Are you planning a Cairns to Darwin Road Trip? Driving across the top end of Australia is an amazing adventure through the outback. This journey will take you from the tropical rainforests of Far North Queensland through the bush and into the flat Savannah lands and deserts before you re-emerge into civilization in Darwin.
Many people on their big lap of Australia turn inland at Townsville (or even return to Townsville if they’ve visited the Cairns region). We have travelled both the Townsville route and the Cairns route and definitely prefer heading inland from Cairns.
This post outlines a road trip along the Savannah Way from Cairns up through the Atherton Tablelands, passing ancient volcanoes, gorges to the Gulf country before heading into the mining city of Mt Isa and crossing the border into the Northern Territory.
If you’re planning to drive from Cairns to Darwin, grab our
FREE AUSTRALIA ROAD TRIP PLANNING CHECKLIST
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Purchasing through these links supports our work and allows us to continue bringing you travel guides, like this, for free. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from qualifying sales. Thank you for your support.
When is the best time to drive from Cairns to Darwin?
The best time of year to be in the Top End is the dry season, which runs from May to October. Outside of these months, roads may become impassable after rain, and it will be very hot in the interior.
Many of the attractions and accommodations will be closed each year between November and April, so plan accordingly.
How long does it take to drive from Cairns to Darwin?
This drive is around 2,700km and would take 28 hours to drive directly without stopping. Of course we don’t recommend that! Our ideal Cairns to Darwin Road Trip itinerary would be at least 14 days. This would allow you time to enjoy the highlights along the way and also to take some of the epic detours we will outline below.
Before you leave – Planning your Cairns to Darwin Road Trip
As this road trip takes you into some of the remote Australian Outback, there’s a few things you should do to prepare before you go.
Make sure your vehicle is in sound mechanical condition. Check all your tyres for wear, including your spare.
Download any maps to your phone – mobile reception is very limited once you get into the outback.
Make sure you pack some emergency supplies, extra water and a first aid kit.
Cairns to Darwin Road Trip Highlights
Atherton Tablelands
If you haven’t already explored the Tablelands, its worth stopping off at a couple of the waterfalls on the way. After driving up the Gillies Highway Range, you could visit Millaa Millaa Falls, one of the most recognisable waterfalls in Australia.
Ravenshoe
Queensland’s highest town, and site of the highest pub in Queensland. This town survived on the timber industry until 1987 when the surrounding forest was heritage listed. Since then, Raveshoe relies on tourism and the beef and dairy industry.
Just past Raveshoe you can stop off at Millstream Falls, which is the widest waterfall in Australia.
The Innot Hot Springs is a great spot to stop and relax in the warm pools. You can visit the 6 thermal pools in the Innot Hot Springs Caravan and Leisure Park as a day visitor for $10, or simply walk to the right of reception and sit in the river.
When we visited there was a shovel here and people were digging out pools to sit in. Beware! The water can be very hot!
Undara Volcanic National Park
The highlight of the Undara Volcanic National Park is the Undara Lava Tubes. These “tubes” are like underground tunnels which were formed by a volcanic eruption 190,000 years ago. As the lava flowed, it cooled on the top, forming a crust. Molten lava continued to flow underneath, and when it left, a tube was formed.
The Undara Lava Tubes were discovered in the 1860s by the Collins family who had settled as graziers in the area. We did a guided tour with Bram Collins – a direct descendent of the original family.
You can stay at the Discovery Resort – Undara, which offers a range of accommodation options, including restored railway carriages! Of course, there is camping and a caravan park here too – perfect for your road trip.
The Undara Resort offers several activities. We did the 2-hour tour through the lava tubes, which we really enjoyed. If you’re staying at the resort they have a campfire every evening.
There are hiking trails nearby the resort, we hiked the Kalkani Volcano Rim Circuit, a 2.5km hike up and around the extinct volcano rim. While there isn’t much of a view down into the crater (too many trees), the views out over the surrounding bushland and breath-taking.
Apart from the ranger station, there is no sign of human habitation as far as the eye can see, in every direction.
The small town of Mt Surprise is a good spot to stop for fuel or a coffee. There’s not much here, a café, fuel station and a pub. There’s also a railway siding, as the Savannahlander historic train passes through here.
In the 19th century Georgetown was a bustling mining town, with a sizeable Chinese population. There are remnants of this bygone era in an open air museum in the town.
Cobbold Gorge – Optional Detour
We had never heard of Cobbold Gorge, but when we saw pictures on Instagram from a friends visit, we knew we had to go. Cobbold Gorge is one of those hidden gems that end up becoming a highlight.
