Cairns to Darwin, Savannah Way 10 Day Tour

Departing your Cairns accommodation, we start our journey by heading south and ascending the Gillies Range. Venturing on to the Atherton Tablelands, we wind through dairy country to visit Lake Barrine & Millstream Falls, stopping in Ravenshoe township for lunch.  Continuing West to Mount Garnet sees us traverse cattle and outback countryside on our way to the infamous Undara Lava Tubes for an afternoon guided tour of these spectacular tubes. Then heading onto Mount Surprise where we overnight at Bedrock.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Bedrock (ensuite)

After breakfast we travel across the outback and onto Georgetown. After an optional stop to view the mineral museum, we continue west to Croydon and enjoy lunch at Lake Belmore, Croydon’s water supply. Our next destination is Normanton on the Norman River. Normanton is home to crocodile statue Krys – Krys was the largest crocodile ever shot in Australia at 8.63m. We take an afternoon drive out to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria, famous for its fishing and industry ports for cattle and zinc mining. We finish the day at Karumba and watch the beautiful sunset.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Karumba (ensuite)

After a morning look around the old train station, we keep heading west through the huge cattle stations of the Gulf Savannah region and cross the Leichardt River into Burketown. A tiny battler’s town, Burketown had a population of 238 in the 2016 census! The town is situated 30km inland from the Gulf of Carpentaria and named after explorer Robert O’Hara Burke of ‘Burke and Wills’ fame. Enjoy the Gambumanda Sunset Cruise, you can experience the magic of the vivid crimson shades of an outback sunset as you cruise the calm and pristine waters of the Gambumanda (Albert River) aboard our custom vessel. Along with the Dreamtime stories of the Gangalidda people, your guide will share their traditional knowledge and unique insights into the local river system and its diverse range of animals and birdlife. Optional stargazing and/or Indigenous Hot Air Balloon ride (own cost – organised by guide on tour).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Savannah Lodge (ensuite)

Enjoy a relaxed late start as we continue following the Savannah Highway, heading through cattle stations, two of the biggest in the Gulf Country. A day of fun exploring with river crossings, ample wildlife and amazing scenery as we make our way into Hells Gate for the night. Optional scenic helicopter flight (own cost – organised by guide on tour).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hells Gate Roadhouse (ensuite)

We leave Queensland and cross the border into the Northern Territory. Visiting parts of the Western Gulf including King Ash Bay which is the mining port. You’ll appreciate the vastness of the area as we stop ‘somewhere in the unknown’ for lunch before journeying to Borroloola. A small mining and fishing township on the McArthur River, 50km from the Gulf of Carpentaria is our stay for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Borroloola (ensuite)

It’s luxury this morning with ten minutes of sealed road before leaving the bitumen to enter Limmen National Park where we visit the phenomenal rock formations of the Southern Lost City. The erosion of the sandstone escarpment has led to the formation of numerous, large sandstone spires and rounded domes giving it the name ‘lost city’. We cross the Limmen Bight, Cox and Towns Rivers and other numerous wet and dry riverbeds before arriving to the Roper River. We continue through to the old Roper Bar Police Station and Lock Up; this was once where the only crossing was found ‘the Bar’. We head west from this point toward the Stuart Highway and to Mataranka where we overnight. You can rejuvenate yourself in the thermal rock pools found here.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mataranka (ensuite)

After an early start, we continue north with our first stop being Nitmiluk National Park where we take a cruise down the beautiful and rocky, Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge). Nitmiluk is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘cicada dreaming’. From here it’s onto Edith Falls and time for a swim after lunch. The afternoon’s drive takes us through Pine Creek before we head to Kakadu National Park via the Kakadu Highway for our next two nights. This area is filled with spectacular scenery, pristine wetlands, billabongs, birdlife and wildlife. Our two nights stay in Kakadu allows us to visit a variety of significant areas of the National Park.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Kakadu (ensuite)

Today you enjoy an early morning cruise on the famous Yellow Waters, abundant with many species of birds and the mighty saltwater crocodile, followed by a well-deserved breakfast. View the iconic Waterfalls of Kakadu National Park and visit Jim Jim Falls. There is a bushwalk to access the falls is rewarded with a close up viewing of the Spectacular Cascading Waterfalls. Northern Section of the National Park – Ubirr Rock & Cahills Crossing. The Rock is on the edge of Arnhem Land. A climb to the top is rewarded with staggering 360º views over the Nardab floodplains and into Arnhem land. Optional 60 Minute Sunset Scenic Flight (own cost – organised by guide on tour).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Kakadu (ensuite)

Today we travel across the floodplains of the South Alligator River and further through Kakadu National Park to Bark Hut at Annaburroo, where we take a short break. From here we head off to the small village of Corroboree before heading off the main road and travel through the Marrakai region crossing the Alligator River and on our way to Batchelor.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Batchelor (ensuite)

Visit Tolmer and Florence Falls for morning tea.  Travelling further into the park, we head to Wangi Falls where we have lunch. The afternoon sees us tour through Tumbling Waters (named after the rapids where gold was discovered) and on to Berry Springs (crystal clear warm springs) before re-joining the highway. We pass through the towns of Noonamah and Palmerston before arriving into Darwin city late afternoon – this concludes our memorable tour across two states and over 4000 kilometres.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We begin our tour departing Darwin from your Hotel, passing through the towns of Palmerston and Noonamah. We stop at Berry Springs (crystal clear warm springs) and Tumbling Waters (named after the rapids where gold was discovered) before venturing into Litchfield National Park. Covering approximately 1500 square kilometres, Litchfield became a National Park in 1986 and whilst traversing the park, we’ll visit the delightful Tolmer, Florence and Wangi Falls. As our first busy day comes to a close, we’ll finish up with a short drive to the small township of Batchelor where we find our overnight accommodation.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Batchelor (ensuite)

