Route from Cairns to Darwin and from Coober Pedy to Sydney

by Oliver
(Sydney)

We are starting our trip in Sydney, going up to Cairns (Cooktown/Cape Tribulation), then to Darwin, down to Coober Pedy and back to Sydney. We are wondering what route we should take from Cairns to Darwin and from Coober Pedy to Sydney.

We are driving with our own 4WD and would prefer roads in better condition. But if there are any tracks with great attractions we don't care about road conditions;)

Thanks for this great website! We will try a lot of the hints you gave here on our holiday.

Grüße aus Sydney;)
Olli

Comments for Route from Cairns to Darwin and from Coober Pedy to Sydney

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Uh, not my area...
by: Birgit

Hi Olli,

Danke fuer die netten Worte :-).

You probably already read the other reader question about the Savannah Way. The Savannah Way is the most popular route from Cairns to Darwin.

The roughest part of it is the section from Normanton to Borroloola. You'll have to get more detailed info on that and then decide if you want to do that part or rather avoid it and stay on the bitumen.

Savannah Way
Borroloola—Normanton

I haven't done that one myself so I can't tell you more about it.

I also can't give much advice about Coober Pedy to Sydney. I don't know anything about that populated south east corner of Australia (and don't wanna know ;-).)
My stomping ground is the centre and north/north-west.

From Coober Pedy I would follow the Oodnadatta Track and I would definitely spend some time in the Flinders Ranges, but which way to go from there I really can't say. There's lots to see further south and on the coast. It depends what you are looking for and also how much time you will have left.

Thank you
by: Oliver

Thanks a lot, very helpful links!

Kind regards
Olli

Carins - Darwin in a campervan
by: Greg

Could you advise of a decent route from Cairns to Darwin, we would be undertaking it in a campervan in the dry season.

thanks

4wd or conventional
by: Anonymous

The drive from Normanton to Booroloola isn't too bad if you are in a 4wd but if it hasn't been raining to much you should be able to make it through in any conventional car. You have to cross about 4 creeks but only one is really the problem. I travelled from Cairns to Broome through this way in a holden com station wagon in mid August and found it quite a good trip to do. I wouldn't even try to attempt if it has been raining quite a bit prior.

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