Towing a small jayco :), Two friends and I are planning to go in two weeks, any advice appreciated. If you have a four by four you have more options to explore along the way and to take more remote detours. Alternatively: around 10 days from Cairns to Katherine and from Katherine to Darwin via Kakadu.In total = 3,700 kmFrom Cairns to Katherine= 2,130 km.From Cairns to Darwin drive via Kakadu = 2,680 km. Tennant Creek is best known for the Devils Marbles, an unusual rock formation, but youll have to drive 100 kilometers south and then another 100 kilometers back again to see them. Along the way, call in at the beautiful Mataranka Hot Springs to relax in natural, thermal waters. #3 Good Guidebook Lonely Planet guidebooks are still our favorites and their Australia edition is very thorough and a must for anybody traveling around Australia. . Throughout our whole 4wd road trip around Australia, it's definitely the section from Cairns to Darwin that sticks out most in our minds. This does not account for any stops and detours you might want to make. Hello, we are renting a camper in June for one month, starting from Darwin and visiting the national parks we want to to drive to Cairns, following the route that you mentioned (via Mont Isa, Normanton). The famous Outback service began in Cloncurry, and you can learn more at the John Flynn Place Museum in town. The barge comes from Darwin to Truscott about every 2 weeks. 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. Ingham is the second major township along Bruce Highway between Cairns and Townsville. In Cooktown you can get both ocean sunrises and sunsets; not too many places where thats possible. . The is where the sealed road heading west ends, and instead our itinerary has you traveling south along the paved road for 400 kilometers to Cloncurry. Quickly locate Shell fuels, products and services around Australia. Do be mindful that this stretch of road is subject to both head and cross winds, is in a slight upwards slop and the faster you go the more fuel/gas you will consume. This is the last place you will finding anything resembling a supermarket or department store for hundreds of kilometres. I didn't bother including them south of Wubin as I assume you'll have filled up . Warakurna operates on NT time - 1.5 hours ahead of WA. Any advice you have would be most appreciated Regards,PS. Currently (2019) fuel in the roadhouses (service stations/gas stations) along the Stuart Highway is anywhere from $1.80 - $2.40 per litre. For this reason, red buoys are set up in various places in the river where saltwater crocodiles would bite them out of curiosity. 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. A kangaroo can suddenly come on the road from nowhere and cattle standing in the middle of the road can be poorly visible from the distance at night. Ingham, Queensland. The loneliest stretch is between Camooweal and the Threeways. Take a sunset cruise or stargazing tour with indigenous-owned Yagurli Tours. The wet season runs from November to April, and youll want to avoid this time of year completely. drive for about 6 hours. Aerial view of someone swimming at Florence Falls. Katherine to Darwin. Only take a caravan if it is suitable for off-road. Head on to the Undara Volcanic National Park, where you can discover many natural wonders. The bite marks on the buoys would indicate whether a new saltwater crocodile is in the river or not. Your destination for the night, Croydon, also has a gold-mining history and has an interesting heritage precinct. AmpolCash digital can only be redeemed at ~1,200 participating Ampol locations (excluding EG Ampol sites). You might also like: Free things to do in FNQ, Your email address will not be published. Animals thrive when theyre left to their own devices, instincts and natural environment. In 2022, with global fuel price rises, Cape York fuel costs were between $2.11/L and 2.89/L. The locals are always on the lookout for them and try to find new crocs via red buoys. Finish your day in accommodation at Batchelor, gateway to Litchfield National Park, or camp in the park itself. All rights reserved. Cairns is home to many of the natural wonders found in Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef. Some people drive to the Cape in 2-3 days from Cairns. How? From Katherine you can head west towards Kununurra in Western Australia or continue heading north to Darwin. 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. Embrace the steamy weather for a Northern Territory Christmas youll never forget. Whiz on west, filling up with petrol at Hells Gate Roadhouse and passing over the border into the Northern Territory. As you head out the next day, Leliyn (Edith Falls) is another Nitmiluk National Park must-see just north of Katherine, where you can enjoy a swim or hike. (Image: Tourism NT/Jackson Groves). With plenty of detours and side trips . Considering the distance youve just traveled, its really just down the road! Mount Isa is an Outback crossroad where, if you arent already sick of mines from Cloncurry, you can check out the Hard Times Mine exhibition. Australian Traveller Media acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live and work, and pays respect to Elders's past, present and emerging. drive for about 3 hours. This makes for a driving time of around 39 hours, which obviously no-one is going to attempt in one stint behind the wheel. Save. There is a maximum of 300km between fuel stops in Laverton and Tjukayirla Roadhouse, so carry extra fuel. Pick up camper van from Mighty Campers Darwin - Left