Leaving Batchelor, we continue along the Stuart Highway, turning off at Humpty Doo and venturing along the Arnhem Highway.  Stopping at Fog Dam – This area is filled with spectacular scenery, pristine wetlands, billabongs, birdlife and wildlife.  Lunch at the Bark Hut and then on through to Ubirr Rock Art and Cahills Crossing, which is on the edge of Arnhem Land.  Then making our way into Jabiru for the next two nights.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Kakadu (ensuite)

Our two nights stay in Kakadu allows us to visit a variety of significant areas of the National Park. We include visits to: The iconic Waterfalls of Kakadu National Park visiting Jim Jim Falls with a moderate bushwalk to access the falls is rewarded with a close up viewing of the Spectacular Cascading Waterfalls. Burrungkuy (Nourlangie Rock Art Site) experience true Arnhem Land with amazing sites including Nourlangie Rock and occupation sites dated in excess of 20,000 years. We explore and view unique aboriginal art & culture, where the art is inspiring, colorful and sacred, from a culture dating back more than 45,000 years. Regarded as some of the oldest and finest to be found anywhere in the world recorded on rock walls and inside caves, these occupation sites give a fascinating insight into one of the world’s oldest and most unique cultures in this remote region. Optional 60 Minute Sunset Scenic Flight (own cost – organised by guide on tour).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Kakadu (ensuite)

We rise early and head to Yellow Waters where we take the spectacular morning cruise on the Yellow Waters Billabong. This is a particularly special time of the day and provides us with the best opportunity to see and experience the wonders of Yellow Waters. Following the Cruise, we have breakfast. After breakfast make our way out of the park, we turn on to the Kakadu Highway heading towards Stuart Highway into Katherine Gorge and Nitmuluk. A special cruise today as we head into the Gorge itself, Nit Nit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour takes around two hours and explores two sections of this special place. Continuing our journey towards Mataranka, where we arrive late in the afternoon. We make our way over to the thermal Mataranka Spring for a swim – a refreshing way to relax after today’s drive before arrival at our accommodation.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mataranka (ensuite)

Leaving the tranquility of Mataranka, we head east and away from the Stuart Highway to the old Roper Bar Police Station and Lock Up; this was once where the only crossing was found ‘the Bar’. After departing the Roper River, we pass through the towns of Cox, Limmen Bight and other numerous wet and dry Rivers enroute to Limmen National Park. Within the National Park we visit the phenomenal rock formations of the Southern Lost City. The erosion of the sandstone escarpment here has led to the formation of numerous, large sandstone spires and rounded domes giving it the name ‘Lost City’. Continuing on, we are eventually treated to some luxury in the form of a bitumen road before reaching Borroloola. This small town, located on the McArthur River 50km from the Gulf of Carpentaria, is supported by the mining and fishing industries.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Borroloola (ensuite)

Departing Borroloola, you’ll appreciate the size of Australia as we traverse the outback leaving the Northern Territory to cross the border into Queensland and onto Hells Gate and the eerie rock formations found here. In the late 1800s, police stationed at nearby Corinda provided regular escorts for settlers as far as the rocky escarpments of Hell’s Gate, refusing to accompany the travelers past this point because of the fierceness of Aboriginals in the area. Optional scenic helicopter flight (own cost – organised by guide on tour).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hells Gate (ensuite)

Enjoy a relaxed late start as we continue following the Savannah Highway, heading through cattle stations, two of the biggest in the Gulf Country. A day of fun exploring with river crossings, ample wildlife and amazing scenery as we make our way into Burketown for the night. A tiny battler’s town, Burketown had a population of 238 in the 2016 census! The town is situated 30km inland from the Gulf of Carpentaria and named after explorer Robert O’Hara Burke of ‘Burke and Wills’ fame. Enjoy the Gambumanda Sunset Cruise, you can experience the magic of the vivid crimson shades of an outback sunset as you cruise the calm and pristine waters of the Gambumanda (Albert River) aboard our custom vessel. Along with the Dreamtime stories of the Gangalidda people, your guide will share their traditional knowledge and unique insights into the local river system and its diverse range of animals and birdlife. Optional stargazing and/or Indigenous Hot Air Balloon ride (own cost – organised by guide on tour).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Savannah Lodge (ensuite)

Departing Burketown, we cross the Leichardt River and continue through the huge cattle stations of the Gulf Savannah region to Normanton, on the Norman River. Normanton is home to crocodile statue Krys – Krys was the largest crocodile ever shot in Australia at 8.63metres. Whilst in Normanton we also take a look around the old train station and the ‘Purple Pub’ which is in fact, purple! We take an afternoon drive out to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria, famous for its fishing and industry ports for cattle and zinc mining. We finish the day at Karumba and watch the beautiful sunset.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Karumba (ensuite)

This morning we depart Normanton and head to the coastal township of Karumba, on the Gulf of Carpentaria, famous for its fishing and industry ports for cattle and zinc mining. We continue through the outback on the Gulf Developmental Road to Croydon and Lake Belmore (Croydon’s water supply). Further on we arrive in Georgetown; here we have an optional stop to view the mineral museum. We travel to Mount Surprise where we will overnight.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Bedrock Village (ensuite)

We start today with a guided tour of the infamous Undara Lava Tubes before heading east to Mount Garnet through cattle country and outback scenery. We continue on to Millstream Falls and Ravenshoe township for lunch.  Further on is the beautiful then the Tablelands region with its dairy farms, crops, rainforest and greenery – a stark change from the outback regions travelled over the last few days. Heading through World Heritage Rainforest area, before returning to your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch