The Savannah Way

You’ve driven over the Northern Territory border and into the gates of Hell; correction, into Hell’s Gate. Although this spot might not have the prettiest name, Hell’s Gate Roadhouse is a welcome stop as you arrive in outback Queensland. Pull up a pew just 50km east of the border and chow down on a homemade meal.

Spend your arvo exploring Riversleigh World Heritage Site, which is a 40min drive from Adel’s Grove. The Riversleigh Fossil Fields is the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia, home to fossils dating back 25 million years.

From the Lawn Hill Gorge Camping Area, head 217km north-east to Burketown. Try your hand at catching a barra in Burketown, 2.5hrs down the road, and you’ll soon see why it’s the barra capital of the country. Not packed a rod and reel? Stop by at the local general store and yarn with locals for insider knowledge on the best fishing spots.

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Burketown Caravan Park has it’s own fishing tackle store, ice, bait and fish cleaning area, making it a winner.

Learn the history of Traditional Owners on a memorable stargazing tour over the salt plains, north of Burketown with Yagurli Tours. Dreamtime stories of the Gandalidda People will be interpreted through the stars, in skies completely free from light pollution in this culturally significant place. Or hit the skies in an Aloft Hot Air Balloon to see Australia’s largest salt pans from above.

When a replica statue of the largest croc ever shot competes with a purple pub as the most photographed thing in Normanton, you know you’re in a bewdy of a place. Jump on a pub-crawl with a dusty twist and visit the Albion Hotel (with its famous murals painted by Aussie painter and explorer, Percy Trezise), the Purple Pub (National Hotel) and the Central Hotel and chat to the locals. Normanton is also rich in exploration history with the last marked campsite of Australian explorers, Burke and Wills nearby.

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Throw a line off the banks of the Norman River and rest your head at the nearby Albion Hotel, which offers a pretty good feed. 

Georgetown is the gateway to Etheridge Shire, the “golden heart of the gulf”, which is full of fossicking sites and gem-laden landscapes. A gold mining hub in its heyday, Georgetown attracts fossicking folk hunting for semi-precious stones like topaz, quartz, spinel, garnet, cairngorm, aquamarine and sapphires. If you don’t fancy a treasure hunt, head to the TerrEstrial Centre to see the 4,500 specimens at Ted Elliot Mineral Collection, avid collector, Ted Elliot’s lifetime collection. The centre is also a Visitor Information Centre, Council Library and Internet Cafe, so stay a little while.

With so much to do at Cobbold Gorge, it’s worth dedicating a whole day to explore. Guided tours through the gorge are conducted on custom-made boats with virtually silent, electric motors. Opt for the 3hr tour which includes insights into the formation of the large, sandstone walls, a walk to the grave of pioneer John Corbett and a guided bushwalk to the top of the escarpment.

If you’re feeling adventurous, hop aboard a stand-up paddle board to explore the gorge or take to the skies on a scenic helicopter flight.

Head east to Mount Surprise, a quaint country town, which is great place to refuel and grab a bite to eat. Or stay a little longer and Fossick for gems in O’Briens. If you’re passing through Mount Surprise on a Thursday or Friday, you may cross tracks with the Savannahlander, another iconic train journey.

Fuel up with some lunch at the Fettler’s Iron Pot Bistro and tackle one of the nearby walks. The Kalkani Crater is a stunner and has a 2.4km walking loop around the rim of the crater and is a stellar spot for sunset, as is the Wildlife at Sunset tour, where you can enjoy wine and cheese from an exclusive location, before heading to Barkers Cave to watch the microbats emerge for the evening.

Say hooroo to the outback as the red scenery gradually transforms to green as you enter the Atherton Tablelands. Pull up at Mount Garnet for your final outback location and a feed before driving a further 16km to Innot Hot Springs where the natural hot springs are said to have healing properties. If the water there is too hot, Innot Springs Health and Leisure Park has pools filled with the natural mineral water at varying temperatures.

A further 26 km north-east brings you to Millaa Millaa, home to the famous Waterfall Circuit, as well as a stellar lookout over the rolling green hills. Swim in the iconic Millaa Millaa Falls and Ellinjaa Falls and see the staggering Zillie Falls from the Lookout.

Swim in an ancient crater lake at Lake Eacham or relax with a Devonshire Tea with views over Lake Barrine. Drive a few kms to nearby Yungaburra to see the giant curtain fig tree and search for platypus in Peterson Creek.

Time to jump back in the car and track on to Mareeba for a taste of outdoor adventure and rich history. Stop in at the Heritage Museum and Information Centre for an interactive look into the town’s history. Or if your idea of adventure is hiking, camping and the great outdoors – make a splash at Davies Creek Falls or Emerald Creek Falls (don’t forget to stop in for Ice Cream while you’re here!).

Optional: Set up camp at Davies Creek Falls and extend your trip by a few more days!

Head “down the hill” to Cairns, the final destination of the Savannah Way. Cairns is the launch-pad to the Great Barrier Reef and there’s plenty of ways to see the big blue. Stay at one of the caravan parks between Cairns and Palm Cove or hit the hay at one of the great hotels in the Cairns CBD.

Day tours to the reef or Green or Fitzroy Island depart within walking distance from most major hotels. If you’re staying over the weekend, make a beeline to Rusty’s Market, where regional fresh produce can be picked up by the box-load. There’s also an exceptional number of restaurants and cafes to choose from, many with Esplanade or water-front locations.