Cairns to Katherine on Australia’s Adventure Drive savannahway.com.au Step aboard the Gulflander for a rail journey into Queensland’s pioneering past. The Heritage-listed Normanton to Croydon isolated railway line is affectionately said to go from ‘nowhere to nowhere’. Throughout the journey, our onboard accredited Savannah guides will entertain and delight you with their knowledge of local flora and fauna, and tales of the region’s colourful characters. Join us for a ‘must do’ experience onboard this charming rail motor. For more information call 07 4745 1391 or visit gulflander.com.au QRT3007_Gulf Savanah Guide_InsideCover_135mmx195mm.indd 1 29/11/2018 13:23:19 Take the journey through frontier country from the once bustling river port of Normanton to the rich gold fields of Croydon, the Gulflander is a tourism icon and working tribute to the early pioneers. Other seasonal experiences include the Golden Sunset, Critters Camp and Billy Tea Tours. Queensland’s Gulf Savannah Carpentaria Shire Gulf Savannah Map 2 Normanton 31 Queensland’s Gulf Savannah 3 Karumba 39 Visitor Information Centres 3 Karumba Point 43 Climate 5 Regional Transport 7 Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Self Drive 8 Kowanyama 46 Services 10 Communications 11 Burke Shire Why Not Try ... 12 Burketown 49 Gregory Downs 52 Adels Grove 52 Eastern & Southern Gateways Boodjamulla National Park (Lawn Hill) 53 The Kennedy / Hann Highway 13 Riversleigh World Heritage Area 53 The Matilda Highway 13 Tirranna Springs Roadhouse 55 The Tablelands 15 Chillagoe 17 Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire 55 Hell’s Gate Roadhouse 55 Etheridge Shire Undara Volcanic National Park 19 Mornington Shire Mount Surprise 19 Mornington Island 56 O’Brien’s Creek 20 Sweers Island 56 Forsayth 20 Einasleigh 22 The Northern Territory Flat Creek Station 22 Seven Emu Station 57 Cobbold Gorge 23 Mangangoora Station 57 Agate Creek 23 Robinson River Community 57 Gold Prospecting 23 Borroloola 59 Gilberton Outback Retreat 23 King Ash Bay 59 Oaks Rush Outback Resort 23 Cape Crawford 59 To the Kennedy / Hann Highway 23 Driving to Mataranka 61 Georgetown 25 Mataranka 61 Driving to Daly Waters 63 Daly Waters 63 Croydon Shire Katherine 63 Croydon 27 Katherine Region 64 The Gulf Savannah Visitor Guide has been produced by Savannah Way For information about advertising Limited. We are a non-profit organisation promoting the Savannah Way in this guide or at for local community benefit, and the Local Tourism Organisation for Queensland’s Gulf Savannah. www.savannahway.com.au please contact: We work to ensure this publication’s accuracy however cannot be held responsible for any differing conditions. Travellers are advised to confirm [email protected] conditions and facilities with local sources en route. Cover - Yagurli Tours Burketown Australia’s Adventure Drive - www.savannahway.com.au 1 Gulf Savannah Map To Darwin Katherine Mataranka Delta Downs Station Flat Creek Station Gilberton Three Ways Tennant Creek To Alice Springs DISTANCE CHART 700 739 1063 1405 479 Borroloola 221 1218 1542 926 Burketown 705 2144 2468 Cairns 1763 324 Darwin 1439 Katherine Normanton Queensland’s Gulf Savannah From the Great Dividing Range in the east, to the Northern VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES Territory border in the west, the Gulf Savannah covers 186,000 Cairns & Tropical North Visitor Information Centre square kilometres. It features golden grasslands and savannah Ph: (07) 4051 3588 woodlands, historic mining towns and train journeys, abundant www.cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au wildlife and world renowned wetlands, Aboriginal communities, Kuranda Visitor Centre remote cattle stations and diverse geological wonders. Ph: (07) 4093 9311 www.kuranda.org Part of the attraction of this region is its remote and undeveloped Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Centre Ph: (07) 4092 5674 character. This means some facilities and services may not www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au be available in some parts of the region. These and other Yungaburra Visitor Information Centre seasonal factors need to be considered when travelling. Check Ph: (07) 4095 2416 www.yungaburra.com with local Visitor Information Centres for the latest conditions. Herberton Mining Museum & Visitor Information Centre Ph: (07) 4096 3474 www.herbertonvisitorcentre.com.au Malanda Falls Visitor Centre Ph: (07) 4096 6957 www.malandafalls.com.au Atherton Tablelands Information Centre Cairns to Broome via Katherine traverses spectacular scenery, Ph: (07) 4091 4222 five World Heritage Areas and over 20 national parks. At 3699 www.athertoninformationcentre.com.au kilometres it makes for repeat visits or an epic adventure Ravenshoe Visitor Centre across northern Australia. Shorter sections allow visitors to fly Ph: (07) 4097 7700 in and hire a vehicle from Cairns, Normanton or Darwin. www.ravenshoevisitorcentre.com.au Mount Garnet Visitor Information Centre The Savannah Way’s main route through Cairns, Mareeba, & Mini Museum Ravenshoe, Mt Garnet, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Croydon, Ph: (07) 4097 9230 www.mountgarnet.org.au Normanton and Karumba is sealed and suitable for caravan TerrEstrial