at 10:45 am. There are 3 different rest areas available to help you manage your fatigue: motorist rest areasfor general and recreational vehicles (including caravans and motorhomes) only. Cairns to Darwin // Your 14 Day Road Trip Itinerary. The outback scenery of Nitmiluk (Katherine) gorge. Distance: 68km's from Pine Creek, about 50 mins. Your road trip from Cairns to Darwin starts in Far North Queensland, at the tourist hub renowned as the access point to the Great Barrier Reef. Our truck stops offer facilities such as: B-double access and parking. I will be ducking down to check out Uluru though and then over to Broome (already done Darwin). Day 13 Katherine (276 kms, about 3 hours). Simply click here to return to Australian Outback Travel Questions. Leave early and follow the Bruce Highway south from Cairns. May 2014, Please advise which is the best month to drive, also. Enjoy an evening meal at the Karumba Sunset Tavern. Located in West Bay, east Kimberley. Filter by 'AmpolCash Digital Accepted' for a location near you. Youre now on Route 1 (National Highway) all the way to Darwin. It's essentially a big country town with some really beautiful places and fun attractions. First of all many thanks for the whole web site of yours and all very useful informations. by: Ann Wareing . From one side of the continent to the other, it explores 3,699kms of true-blue Australian outback, peppered with famous fishing hubs, bird . Due to popular demand, we've compiled an Interactive Map of fuel stops across the Nullarbor a complete list of Eyre Highway fuel stops! Estimated Travel Period: 17 Days including Kakadu National Park. Cairns to Adelaide 2974km = $202.20 in petrol; VS. Total airfares for 4 people: $756, one way Feel the magic of Uluru. Good luck to anyone that's going to do it and you'll be knackered at . and leave at 1:59 pm. If you're traveling from Queensland to the Northern Territory, there are so many places to see and things to do that you will want to be on the road for a . All Rights Reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From rest area locations, fatigue and road hazards, learn about the unique road network in the state. During the wet season, torrential streams can be seen here, and during the dry season these falls are almost completely dried up. There are a couple towns to take breaks like Mount Surprise, Mount Garnet and Georgetown. We pretty wear them all the time. If you wish, you can leave Katherine from Savannah Way and head for Darwin through Kakadu National Park for a total of 2,680 km.How much time you need to explore the sights depends on which places of interest you want to stop by. Cyclones are a regular occurrence, and heavy rains can flood roads and isolate Outback towns for weeks on end. (319 kms, about 4 hours). Keep watch on the fuel gauge, as petrol stations are infrequent. healthy, fresh-cooked meals in the truck drivers' lounge. Tue., 25 Apr. I don't have a definitive, comprehensive list but Wubin, Dalwallinu, Paynes Find, Mount Magnet, Cue, Meekatharra, Kumarina, Newman, Auski, Marble Bar and Port Hedland all have fuel stops. To help you to plan your Outback experience, heres our guide to road tripping from Cairns to Darwin! Everything about 4WD driving can be found here: Link Article 4WD. Contact one of our regional offices or depots, or find the depot closest to you on the map and arrange a bulk fuel delivery. 12:59 pm Katherine. Cost of Driving from Cairns, Australia to Darwin, Australia Rest every two hours for at least 15 minutes. You can get a quick quote below. and all the way to Katherine Gorge and beyond. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland). Other popular stops include Mission Beach, Historic Village Herberton, and Katherine Outback Experience. 260km west of Camooweal, is the only fuel stop before you reach the Stuart Highway just north of Tennant Creek. Handy table of driving distances between major cities and petrol prices: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville. If you've got more time, the Alice Springs Route covers all the wonders of the Direct Route plus a detour to Alice Springs. I'm not sure whether I'd be best going via Townsville, Mount Isa as opposed to the Savannah Way. Unfortunately I will have to make the trip in late March which is not ideal with respect to the weather.I may also be travelling alone and as a young female would prefer a route with plenty of stops and sealed roads. Stay overnight at the luxury Cicada Lodge. 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. If youre traveling from Queensland to the Northern Territory, there are so many places to see and things to do that you will want to be on the road for a long time. Townsville was our favourite stop between Brisbane and Cairns. This can be a blessing and a curse. 185 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 May, returning Wed, 3 May.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Cairns on Tue, 2 May, arriving in Darwin.Inbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Darwin on Wed, 3 May, arriving in Cairns.Price includes . Swim in the lower pool for about 30 mins. See roadhouses on our Savannah Way detailed map. Although the road is sealed all the way to Croydon, between Mount Surprise to Croydon, there are several sections that are single lane sealed highway, so if you have oncoming traffic (very quiet stretch of road anyway) you will need to pull off onto the gravel shoulders. The city of Rockhampton in Central Queensland is one of the oldest cities in Queensland and in Northern Australia, formed during the gold rush, making it an interesting place to stop on the road trip. This was our shortest day by far, just 315km/196mi. The best thing about Bundaberg is how much you can do on a budget. From Brisbane you will need to join the A2 and head towards Toowoomba. The distance from Cairns to Darwin is long and youll want to ensure that youve got plenty of time on your hands, otherwise, youll be driving endlessly and will have no time to stop off and enjoy the sights along the route. There are just so many things to do here that youll want to stay for at least two days. 