Driving from Cairns to Darwin

I was hoping you could advise me of the best route to take from Cairns to Darwin in a conventional 2WD. Unfortunately I will have to make the trip in late March which is not ideal with respect to the weather.

I may also be travelling alone and as a young female would prefer a route with plenty of stops and sealed roads. I'm not sure whether I'd be best going via Townsville, Mount Isa as opposed to the Savannah Way. Any advice you have would be most appreciated

Regards,

PS. You have a great website

Comments for
Driving from Cairns to Darwin

Click here to add your own comments

Townsville Mt. Isa is easiest ans safest
by: Birgit

You might be able to make your way from Cairns to Normanton and then down to Cloncurry (beautiful drive) and to Mt. Isa from there, but it's a bit more off the beaten track and parts may flood in March.

Not sure about the other inland options from Cairns down to Charters Towers/Hughenden etc...

West of Normanton you have no sealed options. Stay away from any unsealed tracks in March.

How good or bad the Normanton route would be for you I don't know. If sightseeing and outback is what you're after then it's more interesting than the main highway, that's for sure...

Unfortunately I don't know that part of Australia that well. (I live in the west, not east, but will be over there early 2009 myself. Then I'll be of more help for all the people interested in the Darwin-Cairns drive.)

If your only objective is to get to Darwin quickly and safely, then the Townsville detour is your best option.

But do check with people over there, for example the RACQ in Queensland, if you want to go via Normanton. And definitely get up to date conditions in March before heading that way.

Cairns to Darwin.
by: Ann Wareing

I have travelled on at least three routes from Cairns to Darwin. I find each one is interesting but if I were travelling by myself in March I would go to Townsville, Mount Isa, The Three Ways then on to Darwin bearing in mind you are travelling during the Wet The road is all sealed and most of it is double lane and carries a lot of traffic. The loneliest stretch is between Camooweal and the Threeways.

I have been held up between Cloncurry and Mount Isa several times during the Wet but often not for long. I have also been held up between Mount Isa and Camooweal. The new bridge at Camooweal should stop you from being held up there. I have also been held up at the bridge over the Burdekin between Townsville and Charters Towers.However take bedding, mosquite repellent, food and water and no risks. I have known the Stuart Highway to be covered with water and chewed up by trucks. This is from the Threeways to Darwin.

questions
by: Anonymous

Ann

thank you for your comments as we are also looking to drive from Cairns to Darwin in April next year. I can't find the 'threeways' that you mention? are you able to indicate what is near?

we are thinking of coming down from Normanton to Cloncurry and across to Waramungu then up to Darwin, that part from Normanton on is what makes me most nervous as we will have an SUV but still 2WD, any advice is much appreciated

Amal

Threeways Roadhouse
by: Birgit

Amal, Threeways Roadhouse is the roadhouse at the intersection of the Barkly and Stuart highways.

With thanks
by: Anonymous

You are a gem Birgit, I love your site and am so grateful for all the energy you (and others) put into it. Each time I read through it I become more and more inspired

Amal :)

Thanks!
by: Birgit

Glad you like it. :-)

Awesome
by: poli k

For my birthday next year I'm planning a trip in April and just plucked Cairns out of a hat and then typed it in and here your page came up. Thanks so much, going to make the trip easy and will have a cold one for you. Thanks, awesome road trip, yippie.

We did it!
by: Amal

Hi Birgit

Thanks again for your help. We left Sydney late April, drove up past Cairns to Cape Tribulation then down through Atherton, across the Savannah way to Normanton, down to Cloncurry, across to Tennant Creek and then up to Darwin over about 2 months.

The trip was amazing and it was better to wait the extra month rather than traveling in March as it was still very wet then. There are some long stretches of unsealed road on the Savannah Way and then down to Cloncurry but we were lucky to have hit them dry already. 2WD vehicle was fine all the way, petrol stops are at good distances although for anyone doing it the HEMA maps are useful for peace of mind and knowing where the next pit stop is.

Ladies, would suggest taking a funnel in case you need to do a roadside pee as sometimes nearly 200km between loo stops!!!

For anyone who can it's well worth the drive, amazing scenery and beauty in the ever-changing landscape

Thanks
by: Anonymous

Great, thanks for all the adive on this site! These comments give me peace of mind as I am about to drive to perth from Cairns in a 2wd as a 27 year old female, also single. I will be ducking down to check out Uluru though and then over to Broome (already done Darwin). Great site! I am driving in August.