The gorge was formed millions of years ago, and stretches almost 6km through the bush. You can take an electric boat cruise or try Stand Up Paddle Boarding here – but there are (freshwater) crocodiles in the water!
We did a three hour guided walk and boat cruise tour. After climbing up a short steep hill, you come to the Glass Bridge where you cross the narrow gorge. You’ll need to put on special shoe covers to walk across the glass bridge. The views down the gorge from above are beautiful, but honestly, I preferred the views from the boat cruise.
The walls of the gorge are beautifully coloured sandstone with stunning flowing formations.
NOTE: Access to the gorge is only possible on a guided tour.
Cobbold Gorge is located down a 40km dirt road from Georgetown. When we drove down, the road was quite corrugated but we know people who have been there in 2wd vans.
The Cobbold Gorge Village is open from the beginning of April to the end of October. You’ll find a variety of accommodation from basic camping sites, to more luxurious en-suite cabins. There is a restaurant, bar and even an infinity pool here.
Normanton
Apparently Normanton was the inspiration for Neville Shute’s novel “A Town Like Alice”. This small town just before the Gulf of Carpentaria offers a good place for travellers to stop off.
Get your photo taken with Krys – the largest crocodile ever killed in Australia. There is a scale replica of the crocodile in the main street. Now we’ve seen some big crocs (in captivity) and it’s hard to believe there could have been one this big!
Enjoy lunch (and a beer) in the Purple Pub – one of those iconic Aussie landmarks.
Karumba – Optional Detour
If you really want to see the Gulf Country (and especially if you don’t have a 4×4), take the road from Normanton to Karumba. This small town is right on the gulf, and is a popular spot with fishermen and sunset lovers alike.
The sunsets at the aptly named Sunset Tavern are some of the best we’ve ever seen. Nigel went out on a half day fishing charter and actually came back with fish! (It’s a running joke how he never catches a fish).
There are several caravan parks and motels in town if you’re looking for where to stay in Karumba.
Boodjamulla National Park (formerly Lawn Hill NP)
Boodjamulla is one of the most breath-taking places we’ve ever visited and an absolute highlight of our Big Lap of Australia. The park is centred around the Lawn Hill Gorge, which is spectacular with its red cliff walls and turquoise water.
If you’re coming from Normanton, turn off just before the Burke and Wills Roadhouse towards Gregory and then take the unsealed road past Adel’s Grove and into the National Park. While the road is unsealed, the condition is quite good, at least until you get into the park!
Camping is available in the park (National Park Campsite) and at Adel’s Grove.
NOTE: After sustaining major damage in the March 2023 floods, the Lawn Hill Gorge section (including the campsite) remains closed at the time of writing in November 2024. Check the Qld Parks website for up to date information on the park re-opening
Mount Isa
Mount Isa is a thriving mining town in the heart of the Queensland outback. The Mt Isa Mine is one of the most productive mines in the world. They mine lead, silver, copper and zinc here.
We were surprised as the town is larger than we expected. This is a great place to restock and get any repairs done to your vehicle if needed. There’s a Coles supermarket here, which will be your last major supermarket before Katherine.
You can visit the Outback at Isa centre to learn more about the mining industry as well as the fossil discoveries in the area. If you want to do a mine tour, check out the underground tour at the Hard Times Mine.
Welcome to the NT sign
After passing through the town of Camooweal (get fuel if you need to), you’ll cross the border into the Northern Territory. There’s a great photo opportunity at the sign!
Devils Marbles – Optional Detour
Once you get to the “Three Ways” and the Stuart Highway, you can turn right (north) to head directly to Darwin. If you’re not planning to visit Central Australia on this trip, you might like to take the 1.5hour detour down to Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles), just beyond Tennant Creek.
The Devils Marbles are one of the most unique places in Australia, with almost perfectly round granite rocks strewn across the desert over a relatively small area. Walking through these rock formations is an unmissable experience, especially at sunrise or sunset.
You can stay with your campervan or caravan at the Devils Marbles in the National Park campsite, or there is the Devils Marbles Hotel with motel style rooms just a bit further south.
Read more about the Devils Marbles on our Alice Springs to Darwin Road Trip Guide.
NOTE: You’ll need a valid NT Parks pass to visit any of the National Parks in the Northern Territory.
Daly Waters Pub
If you’re after an authentic outback pub experience, this probably isn’t it! But the Daly Waters Pub is an iconic stop on any trip through the NT. It’s busy and crowded and full of tourists, and yep, there’s bras hanging from the ceiling. BUT, the beer is cold and the food is good.
We stayed in the attached caravan park for one night, which was absolutely enough!