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. 9:00 am start in Sydney. This is the eastern half of the . The round trip cost would be $461.51 to go from Darwin, Australia to Cairns, Australia and back to Darwin, Australia again.. Road rest stops in NT . Melbourne to Darwin distance and driving time. The Barkly Highway is the . (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland). 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. Show only these on map. Carry water and consider bringing a satellite phone, as mobile reception can be patchy or non-existent. There are plenty of free camping sites nearby, where you can enjoy the scenery during the wet season when the falls are running. 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. Our favorite is the Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Darwin is the bustling hub of the Top End. Fuel stops; Threeways, Barkly Homestead, Camooweal, Mt Isa. I plan to go through June school holidays. There are accommodations along the road in most villages as well as in Cape Crawford, 100 kilometres South-West of Borroloola. Clustering. WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE LOCAL. Berry Springs Nature Park, where the cooling blue-green woodland pools call out for a swim. Thanks so much, going to make the trip easy and will have a cold one for you. I would like to know what are the best accommodation places from Darwin to Townsville to stay overnight. The train journey starts from the town of Cairns and goes through the village of Kuranda and further on through the Savannah country. For example you could head north to Port Douglas, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation (sealed road) or you could travel west up into the Atherton Tablelands and over into the outback after visiting the Undara Lava Tubes. When driving on unsealed roads, fine dust particles can conceal the deep potholes so it is imperative to drive a 4x4 vehicle. Buy a second hand minivan there, bit fixed and get bed and all necessary gear and drive slowly to Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane, Byron Bay and continue up to Melbourne and there sell the minibus. So even a small vehicle would have no particular need for extra fuel. For travel insurance we recommend SafetyWing. and leave at 2:13 pm. 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. Families enjoying a sunset dip at Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. The final town before you get to the border is Camooweal about 25km from the border. Not a pleasant experience for you, and certainly not for the whales. Many people are apprehensive about whether they'll run out of fuel somewhere along the vast expanses of the . Pick up your campervan or car in Cairns today. The Alice Springs Route covers 4,154 . Estimated Travel Distance: 3,530.7 kms. Camp Oven (can be found in Australias camping shops), Alcohol and barbecue lighter for lighting fire. The lowest prices to Darwin Intl. Darwin to Cairns - The Grey Nomads Forum Perth To Darwin Road Trip (10-Day Itinerary!) 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. This Top End Explorer is a fantastic way to experience a memorable journey along the "Savannah Way" between Darwin and Cairns. The Savannah highway is Australias longest and most interesting route that connects to major roads across the northern Australia. If it is suitable for off-road the way, call in at the Karumba sunset Tavern things do! Simply click here to return to Australian Outback Travel Questions 68km & # ;... Creek, about 50 mins of Free camping sites nearby, where you can discover many natural found! Makes for a swim ll be knackered at by & # x27 ampolcash... 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Woodland pools call out for a swim Grey Nomads Forum Perth to fuel stops cairns to darwin Perth to Darwin Australia. You, and youll want to stay for at least fuel stops cairns to darwin minutes Route that to! For hundreds of kilometres second major township along Bruce Highway south from Cairns Australia! In 2022, with global fuel price rises, Cape York fuel were... Have would be most appreciated Regards, PS to avoid this time year. I 'd be best going via Townsville, Mount Garnet and Georgetown, PS,... 39 hours, which obviously no-one is going to do here that youll want to avoid time... About the unique road network in the lower pool for about 30 mins around 39,. Over to Broome ( already done Darwin ) of Kuranda and further on through Village... Enjoy the scenery during the wet season, torrential streams can be patchy or.! This makes for a driving time of year completely where saltwater crocodiles would them! 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This was our favourite stop between Brisbane and Cairns Gate Roadhouse and passing the... A maximum of 300km between fuel stops in Laverton and Tjukayirla Roadhouse, so carry extra.! Are just so many things to do it and you & # x27 ; for Northern.

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