RoadAtlas
Savannah Way — Australia — Adventure
Australia & Pacific

Savannah Way

Australia

Point-to-point
Cairns Broome

In short: Savannah Way is a 3,700 km adventure road trip in Australia, typically driven over 18 days, best in May-October. Highlights: Cairns, Undara, Normanton and Karumba.

Distance
3,700 km
Duration
18 days
Best Season
May-October
IconicModerate4WD onlyAdventureOff-road sections

The Savannah Way links tropical northern Australia from Cairns to Broome through some of the country’s most remote country. Expect long sealed stretches mixed with isolated highways, red-dirt detours, stock country, gulf wetlands, gorge country, and classic outback towns along one of Australia’s great cross-continent drives.

~6 refuels
~13 charges
Practical notes
This follows the official Cairns-Borroloola-Katherine-Timber Creek-Kununurra-Fitzroy Crossing-Broome line using the remote 4WD Gulf/Limmen option; see the Savannah Way route (https://www.savannahway.com.au/australias-great-drive/). Before every leg check QLDTraffic, shires, NT Road Report and WA Travel Map plus services. Carry section-calculated fuel/water, two spares, recovery gear, UHF, satellite/PLB, food and cash; never enter floodwater. Include Boodjamulla only when official access is open (https://boodjamullanationalpark.com.au/access/), otherwise use Gregory Downs.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands

Millaa Millaa Falls circuit · Nick's Swiss-Italian Restaurant

Day 2Atherton Tablelands to Undara

Undara lava tubes tour · Undara Experience restaurant

Day 3Undara to Normanton and Karumba

Karumba sunset · Albion Hotel

Day 4Karumba to Burketown

Karumba-Burketown 4WD transfer · Burketown Pub

Day 5Burketown to Gregory Downs or open Boodjamulla access

Boodjamulla conditional visit · Adels Grove booked meal

Day 6Gregory Downs / Boodjamulla to Hells Gate Roadhouse

Gulf 4WD transfer to Hells Gate · Hells Gate Roadhouse

Day 7Hells Gate to Borroloola

Queensland-NT Gulf crossing · Borroloola Hotel

Day 8Borroloola to Limmen National Park / Lorella sector

Limmen route transfer · Lorella Springs booked meal

Day 9Limmen / Lorella sector to Roper Bar

Limmen to Roper Bar 4WD transfer · Lorella-packed remote transfer meal

Day 10Roper Bar to Mataranka

Mataranka Thermal Pool · Mataranka Homestead restaurant

Day 11Mataranka to Katherine

Nitmiluk Gorge cruise · Katherine Country Club

Day 12Katherine to Timber Creek

Victoria River road viewpoints · Timber Creek Hotel

Day 13Timber Creek to Kununurra

Keep River / border stop · Kununurra Hotel restaurant

Day 14Kununurra rest and service day

Ord River cruise · Kununurra Country Club Resort restaurant

Day 15Kununurra to Halls Creek

Kununurra-Halls Creek transfer · Kimberley Hotel restaurant

Day 16Halls Creek to Fitzroy Crossing

Mimbi Caves guided tour · Fitzroy River Lodge restaurant

Day 17Fitzroy Crossing to Derby

Mowanjum Arts and Culture Centre · Spinifex Hotel

Day 18Derby to Broome

Cable Beach sunset walk · Matsos Broome Brewery

Stops along the route

Cairns — Departure — Savannah Way — Australia
Departure
Cairns
Begin the official east-to-west progression.
Hotels
Normanton and Karumba — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Normanton and Karumba
Reach the Gulf before turning west.
Hotels
Burketown — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Burketown
Check Burke Shire roads and fuel.
Hotels
Hells Gate — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Hells Gate
Prebook the remote fuel and overnight.
Borroloola — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Borroloola
The correct Gulf route continues here, not Tennant Creek.
Mataranka and Katherine — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Mataranka and Katherine
Return to services and continue west.
Show 6 more
Timber Creek — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Timber Creek
Break the Victoria Highway transfer.
Kununurra — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Kununurra
Use a service and rest day.
Halls Creek — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Halls Creek
Stage the western highway section.
Fitzroy Crossing — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Fitzroy Crossing
Confirm flood and accommodation status.
Derby — City — Savannah Way — Australia
City
Derby
Use the final Kimberley overnight.
Broome — Arrival — Savannah Way — Australia
Arrival
Broome
Finish at the Indian Ocean coast.

