The Tropical Gulf Savannah

Change Your Latitude > The The Tropical Gulf Savannah

The Tropical Gulf Savannah stretches across a vast expanse of tree studded grasslands, meandering rivers, waterfalls, and remote salt pans merging with wetlands. The Tropical Gulf Savannah’s wildly dramatic landscape is steeped in history, culture and unique Australian characters.

This remarkable region reaches from the Great Dividing Range across to the Northern Territory border and is linked by The Savannah Way, the great top road that provides a true outback journey, links Cairns with the far western areas of the Gulf through Georgetown, Croydon, Normanton and Karumba to Darwin and onto Broome.

The riches and beauty of this land encourage contemplation, the clear night skies are perfect for star gazing, the wildlife is enchanting and the folk of the Tropical Savannah are touched by the quintessential spirit of Australia that is impossible to analyse yet so simple to define.

To native Australians, the savannah’s secrets and riches have been a boon for thousands of years. Special Aboriginal sites dot the plains and gorges, with fascinating legends and ancient artworks accessible to visitors with an interest in the Dreamtime. 

Interpreting the geography and ecology of the region is the domain of the Savannah Guides, a network of professional guides and tourism operators serving as protectors and interpreters of the Outback in the tropical savannahs of northern Australia.

The Tropical Savannah is made up of the five shires of Etheridge, Croydon, Carpenteria, Burke and Mornington. Today, the main industries are grazing, fishing and mining.  Much of the region’s history lies in the huge goldrush of the late 1800s that opened the land to European settlement. Mining towns with living history and preserved relics of the golden days offer excellent modern day adventures and even today it’s possible to follow in the paths of pioneers and fossick for precious gems.  The Riversleigh Fossil Fields, a World Heritage listed site, is a spectacular experience for visitors of all ages.

Map of Tropical North Queensland

Travellers will find this region richly rewarding, discovering the quiet beauty and dignity of frontier towns like Croydon and Chillagoe, where there are still local characters as colourful as an outback sunset, and visiting the special assets in the Gulf - the Undara Lava Tubes near Mt Surprise, the breathtakingly beautiful Cobbold Gorge and the rainforest oasis of Lawn Hill National Park with its towering cliffs and peaceful waterways.  

Travelling through the savannah has a unique dimension with the superbly restored Gulflander and Savannahlander trains which evoke the style and romance of yesteryear as they push placidly across the salt plains.  

There are ample facilities for caravans and motor homes, and a choice of accommodation from cabins, motels, farmstays and old fashioned Queensland pubs to the actual antique railway carriage rooms of Undara Lava Lodge. 

The best time to discover legendary outback of the Tropical Gulf Savannah is from April to November.