Driving from Cairns to Darwin on the Savannah Way in Australia

The Savannah Way is Australia�s Adventure Drive, linking Cairns in Tropical North Queensland with the historic pearling town of Broome in Western Australia�s Kimberley, via the natural wonders of Australia�s tropical savannahs and the Northern Territory�s Top End.
The 3700 kilometre route links 15 National Parks and five World Heritage areas. You can explore just a section or cross the continent enjoying its wide horizons, ancient gorges and abundant wildlife, connecting with Aboriginal and pioneer heritage in today�s friendly outback.

Driving from Darwin to Cairns on the Savannah Way in Australia
Cairns 4wd camper hire
Darwin 4wd camper hire
Alice Springs 4wd camper hire

Real getaways from Darwin
Darwin to Borroloola 4wd road trip in Northern Territory Australia
• Darwin to Lorella Springs Caravan Park Fishing, Camp and Station
Darwin to Pungalina Station 4wd road trip - Caravan and Camping Accommodation
• Darwin to Cape Craword and the Lost City 4wd road trip in far east Northern Territory Australia
Darwin to Borroloola NT Luxury Houseboats or the McArthur River a 4wd road trip in Northern Territory Australia
Darwin to Bauhinia Downs Station a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Caranbirini Nature Reserve a 4wd road trip


Cairns to Normanton
The Savannah Way�s eastern point is Cairns, a popular destination surrounded by rainforest and reef. The route westward incorporates the Tropical Tablelands and Gulf Savannah. Sealed roads and towns in relatively close proximity make this a comfortable route for all vehicles. Of course there are plenty of side routes and loops including unsealed road adventures as well � most of these are well maintained roads with the occasional shallow creek crossing making four wheel drive preferable.

7 Day Itinerary:
Cairns to Karumba Day 1 � Cairns to Atherton Tableland
Travel from Cairns into the cool Tropical Tablelands to explore some rainforest and waterfall walks. Pick up some local produce including coffee, wine and tea. Drop into the Visitor Information Centres en route to help choose your favourite Tableland experiences and a suitable venue to stay for a night or two. Just 25km south of Ravenshoe, on an unsealed road you can take a short walk to overlook the impressive 293 metre Tully Falls at Tully Gorge.



Day 2 � Atherton Tablelands to Undara
Take a dip in the Innot Hot Springs and visit the Forty Mile Scrub National Park to understand the changing landscape. Turn west onto the Gulf Development Road (Savannah Way) and head to the Savannah Guide Station at Undara for a variety of tour options accessing the largest lava tubes system on earth.

Day 3 � Undara to Mount Surprise
Head from Undara to Mount Surprise ask about fossicking with a guide or just a licence. O�Briens Creek is the most accessible site. Meet some locals at the pub after finding your treasure.

Day 4 � Mount Surprise to Cobbold Gorge
Next stop is Georgetown to see the world-class mineral collection at TerrEstrial, and leave the bitumen to visit the majestic sandstone cliffs of Cobbold Gorge, a Savannah Guide Station located on a privately owned family cattle property.

Day 5 � Cobbold Gorge to Croydon
Stop for a break at the Cumberland Chimney. Built by Cornish masons, it is all that remains of a crushing plant for the surrounding gold mines. The waterhole here is home to abundant birdlife. Walk the historic streets of Croydon Historic Village and drive the 4km to Lake Belmore for a refreshing dip.



Day 6 � Croydon to Normanton
Arrange your trip to include an experience on the Gulflander train (Thursdays Croydon to Normanton) then explore Normanton�s historic past.



Day 7 � Normanton to Karumba
Spot Brolga, Jabiru and Herons between Normanton and Karumba before an afternoon�s fishing or cruising. Finish the day with a glorious Gulf sunset. *If you are returning to Cairns, consider splitting the highlights between your westward and eastward journeys and add an alternate route via Forsayth and Einasleigh.



Katherine to Normanton
It�s the iconic classic Australian adventure road trip!

Katherine is the central hub of The Savannah Way. It�s a great place to spend a few days, and provides easy access to other adventures in the Northern Territory�s Top End. There are many sealed routes available from here, as well as unsealed road experiences. The Savannah Way east of Katherine involves such a choice.

Travellers in a two wheel drive or with a caravan can stay on the bitumen via Daly Waters and Cape Crawford as far as Borroloola and its great fishing. Two wheel drivers heading across the continent should look at travelling via Three Ways (near Tennant Creek), Camooweal and Mount Isa. Head north at Cloncurry along the Matilda Highway to Normanton and Cairns for a fully sealed journey maximizing your Savannah Way experience.

Four wheel drivers enjoy the adventurously remote Roper Bar route or Borroloola to Burketown section of the Savannah Way for great fishing, unsealed roads with few town style facilities and some gorgeous riverside camping spots. This is periodically closed or for high clearance four wheel drives only. Please check road conditions before travel. See our Information for Travellers section here (http://www.savannahway.com.au/roads.html).

Lawn Hill Gorge is one of The Savannah Way�s icons, and combined with a visit to Riversleigh Fossil fields is a �must do� side route. Although unsealed this road is often open for two wheel drive vehicles.




5 Day Itinerary: ( we know we reversedit instead of Noramanton to Katherine)
Katherine to Normanton Day 1 � Katherine to Daly Waters
Stock up in Katherine then head south for a walk through Cutta Cutta Caves and swim at Mataranka thermal pools before a night at a classic bush pub in Daly Waters.

Day 2 � Daly Waters to Borroloola
Sealed road today, with lunch at Cape Crawford and a walk at Caranbirini before refuelling at Borroloola.



Day 3 � Borroloola to Kingfisher Camp
Remote driving to a lovely campsite.


Day 4 � Kingfisher Camp to Adel�s Grove
An afternoon canoeing and swimming!

Day 5 � Adel�s Grove to Normanton
Head via Gregory Downs and Burketown, stopping at Leichhardt Falls for a walk.



Katherine to Darwin
This is the best web site we can find for this section
Katherine to Darwin - darwintoaliceSprings.com



Real getaways from Darwin
Darwin to Borroloola 4wd road trip in Northern Territory Australia
• Darwin to Lorella Springs Caravan Park Fishing, Camp and Station
Darwin to Pungalina Station4wd road trip - Caravan and Camping Accommodation
• Darwin to Cape Craword and the Lost City 4wd road trip in far east Northern Territory Australia
Darwin to Borroloola NT Luxury Houseboats or the McArthur River a 4wd road trip in Northern Territory Australia
Darwin to Bauhinia Downs Station a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Caranbirini Nature Reserve a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Crab Claw Island a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Cobourg Peninsula in Garig Gunak Barlu Gurig National Park remote and needs a permit a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Tjuwaliyn (known as Douglas) Hot Springs in the Daly Region a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Edith Falls a road trip
Darwin to Umbrawarra Gorge a 4wd road trip
Darwin to Butterfly Gorge a 4wd road trip Not the Buttefly Gorge in Nitmiluk this is in the Douglas Daly Region and when I went there were Monarch butterflies hanging off the wall and shout sent 1000's into flight I could see it 100's of metres away there were so many - I think it's seasonal though folks the butterflies ask at Top End Tourism visitors centre in Darwin before you go.