Things to Do

Undara — Nature — Savannah Way — Australia
Nature
Undara
Book the guided lava-tube access.
Boodjamulla / Gregory Downs — Nature — Savannah Way — Australia
Nature
Boodjamulla / Gregory Downs
Use the park only when officially open; Gregory Downs is the fallback.
Limmen and Roper Bar — Nature — Savannah Way — Australia
Nature
Limmen and Roper Bar
Use the selected remote 4WD alternative and exact camps.
Millaa Millaa Falls circuit — Waterfall drive — Savannah Way — Australia
Waterfall drive
Millaa Millaa Falls circuit
Choose a short signed Tablelands circuit and finish before dusk.
Undara lava tubes tour — Booked geology tour — Savannah Way — Australia
Booked geology tour
Undara lava tubes tour
Access the lava tubes only on a booked guided tour.
Karumba sunset — Gulf viewpoint — Savannah Way — Australia
Gulf viewpoint
Karumba sunset
Arrive before dark and use the public foreshore rather than unmarked wetland tracks.
Show 15 more
Karumba-Burketown 4WD transfer — Remote road leg — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote road leg
Karumba-Burketown 4WD transfer
Check every river crossing and Burke Shire report; turn back rather than enter water of unknown depth.
Boodjamulla conditional visit — Conditional national park — Savannah Way — Australia
Conditional national park
Boodjamulla conditional visit
Visit only when Queensland Parks confirms the selected area and access road are open; substitute a Gregory River rest day when closed.
Gulf 4WD transfer to Hells Gate — Remote road leg — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote road leg
Gulf 4WD transfer to Hells Gate
Use daylight, current crossing reports and the vehicle specified by the road authority.
Queensland-NT Gulf crossing — Remote road leg — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote road leg
Queensland-NT Gulf crossing
Check border-area roads and fuel immediately before departure and carry enough range to bypass a closed service.
Limmen route transfer — Remote 4WD leg — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote 4WD leg
Limmen route transfer
Confirm park roads, camping and river crossings; do not swim where crocodiles may be present.
Limmen to Roper Bar 4WD transfer — Remote road leg — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote road leg
Limmen to Roper Bar 4WD transfer
Use the exact approved camp and road plan, satellite communications and daylight crossing limits.
Mataranka Thermal Pool — Thermal spring — Savannah Way — Australia
Thermal spring
Mataranka Thermal Pool
Use the formed public access and follow any current swimming or park notice.
Nitmiluk Gorge cruise — Booked boat tour — Savannah Way — Australia
Booked boat tour
Nitmiluk Gorge cruise
Prebook a cruise that fits the short transfer and check-in.
Victoria River road viewpoints — Scenic highway stops — Savannah Way — Australia
Scenic highway stops
Victoria River road viewpoints
Use signed pull-offs only and keep the day focused on the westbound route.
Keep River / border stop — Conditional park stop — Savannah Way — Australia
Conditional park stop
Keep River / border stop
Visit only if the access road and park are open and biosecurity timing still allows daylight arrival.
Ord River cruise — Booked boat tour — Savannah Way — Australia
Booked boat tour
Ord River cruise
Book a current licensed cruise and retain part of the day for vehicle service.
Kununurra-Halls Creek transfer — Highway transfer — Savannah Way — Australia
Highway transfer
Kununurra-Halls Creek transfer
Take regular rest stops and avoid wildlife hours.
Mimbi Caves guided tour — Conditional cultural tour — Savannah Way — Australia
Conditional cultural tour
Mimbi Caves guided tour
Add only with a confirmed Gooniyandi-guided booking and enough transfer time.
Mowanjum Arts and Culture Centre — Aboriginal art centre — Savannah Way — Australia
Aboriginal art centre
Mowanjum Arts and Culture Centre
Visit only during confirmed public hours and follow cultural guidance.
Cable Beach sunset walk — Beach walk — Savannah Way — Australia
Beach walk
Cable Beach sunset walk
Use the pedestrian beach access and check tides; do not assume vehicle beach access.

