Savannah Way

You’ll start your journey in the tropical city of Cairns, from where you can explore two World Heritage areas: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Initially you’ll be following the same route as the Great Inland Way, passing through Mareeba and then Ravenshoe.

Then there’s the Undara Volcanic National Park, where you will see the world-famous lava tubes. Next comes Einasleigh, where the Savannahlander train from Cairns stops outside the pub. Via turning off the main highway at Georgetown, you can enjoy cruising the Cobbold Gorge, which is only 2-metres wide in some places with 30-metre sandstone cliffs on either side!

See the amazing mineral collection in Georgetown before continuing on now passing through the gulf country Savannah grasslands, before reliving the gold mining days as you explore the wellpreserved buildings of Croydon’s historic precinct. At Normanton you can go croc spotting or fishing on the river, or take a detour north to the coast to experience Karumba’s famous sunsets and amazing fishing.

Still travelling through grasslands rich with wildlife including an array of birds, you’ll reach Burketown, where the Morning Glory wave-shaped cloud formation rolls across the Gulf of Carpentaria at dawn between late September and early November.

Relax in the outback oasis of Adel’s Grove before exploring the World Heritagelisted Riversleigh Fossil Fields, then take a detour south and be awestruck at Boodjamulla National Park’s spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge. Before crossing the Western Australia border, see the Aboriginal community of Doomadgee and then stop awhile at the Hell’s Gate Roadhouse.

Places of Interest

CAIRNS - The only place on the planet where two World Heritage Wonders sit side by side. Here, the world’s largest reef – The Great Barrier Reef meets Daintree Rainforest.

ATHERTON - Atherton Tablelands is a short drive inland from Cairns and is a known World Heritage Wet Tropics waterfall circuit. Stop into Crystal Caves and see the world’s largest Amethyst.

UNDARA - Undara Volcanic National Park is in North Queensland, notable for lava tubes and gem fossicking.

MOUNT SURPRISE - Mount Surprise is a railway town and hub for gem fossicking including topaz, quartz and garnet to be found.

COBBOLD GORGE - Cobbold Gorge is a six hour drive from Cairns, located deep in the Queensland Outback.

NORMANTON - Normanton is a small cattle town notably home to an 8.64m long statue of a saltwater crocodile capture in the Norman River in 1957.

BOODJAMULLA NATIONAL PARK - Previously known as Lawn Hill National Park, Boodjamulla National Park is home to exceptional gorges, sandstone ranges and fossil deposits.

BROOME - Broome is a popular coastal town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia built on the pearling trade.