Centre, Georgetown and two wheel drive touring. Side or alternate routes offer four Ph: (07) 4079 9027 wheel drive adventure. Roads from Normanton to Burketown www.terrestrialgeorgetown.com.au and beyond are largely unsealed and recommended for four Flinders Discovery Centre, Hughenden wheel drive and off road equipment. Ph: (07) 4741 2970 www.flinders.qld.gov.au Further information can be obtained from the Savannah Way Croydon True Blue Visitor Information Centre website at www.savannahway.com.au Ph: (07) 4748 7152 www.croydon.qld.gov.au Karumba Visitor Information Centre and Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre Ph: (07) 4745 2211 www.barracentre.com.au Normanton Visitor Information Centre Ph: (07) 4747 8444 www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au Savannah Guides is an award-winning network of tour Burketown Visitor Centre Ph: (07) 4745 5111 guides and operators with in-depth knowledge of the natural www.burketown.com.au and cultural environments across Australia’s vast tropical savannahs. Katherine Visitor Information Centre Ph: (08) 8972 2650 www.visitkatherine.com.au Look for Savannah Guides’ unique visitor experiences on your Tourism Top End, Darwin travels through the Gulf Savannah. Ph: (08) 8936 2499 www.tourismtopend.com.au For information on tours and accommodation visit www.savannah-guides.com.au Australia’s Adventure Drive - www.savannahway.com.au 3 Visitor Information Centres On-line or On-the-road can help you! ATHERTON TABLELANDS HERBERTON MINING MUSEUM KURANDA VISITOR MALANDA FALLS INFORMATION CENTRE & INFORMATION CENTRE INFORMATION CENTRE VISITOR CENTRE OPEN DAILY: 9am to 5pm OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4pm OPEN DAILY: 10am to 4pm OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4pm Cnr Main St & Silo Rd 1 Jack’s Road Therwine St 132 Atherton –Malanda Rd, Ph: 1300 366 361 Ph: 07 4096 3474 Ph: 07 4093 9311 Malanda • Ph: 07 4089 2583 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.trc.qld.gov.au/locations/atherton www.herbertonvisitorcentre.com.au www.kuranda.org www.malandafalls.com -tableland-information-centre MAREEBA HERITAGE MUSEUM & RAVENSHOE YUNGABURRA VISITOR VISITOR INFORMATION VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE VISITOR CENTRE INFORMATION CENTRE ALSO AVAILABLE AT OPEN DAILY: 9am - 5pm OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4pm OPEN DAILY: 9am - 5pm, CHILLAGOE 345 Byrnes St 24 Moore Street Sun 10am - 4pm MT GARNET Ph: 07 4092 5674 Ph: 07 4089 2243 Maud Kehoe Place AND [email protected] [email protected] Ph: 07 4089 2254 MILLAA MILLAA www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au www.trc.qld.gov.au/locations/ravenshoe-visitor-centre/ [email protected] www.yungaburra.com would love to see you! 4 Gulf Savannah, Northern Australia - Visitor Guide 2019 3065 TRC Vic Gulf Savannah A5 ad 2016.indd 1 16/11/2015 12:31 PM Climate DECEMBER TO MARCH is “The Wet” or “Green Season”. Average Average The countryside is lush and the birdlife is prolific. There Month is frequent rainfall and relatively high temperatures and Min-Max Celsius Rainfall mm humidity. Everything is growing and renewing itself. January 24-32 260 Road improvements have opened the region to visitors for most of this period between Cairns and Karumba. Check February 24-31 251 road conditions before travel with local Visitor Information March 23-31 158 Centres or Queensland Transport and Main Roads at www.131940.qld.gov.au / phone 13 19 40. Burke and April 22-29 31 Carpentaria Shire Councils provide daily Road Reports on Visitor Information Centre websites during the wet season. May 20-28 8 Wet roads and rising river systems can be dangerous and June 18-26 9 conditions can change rapidly with rainfall, especially at low level stream crossings. July 17-26 3 APRIL TO OCTOBER is a time of daily sunshine and very August 18-27 little rain. The warm days are balanced with cool nights 2 especially in July and August. The countryside turns golden. September 19-28 3 This is “The Dry” season and most popular time to travel on The Savannah Way. October 21-30 11 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER - Storm activity begins before the November 22-31 45 monsoon season. The late “Dry” has bird concentrations at their peak around water until the waterholes are replenished, December 23-31 144 birdlife increases and the countryside turn green again. Australia’s Adventure Drive - www.savannahway.com.au 5 CONNECTING REGIONAL QUEENSLAND 6 Gulf Savannah, Northern Australia - Visitor Guide 2019 Regional Transport Tours Local Travel Bookings You don't have to drive yourself - comprehensive guided A specialist Travel Agent for the region is: tours into the Gulf Savannah region are offered by: GULF SAVANNAH TOURS OZ TOURS Phone: 1800 079 006 Phone: 1800 994 620 Email: [email protected] www.oztours.com.au Email: [email protected] OUTBACK AUSSIE TOURS Phone: 1300 78 78 90 www.gulfsavannahtours.com.au Email: [email protected] www.outbackaussietours.com.au All Visitor Information Centres listed in this Guide can HERITAGE TOURS Phone: 1800 77 55 33 advise on local accommodation, tours and attractions as Email: [email protected] www.heritagetours.com.au well as road conditions, travel times and local events.