Where to Eat

Nick's Swiss-Italian Restaurant — Swiss and Italian — Savannah Way — Australia
Swiss and Italian
Nick's Swiss-Italian Restaurant
Reserve the Yungaburra dinner and confirm current hours.
Undara Experience restaurant — Outback dining — Savannah Way — Australia
Outback dining
Undara Experience restaurant
Book the lodge meal and accommodation with the cave tour.
Albion Hotel — Country pub meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Country pub meals
Albion Hotel
Use this identifiable Normanton meal stop after confirming the kitchen hours.
Burketown Pub — Country pub meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Country pub meals
Burketown Pub
Confirm kitchen, room and fuel availability before the remote leg.
Adels Grove booked meal — Remote lodge dining — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote lodge dining
Adels Grove booked meal
Use only if the property and park access are currently open and the meal is confirmed; otherwise self-cater at Gregory Downs.
Hells Gate Roadhouse — Roadhouse meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Roadhouse meals
Hells Gate Roadhouse
Prebook fuel, accommodation and dinner and retain emergency supplies.
Show 11 more
Borroloola Hotel — Hotel meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Hotel meals
Borroloola Hotel
Reconfirm the kitchen and fuel stop before crossing the border sector.
Lorella Springs booked meal — Remote station meal — Savannah Way — Australia
Remote station meal
Lorella Springs booked meal
Use only with confirmed accommodation and meal service; otherwise remain expedition self-catering.
Mataranka Homestead restaurant — Homestead meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Homestead meals
Mataranka Homestead restaurant
Confirm service and accommodation before relying on it.
Katherine Country Club — Club meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Club meals
Katherine Country Club
A verified town dinner subject to current visitor and kitchen hours.
Timber Creek Hotel — Roadhouse and hotel meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Roadhouse and hotel meals
Timber Creek Hotel
Reserve and reconfirm the remote arrival meal and fuel.
Kununurra Hotel restaurant — Hotel meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Hotel meals
Kununurra Hotel restaurant
A correctly placed Kununurra arrival meal; confirm hours.
Kununurra Country Club Resort restaurant — Hotel dining — Savannah Way — Australia
Hotel dining
Kununurra Country Club Resort restaurant
Reserve and use this day to resupply for the western section.
Kimberley Hotel restaurant — Hotel meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Hotel meals
Kimberley Hotel restaurant
Confirm Halls Creek dinner, room and fuel.
Fitzroy River Lodge restaurant — Lodge dining — Savannah Way — Australia
Lodge dining
Fitzroy River Lodge restaurant
Reserve and confirm current flood/access status.
Spinifex Hotel — Hotel meals — Savannah Way — Australia
Hotel meals
Spinifex Hotel
A Derby arrival meal; confirm the kitchen and room.
Matsos Broome Brewery — Brewery restaurant — Savannah Way — Australia
Brewery restaurant
Matsos Broome Brewery
A finish meal; the driver remains alcohol-free until parked for the night.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Savannah Way drive?

The Savannah Way covers 3,700 km from start to finish.

How long does the Savannah Way take to drive?

Most travellers spend 18 days on the Savannah Way, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Savannah Way?

The recommended season for the Savannah Way is May-October.

Where does the Savannah Way start and end?

The Savannah Way runs from Cairns to Broome.

What are the main stops on the Savannah Way?

The Savannah Way passes through Cairns, Undara, Normanton and Karumba.

How difficult is the Savannah Way to drive?

The Savannah Way is rated moderate and is best handled with 4wd only.

Do I need a 4WD for the Savannah Way?

Yes — the Savannah Way includes off-road or rough sections that require 4wd only.

How many fuel stops are needed on the Savannah Way?

Plan around 6 refuels (or about 13 EV charges) along the Savannah Way, based on its 3,700 km length.

Is the Savannah Way safe to drive?

This follows the official Cairns-Borroloola-Katherine-Timber Creek-Kununurra-Fitzroy Crossing-Broome line using the remote 4WD Gulf/Limmen option; see the Savannah Way route (https://www.savannahway.com.au/australias-great-drive/). Before every leg check QLDTraffic, shires, NT Road Report and WA Travel Map plus services. Carry section-calculated fuel/water, two spares, recovery gear, UHF, satellite/PLB, food and cash; never enter floodwater. Include Boodjamulla only when official access is open (https://boodjamullanationalpark.com.au/access/), otherwise use Gregory Downs.

What scenic tier is the Savannah Way?

The Savannah Way is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.