Savannah Way.

mickle · Veteran Member

Savannah Way.

Possum3 · Guru

The Savannah Way is a route of highways and major roads across the tropical savannahs of northern Australia, linking Cairns in Queensland with Broome in Western Australia. Promoted as a self-drive tourist route, it joins Cairns, Normanton, Borroloola, Katherine, Kununurra, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and Broome. It has been designated by the Queensland Government as a State Strategic Touring Route.

We have done it several times Nissan Patrol + 20ft van. Travel in daylight only get off the road by 4.00pm - If you can handle your vehicle competently no worries - lot's of B Doubles, Triples and Juggernauts that you need to move over for.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

2009 Between Hells Gate and Boroloola. I doubt it has changed much since.

Like most unsealed roads it varies with the weather, the traffic and the grader.

April is a bit too early after the wet usually.

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Cheers,

Peter

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Friday 3rd of July 2020 08:55:03 AM

sparra · Veteran Member

There is now a new concrete crossing over the Calvert.

Wanda · Guru

Yes, on the Queensland side of the Savannah Way, we have done it twice now in seperate caravans, both 18'6" without any major problems.
Like with most dirt roads they vary season from season, just dop tyre pressures when necessary and slow down.
Some fantastic camping spots alonfg the way and obviously the best time to travel is the "dry" season.
Just remember there are some creek/river crossings, none bad, but water maybe higher at the start of the dry season and will depend on how wet the wet season was.
You will have a ball
Ian

Greystone · Senior Member

Did it in May 2018. Glad I wasn't towing, because the section between Robinson river and Borroloola was one mud bath. So check local conditions before you travel.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Hi Mickel,

We did it in July 2008. with camper trailer. Not a problem except for Dickheads with camper trailers traveling at 130km over taking you x 3. Caught up with the same lot later in the day. Gave them a Taste of the same dirt and rocks biggrin wink wink .

Just make shaw you and your van are sealed as best you can from Dust ingest. 80km is a good speed to enjoy the trip and see lots. We took too much gear that never got used.

Eg. 12000lb winch in the bull bar.The only crossing with any water, had 6 inches in it.

I take Maxi tracks these days in case We need them. Still clean I must tell you.

Have Fun.

Old & Grey

elliemike · Guru

We have done this a few times 3 or 4 maybe. We were over it in 2018 about July August. As with all these roads "be prepared" as most of it was not too bad, but quite a bit was reasonably rough and corrugated. Saw a Boat (Big one not a tinny) on a trailer with the axle broken on the side of the road. In Borroloola CP there was one caravan tandem axle (off road type !) came in with broken suspension "on a Truck". There were also a few glum caravanner's with rough road damage to their vans. We have also been over it when it was just a very nice gravel road. At the Calvert River crossing it was about 400 mm deep just in the middle. The Borroloola side was muddy. A caravan that had just crossed was having trouble getting up the hill as it was wet and muddy from other vehicles. Be prepared. We do it in an Avan.

Hylife · Guru

From near Roper, down through Limmen National Park to Cape Crawford, then from Borroloola to Burketown, is probably the worst track in Australia.

Those sections make the Tanami, Birdsville, Tele to Cape York, the Gibb, etc, look like major highways in comparison.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Hylife wrote:
From near Roper, down through Limmen National Park to Cape Crawford, then from Borroloola to Burketown, is probably the worst track in Australia.
Those sections make the Tanami, Birdsville, Tele to Cape York, the Gibb, etc, look like major highways in comparison.

Na.... depends on which day.... and there are PLENTY worse if you get off the beaten track (which these all are).

Cheers,

Peter

Radar · Guru

mickle wrote:
Hi, Is it possiable ,Probable ,? to take a 22ft on road van on the length of Savannah Way . and what time of year ?.
Thanks Mickle.

How much of the Savannah Way are considering doing as from Cairns to Normanton is very do able.

travelyounger · Guru

Hylife I agree that is 400 km of corrugated road which does not get much maintenance and frequently used as a short cut by semi's from Katherine to boroolala .If you see one coming get right out of there way also a bushtracker was on a tow truck with broken suspension arm (apparently going to fast through a creek washout ) also a souped up Nissan patrol on its side (going to fast on a sweeping bend defentiantly a road to show some respect on but a must to do and good camps along the way eg lorrella springs,tomato island and numerous fishing camps Cheers