People on guided tour at Undara Lava Tubes

Where to go

Gulf Savannah & Outback

Discover Where the Outback Meets the Sea

A vast untouched region stretching from the east coast right across the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Gulf Savannah is dotted with geological wonders, historic mining towns and legendary fishing spots.

As you travel here you start to slow down, to feel the heartbeat of the region and get a glimpse of just how amazing it is

Bram Collins – Undara Experience

Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla Pational Park

ON THE WAY

The Savannah Way is one of Australia’s great road trips, an epic journey across the top of the country running 3700km through three states and territories from Cairns to Broome. On the way, it passes through 15 National Parks and five World Heritage Sites, across vast cattle stations and through historic mining towns. The section of the route from Cairns to Darwin is largely sealed, meaning it’s relatively easy to explore this vast region.

The Savannah Way

savannahlander train

MAKE TRACKS

For a different take on the landscape, hop aboard a train. The legendary Gulflander is the train that goes “from nowhere to nowhere” on a one-of-a-kind line connecting Normanton and Croydon. The Savannahlander runs in a four-day loop from Cairns to the old goldfields town of Forsayth.

Train experiences

THE AWESOME ANCIENT

Ancient geological wonders create an extraordinary landscape. Be awed by the sheer walls of Copperfield Gorge near Einasleigh, walk through the world’s largest lava tubes at Undara or explore the rugged sandstone formations of Cobbold Gorge. Don’t miss the Riversleigh fossil deposits outside Mount Isa, which are some of the richest and most extensive in the world, dating back 15-25 million years, and the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, home to spectacular limestone caves and galleries of Indigenous art.

Geological wonders

Fossicking in the Tropical North Queensland Outback

GO FOR GOLD

Miners were some of the first to settle this region, flocking here in search of gold, silver, tin and lead during the 19th century. The region is also rich in gems like agate, quartz, topaz and amethyst. Purchase a Fossickers License and head to one of the many fossicking sites in the region.

Discover Gems

Castnetting Karumba

GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS

This is also the place to meet genuine Outback characters. Join them for a beer in a tiny country pub or chat about the journey ahead at a remote roadhouse on the Savannah Way. They’ll be able to recommend the best fishing spots around Normanton or the best place to buy fresh prawns straight from a trawler in Karumba. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation.

Tips

  • Clear skies and few artificial lights make for some of the best stargazing in the country. From late September to early November, the incredible Morning Glory cloud formations – long straight lines of cloud – stretch for thousands of kilometres across the Gulf of Carpentaria.

  • The fishing is incredible around the Gulf Savannah, with barramundi found all over the region. Catch bountiful blue salmon, grunter and bream around Karumba, and sweetlip, coral trout, parrot fish and red emperor off Sweers and Mornington islands.

  • Don’t forget your binoculars – it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise, especially in the wet season. Some 20 wetlands across the Gulf Savannah attract thousands of migratory birds. Mutton Hole Wetland is home to brolgas, whistling ducks and sarus cranes.

Discover the Gulf Savannah

In the Gulf Savannah region you can hop aboard two of Australia’s great train journeys, discover ancient fossils, fossick for gems and meet a host of authentic Outback characters.

dirt road on the Savannah Way
Gulf Savannah & Outback
Savannah Way – An Outback Adventure through Gulf Country

From sculptural gorges, to bird-filled wetlands, experience 1,099kms of pure outback adventure as you drive Queensland’s Savannah Way.

Read more
Gulf Savannah & Outback
10 outback towns to add to your itinerary

Hit the road and explore these tiny towns on your next adventure west into the Gulf Savannah and Outback country of Tropical North Queensland.

Read more
Big lizard at jabiru safari lodge mareeba
Uncategorised
Big things with big attitudes

Not all Big Things are cringe-worthy kitsch. The Big Wet makes our list thanks to its influence on Big Waterfalls while dust storm-creating Big Trucks are a part of everyday life in the outback.  We’re also rather partial to seriously Big Trees in these parts.

Read more
undara lava tubes archway explorer tour
Gulf Savannah & Outback
Why the Undara Lava Tubes should be on your must-see list

Some adventures are off the beaten track and others, like the Undara Lava Tubes, are underneath it. You’ll need to dip below the earth’s surface, to explore these famous 190,000-year-old lava tunnels that point to an explosion when 23 cubic kilometres of lava flowed for 160 kilometres, carving a natural playground south-west of Cairns.

