Across the top of OZ

Vic · Guru

Across the top of OZ

Fried Rice · Guru

We prepared a list of brief references to notable parts of our 2011 Journey around the loop as help for pals about to do the Savannah Way.

We hope GNs here might also find some useful clues for similar travels.

Happy travels Fried Rice

Across the top in 2011 with Fried Rice

A list of leads to where we found highlights and/or good campsites during 2011.
Your best friend to develop these tips is of course Google.
"Camps 6 Australia Wide " references are included where relevant.
We'll let you sort the order apart from separating Qld, NT and WA.

Queensland

   Chillagoe Caves
   Mount Morgan Mine Tour
   Cobbold Gorge/van park via Forsayth
   Freecamp at St. Lawrence (C6 Qld89)
   Sunset Cruise with Ferryman, Karumba Alison Newton, prop.
   Murray Falls campground (C6 Qld27)
   Bed Rock van park Mount Surprise
   Croydon van park (C6 Qld252) and Heritage/visitor ctr. Kim/Christa, mgrs.
   Coffee Works, Mareeba
   Camooweal Billabong (C6 Qld315)
   "Drovers' Camp" Historic Ctr (Paul Finlay dines at P.O. Hotel; he's the very
   interesting curator if you can meet him)
   Leichhardt River Falls (C6 Qld270) VG campground


Northern Territory

   Katherine Gorge Breakfast Cruise
   Red Gum van park, Katherine
   Limmen National Park/ Butterfly Springs (C6 NT118)
   Guluyambi East Alligator River Cruise, ex Jabiru about $45, about 2        hours   VG
   Merl Campground (C6 NT171 mossies no extra charge!) a good base for some Indigenous culture experiences. Check Ubirr sunset.
   Yellow Waters Cruise ex Kakadu .. we went late afternoon, excellent! Try for an indigenous guide
   Pussy Cat Flats van park, Pine Creek (C6 NT185)
   Adelaide River van park, behind hotel.. a real Oasis run by very friendly.. Judy & Bob
   Keep River NP, Gurrandalng Camp (C6 NT207)




Western Australia

   Lake Argyle van park, Sunset Cruise on the lake
   KimberleyLand van park, Kununurra
   Artlandish Gallery, Kununarra
   Windjana Gorge NP and campground, (C6 WA632) Jandamarra story
   Derby.. Kimberley Entrance van park. VG
   Broome.. Willies Creek Pearl Farm (tour and in-store lecture)
   Broome.. PCYC van park
   Broome.. Roebuck Plains van park (1/2 hour out of town)
   Cape Leveque, some tough road but well worth taking on
   Whalesong campground (Cape L) run by Jacinta and Lenny
   Gambanan campground (Cape L)
   Beagle Bay Sacred Heart Church

   We "did" Gibb River Road several years ago.. significant memories of that
    include Mitchell Plateau and Mitchell Falls (tough road up!), Home Valley, too many gorges and waterfalls to recount, a super journey.

   There is so much more... many places have very good visitor centres, always a good starting point; standouts include Katherine, Broome, Derby, Croydon.

    Google was invaluable in our planning; for example here's a couple of links but there are oodles more....

    www.cookstours.com.au/          (Click on the book "Amazing North")

    http://www.savannahway.com.au/

    http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/kimberley-travel-guide.htm

Kaid · Guru

WOW, WOW, WOW, I am salivating just reading that smile smile smile

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Vic wrote:
Excellent List Fried Rice, thanks for sharing.
For WA over the top for others info, may I add Geike Gorge (Fitzroy Crossing) as one place not to be missed. Different from other gorges, only 18 kms from Fitzroy Crossing on a good bitumen road.....

-- Edited by Vic on Monday 26th of March 2012 10:13:30 AM

Great tips there FR,

and DO NOT stay at the caravan park in town, just out of town stay at the Fitzroy lodge.

Vic · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
Vic wrote:
Excellent List Fried Rice, thanks for sharing.
For WA over the top for others info, may I add Geike Gorge (Fitzroy Crossing) as one place not to be missed. Different from other gorges, only 18 kms from Fitzroy Crossing on a good bitumen road.....
Great tips there FR,
and DO NOT stay at the caravan park in town, just out of town stay at the Fitzroy lodge.

Don't you like my "lations" Womby, just because you're on the menu, lol!

Yes, like wombie says, on the east side of town just before the east side of the bridge over the Fitzroy crossing you will see the lodge/caravan park, very nice and lots of room for big rigs etc.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Good on you FR, we thought we'd "done" the North, now we are gonna have to go back and do it again!!! Yay!

Presently at Tenterfield, Qld by Friday.

Geoff n Jen · Senior Member

This sounds like a fabulous list I will cut n paste to my plans for going that way - Happy travels Gerty, free coffee here in Gympie

Cruising Granny · Guru

It looks like you have it well and truly covered. It's a great region which doesn't get much publicity until you get up that way.
I did the Savannahlander Train trip out of Cairns as far as Forsyth. I didn't know it was out there.
When I left Cairns I went west via Charters Towers to Hughenden and Richmond, and really enjoyed that part of the country.
The Richmond Hospital looked after me for a night, and the couple at the caravan park couldn't do enough for me when I had a "little turn" of vagueness. It's nice to have an evening walk around the local lake at the back of the park.
Those outback communities are so resourceful when it comes to entertaining themselves.

golivers travels · Guru

Hubby had a medical emergency at Cloncurry and could not express enough thanks for their help. Amazing whay the small towns can do. Glenda

deb-gary · Senior Member

friends told us savannah way could not be travelled with a standard caravan as it is too rough any feedback would be welcome.

Cruising Granny · Guru

There are some rough, unsealed roads which are quite narrow, but if you take care, and if you think your rig is up to it, you should be ok. Many people van it out to Mt. Surprise and the Undarra Lava Tubes. There are parks in both townships.
The road into Cobold Gorge station is accessible by a coaster bus, so you should be ok in the rig.
I'm not sure about creek crossings, but I think there are bridges out there from what I could see of the road from the train.
It's some hilly but not extreme terrain.
Take your time, drive according to the conditions and you'll be ok.

Fried Rice · Guru

You will have no difficulty with most of the SW, but if travelling before about May, be aware of possible need to detour around the Burketown-Borroloola and Limmen NP areas, parts of which can remain flooded and rough for weeks more than the rest of the route. If you have plenty of time it will all be a great adventure!

I note your location is Qld.. will you be visiting the gathering near Gympie in May? We (Fried Rice) will be going to NQ, maybe not beyond Townsville, after Easter. Perhaps we we could meet up somewhere for a chat about our experience and your plans?

Have you any thoughts yet on places you particularly want to visit (or avoid?) It's a bit difficult to condense tips for the whole journey in a page like this but bit by bit you will glean lots of info.. I recommend lots of time on the WWWeb searching links to the numerous places along your route.

You are starting plans well in advance.. good move!

Regards Fried Rice