1. Head To The Tip
The obvious thing to do (and probably the only reason you’re in the area) is to head to the northernmost point of Australia. Depending on your travel style, there are two routes to the tip. For those looking for the most epic drive in Australia, the 4WD tracks of this area are probably the most recognisable roads to you. For those looking to get to the tip without all the offroading madness, you can take smoother roads, suitable for caravans.
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2. Chase Waterfalls
Aside from the incredible driving opportunities, one of the best things about this region is the waterfalls. While you may have seen the epic insta shots of people frolicking in Fruit Bat Falls and Twin Falls, you may not be aware of the Hidden Waterfall at Sam Creek, Eliot Falls or Isabella Falls. Most are good for swimming, but as this is croc country, it’s always advised to look out for signage to the contrary!
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3. Don’t Forget The Beaches
With all that inland fun, make sure you don’t forget about the beaches. Again, many of these provide great 4WDing opportunities, but they also offer the opportunity for relaxation too. At Archer Point, you can walk out to the reef at low tide and snorkel. At Walker Bay, you can catch barra at the mouth of the river. At Chilli Beach, you can enjoy endless stretches of beautiful sand
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4. Embrace Indigenous Culture
This region is of strong cultural significance. The Quinkan Art Galleries is home to a huge collection of Aboriginal rock art, and is one of the top 10 rock art sites in the world. You can also head to Lockhart River Arts or Wik and Kugu Arts Centre. Or take an incredible Guurrbi Tour with Nugal-warra Elder and story-teller, Willie Gordon.
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5. Drive The Savannah Way
The Savannah Way is one of Australia’s greatest road trips. Stretching from Cairns, through the Northern Territory to Broome, the 1,700km Queensland section of this road takes you through some of Queensland’s lesser-visited outback towns. Heading east to west, once you leave the Cairns region, you’ll come to the quaint town of Mount Surprise and Georgetown (great for fossicking), Croydon (rich with gold history), Normanton (visit the famous Purple Pub), Burketown (the Barramundi capital of Australia), and finally the infamous Hell’s Gate Roadhouse.
Along the way, you can take a few optional detours including Undara Lava Tubes, Karumba and Riversleigh Fossil Fields.
The road is usually good to drive between April and October but check ahead for conditions.
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6. Go Fish
This region is one of Australia’s premium fishing destinations. Freshwater, estuarine and beach fishing are all options, but you need to be aware of marine park zoning. The coastal areas of Cape Melville, Chili Beach, the Jardine River mouth and Mission River are all popular Cape York spots. In the Gulf Savannah, Karumba and Burketown are big barra hot spots! Careful though, you can’t just fish anywhere; check locally for regulations and permits.
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