Hi,

I drove between Normanton and Undarra (Savannah Way)  a couple of years ago and there was no dirt, there were several sections of single track but also plenty of room to get off  when the road trains were around. The same applied to the road between Normanton and the Burk & Wills Roadhouse.

I propose to repeat the trip later this year.

John

Suggest going via Atherton Tablelands to Mount Surprise. Bedrock Village CP there is excellent as a base to explore the surrounding area a bit. From Bedrock Village you should be able to do a tour to the Undara Lava Tubes (better than staying at Undara); I think there are topaz fossicking tours out to O'Briens Creek from Mt Surprise; not sure if Bedrock Village still runs a tour to Cobbold Gorge - worth doing, if it does. I think there is also a little outing available on the SavannahLander train available as a tour. Check out Bedrock Village CP on Google. It is a favourite of ours.

From there you could go to Normanton. This is a good base for exploring. Can do a trip on the Gulflander train, if that appeals. Can go to Karumba for the day - which is probably about all it is worth, in my opinion, unless you fish. Is local scenery and "atmosphere" around Normanton.

From there, head south towards Cloncurry. You could turn west at Burke and Wills Roadhouse and go to Gregory Downs - bitumen road to there. Can camp - unpowered - at Gregory. The river there is very pretty. Leave van parked and do day trip to Adels Grove; that is partly gravel road. You could suss out whether you think you could take your van in there - many, many conventional vans and ordinary cars do. If you want to make that more than a day trip, Adels Grove campground is dog friendly and will dog sit, if you wish, while you visit Lawn Hill National Park, which is seriously beautiful. If you do go to Gregory/Adels, will have to backtrack to Burke and Wills, but believe me, is an extremely worthwhile side track!

From Cloncurry via Mt Isa, Camooweal ( people camp at the pretty lagoon there), Three Ways and Tennant Creek. You may wish to break that long stretch with an overnight stop at one of several popular free camp areas between Camooweal and Three Ways.