Larrimah
Up until a couple of years ago, nobody bothered to stop in Larrimah (population 11) – they’d look at the Pink Panther pub as they were driving past. Larrimah has a mysterious story attached, with the disappearance of Paddy Moriaty (and his dog) in 2017.
Since the 2018 podcast “Lost in Larrimah” and the 2023 documentary movie of the same name, I’m sure Larrimah receives quite a few more curious visitors – especially with the $250,000 reward for Paddy, who has never been found.
Mataranka and Bitter Springs
As you leave the desert and return to the bush, stop off to cool down in the springs at Mataranka, or, our preferred, Bitter Springs. These natural springs offer beautifully clear water and are welcome on a warm day.
Katherine
Katherine is the only larger town between Mount Isa and Darwin. If you’re planning to visit the National Parks in the area, make sure you stock up on groceries (and water) in Katherine.
We’ve spent a bit of time in and around Katherine over the last few years (I think we’ve visited 5 times?) and we are always surprised with what we find, whether it’s the street art, or a new hip café.
Nitmiluk National Park
The big drawcard near Katherine is the Nitmiluk National Park with its extensive 13 gorge system. This park is great for hiking, canoeing or simply taking a boat cruise through the gorges.
At the northern end of Nitmiluk you’ll find the Edith Falls (Leilyn) section. This large waterhole with several layers of waterfalls is very popular as a real oasis in the desert.
Darwin
Just over 3 hours drive from Katherine you’ll arrive in Darwin which is probably our favourite city in Australia. It’s isolated, tropical and has a really cool vibe. We always love coming to Darwin to check out the additions to the street art, find new bars, enjoy sunset at the Mindil Beach Markets, and just hang out in this amazing city.
Darwin is the perfect jumping off point for a visit to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Don’t miss these two before you continue on your Big Lap.
Essential Information for your Cairns to Darwin Road Trip
Don’t forget to grab our FREE Australia Road Trip Planning Checklist !
Top Tips for Driving from Cairns to Darwin
This is a remote outback drive. While the main road is sealed all the way, at times it is only one lane of sealed road. You will encounter Road Trains (large trucks towing 3 or even 4 trailers).
Road Trains have the right of way, so you should pull off to the side of the road when they approach. We recommend you include windscreen repair in your car/campervan insurance policy – we got at least 5 chips in our windscreen from various road train encounters!
Driving at night is not recommended on this route, as a lot of the outback is unfenced. Wildlife and livestock are likely to wander onto the road.
Make sure your vehicle is mechanically sound before you head off, and don’t forget to check your spare tyre. If you break down, stay with your vehicle! Someone will come past soon enough.
Passes and Permits
Queensland doesn’t charge an entry fee for it’s National Parks. For camping in Queensland National Parks you will require a camping permit to stay overnight.
A valid NT Parks Pass is required for all visitors entering National Parks in the Northern Territory. You can buy a day, 2-week or annual pass. Additional permits are required to camp overnight, and for some hikes. NT residents don’t require a Parks pass.
Fuel
While this journey takes you through a remote area, you are driving on the “main” roads most of the time. You’ll find fuel stations every couple of hundred kilometers, and they usually have a roadhouse attached.
Fuel can be quite expensive in the outback, so we definitely recommend filling up in the larger towns like Mount Isa and Katherine, where competition between several stations means you could get cheaper prices. We use the Petrol Spy app to check fuel prices.
Food and Water
Ensure you have plenty of drinking water (and snacks!) for everyone in your car. The environment in the outback can be very hot and dry, so each person will need several litres of water every day.
Other than in the larger towns you won’t find any restaurants however you can always get a meal at a roadhouse – even if a lot of those meals will involve fried food and chips! If you’re a vegetarian or vegan your choices will be limited, but I did have an amazing veggie burger at the Barkly Roadhouse just over the NT border.
There are no food quarantine restrictions between Qld and the NT so if you’ve stocked up on fruit and veggies in Mt Isa you’re all good.
Phone and Internet
Mobile phone reception is very limited in the outback, and you’ll really only have service in the towns, and at some of the roadhouses. We would often stop at a roadhouse and make our own morning coffee in our van, just so we could check our emails and social media!
A UHF or CB radio is great for this journey, and Ch 40 is the most common channel for the truckies and other travellers.
Where to Next?
Continue your Big Lap of Australia by heading into Western Australia – read our Darwin to Broome in a 2wd Road Trip Guide for more info. OR, head south into the Red Centre.
Just reading your trip from cairns to Darwin could you do this trip with a caravan
Absolutely! We saw so many caravans along this route. It’s sealed all the way.