The Gulf Savannah region is immense, covering nearly a quarter of the Australian continent. Stretching from the edges of the Atherton Tablelands to the Northern Territory border, the Gulf Savannah region is breathtakingly diverse. The main towns of the Gulf Savanna include Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Karumba, Normanton, and Burketown. With 1.9 million square kilometres to discover, there is something for everyone in the Gulf Savannah.
Explore historic frontier towns and the wide-open spaces of grassy plains. Discover escarpments, gorges, and rugged spinifex-covered hills. Watch the sun sink below the horizon over the Gulf of Carpentaria. See ancient Aboriginal rock art and intriguing lava tubes, and unearth old mining towns, hot springs, and some of Australia’s best fishing spots. Travel the Gulf Savannah, and you’ll discover the rugged natural beauty of this infinite land.
So much awaits your arrival in the Gulf Savannah. Amazing landscapes shaped by geological forces and sculptured by fierce weather, thousands of years of Indigenous culture, and recent changes fuelled by pastoralists, fishers, and miners. To see it all takes time. But regardless of whether you have a couple of days, a week, a month, or more, your Gulf Savannah experience will create lifelong memories.
Choose your ultimate Gulf Savannah tour based on your available time. To see the best of the region, take a look at our Outback Queensland, Central West, and Gulf tour. Our favourite Fun Over Fifty Gulf Savannah attractions includes Cobbold Gorge, Undara Volcanic National Park, the Barramundi Discovery Centre, a Mount Isa mine tour, and a visit to John Flynn Place.
Travelling by road allows you time to appreciate the vast open spaces of the Gulf Savannah. The epic Savannah Way is a 3700 km route linking Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley region with Cairns in tropical North Queensland. The natural wonders of this stretch of road make this a must-do route for any grey nomad, campervan backpacker, or caravanning family.
The Gulf Savannah train tours offers two unique travel experiences: the Gulflander and Savannahlander rail journeys. The Savannahlander tour departs from Cairns to wind its way through the wet tropics of the Kuranda range to Savannah country at Forsayth. The legendary Gulflander tour connects the once-bustling river port of Normanton to the goldfields of Croydon, showcasing heritage, wetlands, grasslands, and the arid Savannah. Both journeys venture through countryside, usually unseen; this is definitely the road less travelled.
The Gulf Savannah region is a vast area located in northern Queensland, Australia. It encompasses the remote and sparsely populated areas between the Gulf of Carpentaria to the north and the Great Dividing Range to the south. It’s known for its rugged landscapes, expansive grasslands, savannah woodlands, and diverse wildlife.
The most popular time to visit the Gulf Savannah region is the dry season, between April and September when days are warm and sunny. However, even though the wet summer season (December to March) can be hot and humid, it can be a wonderful time to experience the power of nature in this region. Spectacular storms roll in, rivers flow, and the landscape springs to life with lush green foliage attracting colourful and rare birds.
The Gulf Savannah region is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Some common animal sightings include kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and various species of birds, including cockatoos, parrots, and waterbirds. It’s also known for its population of saltwater crocodiles, so keep those eyes peeled around waterways and follow all safety signs and guidelines.
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