Good luck to anyone that's going to do it and you'll be knackered at . Darwin to Perth Fuel Cost - Motorhome Hire - Gallivanting Oz Quick Tips for Road Trip Darwin to Cairns. Its cheap price of only $40/month really makes it a no-brainer. Simply click here to return to Australian Outback Travel Questions. Then head into the 4000-square-kilometre Lorella Springs Wilderness Park, which has a choice of camping or air-conditioned cabins. The eccentric outback pub features bras hanging from the ceiling, and great beef-and-barramundi barbecues during the dry season. After snorkeling or diving the coral reefs, exploring white sandy beaches, and enjoying the tropical weather, its time to begin the journey inland. And it is easy to navigate. Go birdwatching in the early mornings, tour the breathtaking lava tubes or see a spectacular bat emergence from the tubes at sunset. Its definitely worth stopping at Black Mountain National Park and admiring the massive black boulders. Hoping to get there in with 3 overnight stops - 4 at the most as on a time limit with work. Visit the fascinating Barramundi Discovery Centre and enjoy an evening meal at the Sunset Tavern. Cairns to Darwin. Driving Directions. This does not account for any stops and detours you might want to make. Roads will turn red with dust as you drive from Queensland into the Northern Territory, but despite the distances involved and time it takes to get between destinations, youll be seeing a part of Australia that few ever venture into, with stunning landscapes, unique rock formations, deep canyons, and remote national parks. If you have extra time while in the Cairns region, why not give Cooktown a go? Your destination is in sight, but you might also consider stopping at Berry Springs Nature Park for a swim and Territory Wildlife Park to see the full range of outback animals, including nocturnal creatures seldom seen in the wild. Yes, there are helicopter rides and boat cruises that will take you along the Savannah Way, the Lost City, Hell's Gate Roadhouse. Qantas has been operating direct Australia-to-London flights since March 2018. Hi JGirl, Bin a while since I did those miles back in 1995. Hi, I will be driving my Ford XR6 to Cairns from Darwin in late April. Overnight in Katherine or 20 minutes away at Katherine Gorge, where youll find campgrounds and the luxury Cicada Lodge. Explore the historic town of Croydon, a living museum where gold was discovered in the late 1800s. Filter. Good luck to anyone that's going to do it and you'll be knackered at the end of it, take plenty of water and beer and food, and a few spare wheels. 10 Day / 9 Night Savannah Way Tour (Cairns to Darwin or Darwin to Cairns) Fully Accommodated. When driving on unsealed roads, fine dust particles can conceal the deep potholes so it is imperative to drive a 4x4 vehicle. Best Places to Stay in Tennant Creek:Goldfields Hotel Motel. I didn't bother including them south of Wubin as I assume you'll have filled up . Cheap Cairns to Darwin Flights. 9:00 am start in Sydney. Distance: 68km's from Pine Creek, about 50 mins. Quickly locate Shell fuels, products and services around Australia. I would like to know what are the best accommodation places from Darwin to Townsville to stay overnight. Townsville was our favourite stop between Brisbane and Cairns. The locals are always on the lookout for them and try to find new crocs via red buoys. Lake Mary Ann make sure for a nice spot to cool of fresh just a couple of minutes from town. Google traffic. Hours refer to driving time only. I was hoping you could advise me of the best route to take from Cairns to Darwin in a conventional 2WD. Day 16 Kakadu Jim Jim Campground ( 151 kms, about 2 hours 30 mins). Fuel Finder. With big distances between towns, make sure you carry extra water and petrol, and while you can mostly stay in hotels or roadhouses along the way, if you are willing to camp youll have a lot more flexibility. According to Motorhome Republic, a 2-berth campervan rental in Cairns booked for summer costs around $223 per night and winter sits at roughly $177. If hiring a campervan allow a good hour to collect and become familiarised with your vehicle before you leave the depot. From Katherine you can head west towards Kununurra in Western Australia or continue heading north to Darwin. If you have a four by four you have more options to explore along the way and to take more remote detours. Early morning is perfect for admiring the abundant birdlife. South Africa: +27 87 80 83 960 New Zealand: 0800 445 981 7 tips for road tripping success these holidays . 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. How? The Adventurous Cairns to Darwin Trip Via Savannah Way. While leaving Cairns, I would like to travel the Savanah but would also like other suggestions. Take a break at Lake Eacham, and admire Little Millstream Falls near Ravenshoe. You will be driving 300 kilometers from Atherton to Georgetown and entering the heart of cattle country. 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. Camping in the bush, the real outback experience - Secluded in the bush, the nearest house is 500km away. A winding road leads from Cairns to the top of the plateau, where youll find charming farms, quaint villages, and volcanic crater lakes. (Please note that cost of fuel per litre can change and is an estimate only). Everything about 4WD driving can be found here: Link Article 4WD. From Cairns to Darwin, our suggested route covers a minimum of 2800 kilometers. high-flow diesel pumps. Stopping places include parking, toilets and even picnic areas. However, the Burke Development road is unsealed so you will need a 4x4 car. Head Office. Then explore the amazing lava tubes, go bushwalking or mountain biking, and admire bats and stars after sunset. Fuel is cheaper in towns such as Port Augusta and Alice Springs, and much cheaper in capital cities. Its a beautiful drive from Cairns to Darwin by car and we are confident you will love it as much as we did. See roadhouses on our Savannah Way detailed map. Enjoy birdwatching, fishing for trevally and mackerel, and chatting to the Shadforth family about their traditional Garawa culture. 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. 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. 