NEWS & EVENTS with JAWA Off Road Campers
Ready to plan for the North Queensland leg of the Big Lap? At this point in your journey, you will be leaving the east coast at Cairns and heading to Normanton. Normanton is on the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the sea famous for its submerged coral reefs, bordered by Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Image by Summerdrought, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Travelling from Cairns to Normanton takes 7 and a half hours across 680km. Most of your travel will be along the Kennedy Highway and Gulf Developmental Road, aptly named as it’s constantly under development due to rain and flood. While it is a sealed road, there are plenty of detours to make and things to see with your off road caravan!
Read on for our in-depth guide on travelling across the Gulf Developmental Road.
Places to Visit and Nearby Accommodation
Herberton
1 hour 30 mins from Cairns (95km)
Herberton is a hilly village that is perfect for local history buffs. The Historic Village is a major attraction to visit with a bunch of shops, exhibits and activities all about timber, farming and mining in rural Queensland. Herberton itself is also filled with heritage buildings and museums.
Just another 20km away from Herberton, you can visit the Mount Hypipamee National Park. It features a curious and unique crater from a volcanic explosion and an easy walk to Dinner Falls.
If you love waterfalls, get back on track and visit Milla Milla Falls, Ravenshoe and Tully Falls National Park.
Accommodation
Innot Hot Springs
2 hours from Cairns (145km)
Just because you are heading away from the coast doesn’t mean you won’t see some water! Innot Hot Springs are naturally heated geothermic pools filled with minerals – and it’s free to visit. It has a strong connection to the Mamu people. It’s said that during the Dreamtime, a large turtle carried a hot stone in her stomach from the sea to the springs.
You can also visit Nettle Creek, the source of the rejuvenating water for the springs.
Accommodation
Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park
3 hours 21 mins from Cairns (245km)
Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons – Les Isdale, CC BY 4.0
Take a detour to check out the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. Known for its Indigenous rock art within beautiful limestone caves, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park is a place of wonder and adventure. You can visit the local mining sites or hike the 9km track to the Royal Arch Bluff.
Accommodation
- Emu Creek Station (1 hour)
- Bill Newburn Park Irvinebank Camp Area (2 hours)
Forty Mile Scrub National Park
3 hours from Cairns (220km)
Visit this dry rainforest to wander the short walking trail. An isolated and unusual area, Forty Mile Scrub National Park is filled with semi-evergreen vines, volcanic streams, forests and springs.
Accommodation
- Princess Hills Camping Area (4WD access only, 60km)
Undara Volcanic National Park
3 hours 30 min from Cairns (255km)
Almost at the halfway point, you’re now off the Kennedy Highway and travelling along the Gulf Developmental Road. Just 25 minutes from Forty Mile Scrub, you’ll find Undara Volcanic National Park. Meaning “long way” to the local Ewamian people, it contains one of the longest lava tubes in the world. Explore the precious landscape, flora, fauna and culture.
Accommodation
Talaroo Hot Springs
4 hours 24 min from Cairns (348km)
A hot Gulf Developmental Road destination, the Talaroo Hot Springs is a magical area with activities and tours available, including a bike trail, boardwalk and, of course, pools. Talaroo is on Ewamian Peoples’ Country, with a unique history, environment and ecosystem.
Accommodation
Einasleigh
5 hours from Cairns (360km)
Image by Lobster1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From Talaroo, instead of returning to the Gulf Developmental Road towards Georgetown, take an hour’s detour down to Einasleigh. An old mining town along the Copperfield River, Einasleigh is a short walk to Copperfield Gorge – a chasm carved by a historic lava flow that you can swim in!
Take the detour even further 2 hours to Cobbold Gorge and stay the night. Paddleboard between the cliffs and learn about the geology of this gorgeous landscape. Travel another hour and take home some beautiful stones from the Agate Creek fossicking area. Just make sure to get a fossicking licence before you go.
Once you head back onto the main road to Georgetown, there are another three hours of travel before you reach Normanton. Feel free to fossick at Georgetown, take in the view at Gilbert River, explore the history of Croydon, and fish at Lake Belmore.
Accommodation
Where to Get Supplies
The Gulf Developmental Road is a less travelled area, so places to get supplies can be sparse. Fill up on petrol and gas in Cairns before you leave. There are petrol stations in the larger towns, usually every two hours: Ravenshoe, Mount Garnet, Mount Surprise, Georgetown, and Croydon. Stock up before taking any detours, especially if you are heading towards Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, as there aren’t petrol stations along that road.
Similarly, there aren’t many places to buy food. Other than Cairns, you can stock up at IGA Ravenshoe, Georgetown Roadhouse, and Croydon Supermarket.
Safety Tips for Driving Through Tropical North Queensland
- The ideal time to travel through this area is between April and October.
- If you’re travelling during Tropical North Queensland’s wet season, some areas near and along the Gulf Developmental Road are prone to flash flooding. Keep an eye on the QLD Traffic website for warnings and detours.
- Note that areas like Talaroo Hot Springs and Cobbold Gorge are closed for the wet season (typically from early October until the end of March).
- Ensure your vehicle and off road camper are fully serviced and ready for the journey.
- Be aware that you will be travelling through croc country and you should always be vigilant near waterways.
More Camping Inspiration For Off-Road Adventurers
JAWA Off Road Campers is a 100% owned and operated Australian company based on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland. With the significant growth in our brand over the last few years, we have recently branched out and opened a new showroom and service centre in Sydney NSW, so even more Aussie
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