jabiru, Mataranka, Borroloola, Cape Crawford, Burketown, Dumadgee, Normanton, Katherine, Cairns, Mareeba, Chillagoe, and Darwin. The loneliest stretch is between Camooweal and the Threeways. This is why most travelers choose to drive the east coast. It's easy to do. The drive from the Jardine ferry to Bamaga is about 42 km and Seisia is 6km north of Bamaga. Sailing at night time can be risky, as the huge mammals sleep on the surface, completely oblivious to cruising vessels. Simply click here to return to, Australian Tourist Attractions in the Outback, Travelling Outback Australia with camels and gypsy caravans. Be sure to have good tires and drive below the speed limit during the wet conditions. WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE LOCAL. The train journey starts from the town of Cairns and goes through the village of Kuranda and further on through the Savannah country. You need four-wheel drive to complete this journey. Phone (Truscott) (08) 9161 4395 (Darwin) (08) 8922 0940. You can visit the local museums, take sunset cruises out into the harbor, and if you have a few days to spare, head out into nearby Kakadu National Park to experience more of the Northern Territorys stunning natural scenery. Best Places to Stay in CloncurryWagon Wheel Motel Leichhardt Hotel Motel The Gidgee Inn. May 2014, Please advise which is the best month to drive, also. Distance: 2858km. The Savannah Way, which links Cairns and Broome by way of 3,700km of sealed and unsealed roads, is broadly regarded as Australia's greatest adventure drive.What to expectThe journey will take travellers through five world heritage sites and no less than 15 national parks, all the while showcasing the Top End's natural, historical and cultural essence. Au it took us four days to drive from the Jardine ferry to Bamaga is 42. To return to, Australian Tourist Attractions in the cultural heartland of the turn off ; take. Known as the of whats on offer in the outback Savannah, read Savannah. 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