Australia · 12 days · 4,135 km · One-way
Darwin to Brisbane — from tropics to Pacific
Tropical Top End traverse down to the East Coast: Darwin, Litchfield, Katherine Hot Springs, Devils Marbles, Richmond marine fossils, Townsville, Whitsundays, Eungella (platypus), Bundaberg Rum and Sunshine Coast. 4,135 km in 12 days. Based on the maui guide.
Highlights
- Crocosaurus Cove (Darwin)
- Wangi Falls (Litchfield)
- Katherine Hot Springs
- Bitter Springs (Mataranka)
- Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu)
- Drovers Camp Museum (Camooweal)
- Artesian bath (Julia Creek)
- Australia's premier marine fossil museum (Richmond)
- The Strand and Castle Hill (Townsville)
- Big Mango (Bowen)
- Eungella National Park (platypus)
- Bundaberg Rum Distillery
- Wheel of Brisbane and South Bank Parklands
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1
Darwin → Katherine
Darwin → Katherine · 320 km
- · Crocosaurus Cove and Charles Darwin NP
- · Wangi Falls (Litchfield detour)
- · Nitmiluk Gorge and Katherine Hot Springs
Overnight: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks
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Day 2
Katherine → Daly Waters
Katherine → Daly Waters · 270 km
- · Elsey National Park
- · Bitter Springs hot springs
- · Daly Waters Aviation Complex
Overnight: Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn
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Day 3
Daly Waters → Tennant Creek
Daly Waters → Tennant Creek · 410 km
- · Aboriginal Art Galleries
- · Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) at sunset
Overnight: Tennant Creek Caravan Park
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Day 4
Tennant Creek → Camooweal (crossing into QLD)
Tennant Creek → Camooweal · 460 km
- · Drovers Camp Museum
- · Time zone change
Overnight: Camooweal Roadhouse
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Day 5
Camooweal → Julia Creek
Camooweal → Julia Creek · 390 km
- · Spirit of Light Horse Sculpture
- · Donald and Duncan (endangered marsupials)
- · Artesian bath for two at sunset
Overnight: Julia Creek Caravan Park
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Day 6
Julia Creek → Hughenden
Julia Creek → Hughenden · 260 km
- · Marine fossil museum (Richmond)
- · Mount Walker Lookouts
- · Flinders Discovery Centre
Overnight: Hughenden Allen Terry Caravan Park
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Day 7
Hughenden → Townsville
Hughenden → Townsville · 380 km
- · The Strand
- · Billabong Sanctuary (koalas)
- · Castle Hill walk
Overnight: BIG4 Igenia Holidays Townsville
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Day 8
Townsville → Bowen
Townsville → Bowen · 200 km
- · Big Mango (must-take selfie)
- · Horseshoe Bay Rotary Lookout
- · Sunset over the ocean (rare on east coast)
Overnight: Tropical Beach Caravan Park Bowen
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Day 9
Bowen → Mackay (Eungella)
Bowen → Mackay · 200 km
- · Eungella National Park (platypus)
- · Bluewater Lagoon
Overnight: Discovery Parks Mackay
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Day 10
Mackay → Rockhampton
Mackay → Rockhampton · 340 km
- · Six cow statues
- · Rockhampton Art Gallery
- · Yeppoon palm-fringed beaches
Overnight: Riverside Tourist Park
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Day 11
Rockhampton → Bundaberg
Rockhampton → Bundaberg · 320 km
- · Bundaberg Botanic Gardens
- · Bundaberg Rum Distillery
Overnight: Bundaberg Caravan Park
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Day 12
Bundaberg → Brisbane
Bundaberg → Brisbane · 360 km
- · Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary (Maryborough)
- · Sunshine Coast (Noosa)
- · South Bank Parklands and Wheel of Brisbane
Recommended brands for this route
Selection based on road type and trip length. Tighter budgets — we can also quote Mighty.