Read more
Island Stars Dance Troupe performing on the beach at Prince of Wales Island in the Torres Strait
Indigenous Culture
Ways to connect with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cultures

Tropical North Queensland is the only region in Australia with two distinct Indigenous cultures, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Connect with these ancient cultures 60,000 years in the making.

Read more
Gillies range road
Uncategorised
7 road trips you don’t want to miss

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned road trip. Whether it’s a leisurely Sunday drive or an extended journey, hitting the road offers unbridled freedom. So fasten your seatbelt, shuffle your favourite playlist and settle back as you journey through Tropical North Queensland.

Read more
kid picking a mango
Uncategorised
Why you should visit the tropics in summer

From cosy rainforest retreats to once-in-a-lifetime Great Barrier Reef reef events, epic waterfalls to spectacular outback scenery, this is why you should put the green light on your summer holiday.

Read more
Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight
Uncategorised
Top Scenic Flights

From scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforest to flying to an ancient aboriginal rock art site or undertaking an epic helicopter pub crawl, take to the sky on your Tropical North Queensland adventure.

Read more
Aerial of Kalkani Crater at sunset

Getting here

  • dirt road on the Savannah Way

    By car

    Self-drive or hire a car and journey along the Savannah Way. The route is accessible with a two-wheel drive, although four-wheel drive vehicles can venture off the grid and discover the many loop roads of the Gulf Savannah and Outback region.

  • The Gulflander crossing a bridge

    By rail

    Queensland Rail’s, Savannahlander departs Cairns weekly for Forsayth with touring options available along the itinerary. The Gulflander famously travels from nowhere to nowhere, travelling from Normanton to Croydon once a week with a return fare also available.

  • River channels aerial

    By air

    REX Regional Express offers direct flights from Cairns to Normanton, Burketown, Doomadgee and Mornington Island. Charter flights are also available to Undara, Forsayth and several other locales.

  • Bus in Karumba

    By bus/coach

    Trans North Bus & Coach Service operates the passenger and light freight service from Cairns to Karumba servicing many regional towns en route. They also provide bus links for the Gulflander and Savannahlander rail services.

Stay

The perfect spots for a little R&R.

 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR

Tropical North Queensland might be famous for the place where the rainforest meets the reef, but did you know we also have a place where the sea meets the outback?🐠☀️

This is #Karumba, a gorgeous spot in the Gulf of Carpentaria, famed for its spectacular sunsets and epic fishing🎣🍺

📸 @lotzys_adventures #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia
Winter in the outback? Now that’s what we call heaven ☀️ If you’re visiting @cobboldgorge, don’t forget to book a boat or SUP tour 🛶 There’s no better way to get up close & personal with the beauty of the gorge ✨ Beneath your board, native fish dart through the waters & beside you, the sandstone walls soar 19 metres high! 🐠⛰

📸 @hjones0710 #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia 

[ID: People in a small boat travelling through Cobbold Gorge. The water is green and blue in colour and surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs]
Ever wanted to visit an outback oasis in @tropicalnorthqueensland? Then #LawnHillGorge in Boodjamulla National Park is the place to be! 🏜

You’ll find this beauty along the @savannah_way_australia, boasting vivid organ sandstone cliffs, towering above the emerald green lime-rich waters of Lawn Hill Creek🚙🍃 Paddle through the lily-clad waters of the creek, explore hidden waterfalls or take a walk down memory lane & learn about ancient fossils & the local Aboriginal culture 🛶🦕
​
Boodjamulla National Park is home to freshwater crocodiles - while freshwater crocs are typically shy & will stay away people. Please be respectful while exploring their habitat. Remember to listen to your guides, obey any warning signs & keep your distance from wildlife 🌴

📸 @phlipvids #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia
This isn’t your every day photo of a tropical paradise, but around here, we’re not limited to just reef & rainforest - we’ve got outback tracks too! 🏜

Say hello to Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park in #CapeYork ✨Open from June to December, this outback paradise is is renowned for its vast river systems & spectacular wetlands 🌴 The park has a rich & diverse landscape, with grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, coastal estuaries, mangroves & mudflats even! You can also find sandstone hills & escarpments on the southern end of the park 😍 It’s also a place of local Aboriginal significance, with sites associated with occupation, ceremonies & stories of ancestral spirits found throughout the park 👣 

📸 @true.north.adventures #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia

Subscribe to
our newsletter

Opt in below to start receiving inspiration straight to your inbox

Subscribe

* indicates required