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. They are comfortable, lightweight and sturdy. Thanks so much, going to make the trip easy and will have a cold one for you. From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. 230km to Burketown, There is no shortage of fun with this activity :). Do I need to take fuel on a Darwin to Cairns road trip? From rest area locations, fatigue and road hazards, learn about the unique road network in the state. Any advice you have would be most appreciated Regards,PS. However, to get a first-hand experience of the Outback, you can park your caravan in a remote area and enjoy the starry skies of Savannah Way at night. 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. . In the NT, you'll drive through the major centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin. 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. Although you will still see petrol stations along the way, during good weather the owners may go fishing. 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. No wonder Australias colonial father Captain James Cook chose to land here. Though do watch out for those Kangaroos between dusk and dawn. Filter by 'AmpolCash Digital Accepted' for a location near you. (Image: Tourism NT/Mitch Cox). 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. Day 6 Normanton and Karumba (225 kms, about 3 hours). You could, however, do the first and last sections in a 2WD. BEST TIME OF YEAR: Day 15 Kakadu Gunlom Campground (196 kms, about 2 hours 30 mins). Alternatively, you can drive through the sealed road. June to November. After spending the past 4 months in Queensland, we decided to take road trip from Cairns to Darwin. You need four-wheel drive to complete this journey. With the state of travel around the world, it looks like travelling within our own backyard will become more and more popular. Clustering. Home. Cairns to Darwin // Your 14 Day Road Trip Itinerary. Cyclones are a regular occurrence, and heavy rains can flood roads and isolate Outback towns for weeks on end. 400 km of driving daily is realistic and feasible, but you should start early in the morning so you can arrive to your destination before it gets dark. Rockhampton marks, roughly, the halfway point between Townsville and Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. Allow around $1.70 per litre for fuel. 12:59 pm Katherine. Stock up on supplies in Mount Isa, because with a population of 20,000, this is the largest town youll be visiting for a while. Search for sites that accept Shell Card, including Liberty service stations, plan your trip and get directions. Go canoeing on Katherine Gorge, and make friends with the wildlife at Nitmiluk National Park on scenic walking tracks. The roads are partly sealed. The outback scenery of Nitmiluk (Katherine) gorge. Great, thanks for all the adive on this site! Famously traversing three Australian states and territories, twenty national parks and five World Heritage Sites, the Savannah Way is one of Australia's most incredible drive journeys. Head to Wangi Falls where you can take a short rainforest walk or book a scenic heli flight year-round. Sealed roads from Borroloola onwards. I will be in a sedan 2 wheel drive car in July 2016 next year. 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. The Savannah Way skirts the Gulf of Carpentaria, but this is one of a few chances to see the coast. To get a taste of whats on offer in the outback Savannah, read our Savannah Way review here. from 181. This makes for a driving time of around 39 hours, which obviously no-one is going to attempt in one stint behind the wheel. At 860km/534mi, this was a big day; although Cooktown to Mareeba was a 300km stretch of backtracking. Pick up your campervan or car in Cairns today. Contact one of our regional offices or depots, or find the depot closest to you on the map and arrange a bulk fuel delivery. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Wildlife can be a danger this far north too, so avoid driving at night if you dont want a run-in with a kangaroo or a herd of cattle or camel on the road. We don't recommend it as this means driving fast and unsafe. Be sure to fuel up with . You can always use it offline whenever you need to. Save. (Image: Tourism NT/Kate Flowers). The ferry operates from 08.00-12.00 and then from 13.00 - 17.00, daily in the dry season. In Cooktown you can get both ocean sunrises and sunsets; not too many places where thats possible. The Savannah Way is Australia's Adventure Drive and connects Cairns in the tropical North of Queensland with Broome in West Australia, across the countrys tropical Australian savanna and the upper end of the Northern Territory. (Image: David Hancock), Youll want to spend the day in this series of spectacular gorges in Nitmiluk National Park and stay for sunset, when the cliffs glow red. Avoid the wet season, as roads may be impassable and you risk getting stranded. 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. day 5 driving 6 hours. With an average flight time of 2h 30min from Cairns to Darwin, you'll be exploring the city in no time. Can you please let me know places of interest to see along the way. Start: Cairns. You can fish almost anywhere along Savannah Way, but the following are the best spots for fishing:Borroloola is best known for its barra fishing.The waters around Barranayi National Park are also excellent for fishing. Find A Service Station. Stay at the Barklay Homestead on the Barklay highway. The route makes use of sealed and unsealed roads, so youll need one of our awesome 4WDsor 4WD Campervans. Other popular stops include Mission Beach, Historic Village Herberton, and Katherine Outback Experience. The next fuel stop along the highway is the Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn. Head north, pausing at Larrimah, which has another historic bush pub and Second World War museum, and at Mataranka, made famous in the 1908 Jeannie Gunn novel, We of the Never-Never. The closest house is 500 km away from you and there is virtually no one in sight. In northern Australia, there are more crocodiles than humans, so you should not be their next meal. How? 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