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Normanton to Coen via Kowanyama
Difficulty:
Suitable for:
This trek traverses through the beautiful Gulf Savannah region which extends from the Great Dividing Range in the east to the Northern Territory border in the west.
Start
Normanton
Finish
Coen
Distance
914.09 km
Minimum Days
2
Average Speed
69.77 km/hr
Driving Time
13 hr 6 min
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Description
Driving Directions
Interactive Route Map
Trek Feedback
Things to See & Do
Related Pages
Preparation
Recommended Reading
Camp Sites & Accomodation
In this Trek Note
Description
Enjoy the golden savannah grasslands and the monsoonal wetlands of this trek in this rather barren region of
Australia
. There are a variety of native animals and a diverse portrait of birds including herons, jabirus, brolgas, sarus crane and many other waterbird species that migrate here - especially after the rains.
A good majority of the trek is on the
Burke Developmental Road
with minor portions being on the Karumba Development Road, Kowanyama Development Road and Musgrave Strathgordon Road before hitting Peninsula Development Road before Coen. The majority of the journey is a true adventure drive with most of it being unsealed. Although some of these roads can be rough, it’s quite navigable by conventional vehicles with care.
The trek passes through beautiful scenery, including some old historic towns. Examples include: Normanton, which is well known for its diverse migratory wading birds and Barramundi
fishing
and Karumba which sits on the mouth of the Norman River and is home to the Gulf of Carpentaria’s prawning and
fishing
industries and not to forget its stunning sunsets. Kowanyama, which means ‘the place of many waters’ is a culturally significant Aboriginal community town. This town is situated on the banks of Magnificent Creek and during the wet season, it’s not uncommon to have supplies flown in by air. There are many homestead stations olong the way including Dunbar Station and there is an old ex-fortress telegraph station now called Musgrave Roadhouse. Coen is a beautiful small town located on the old telegraph line that ran from Laura to Bamaga and is considered the last place north for supplies such as food, fuel and mechanical repairs before heading towards the tip of
Cape York
.
Interactive Route Map
Normanton
Normanton, is a small cattle town in the north of the state of Queensland, Australia, just south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, on the Norman River. The town's population is 1447, over half of whom are indigenous Australians (2001 census).
Features:
Position: 141.0772ºE 17.6718ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Norman River, Burke Dev Road
Distance:
1.34km
Average Speed:
49.9km/h
Norman River, Burke Dev Road
River Crossing
Features:
Position: 141.0890ºE 17.6651ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Stake Hole
Distance:
21.31km
Average Speed:
91.53km/h
Stake Hole
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 141.1626ºE 17.5281ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd
Distance:
7.36km
Average Speed:
87.97km/h
Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd
Junction
Features:
Position: 141.1835ºE 17.4625ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Maggieville
Distance:
1.72km
Average Speed:
90.02km/h
Maggieville
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 141.1718ºE 17.4537ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd
Distance:
34.5km
Average Speed:
92.96km/h
Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd
Junction
Features:
Position: 140.8594ºE 17.4582ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Karumba
Distance:
4.28km
Average Speed:
62.26km/h
Karumba
Karumba is a town in north-western Queensland, Australia, 71 km by road from Normanton and 2159 km from the state capital, Brisbane. Karumba forms part of Carpentaria Shire Council, the administrative headquarters of which is in Normanton.
Features:
Position: 140.8382ºE 17.4888ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd
Distance:
4.28km
Average Speed:
62.26km/h
Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd
Junction
Features:
Position: 140.8594ºE 17.4582ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Maggieville
Distance:
34.5km
Average Speed:
92.96km/h
Maggieville
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 141.1718ºE 17.4537ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd
Distance:
1.72km
Average Speed:
90.02km/h
Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd
Junction
Features:
Position: 141.1835ºE 17.4625ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Gilbert River, Burke Dev Road
Distance:
72.48km
Average Speed:
83.24km/h
Gilbert River, Burke Dev Road
River Crossing
Features:
Position: 141.7680ºE 17.1694ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Wyaaba Creek, Burke Dev Road
Distance:
63.96km
Average Speed:
81.48km/h
Wyaaba Creek, Burke Dev Road
Creek Crossing
Features:
Position: 141.9511ºE 16.6898ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Staaten River, Burke Dev Road
Distance:
22.72km
Average Speed:
85.81km/h
Staaten River, Burke Dev Road
River Crossing
Features:
Position: 142.0566ºE 16.5338ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Burke Dev Road & Kowanyama Rd
Distance:
71.18km
Average Speed:
86.59km/h
Burke Dev Road & Kowanyama Rd
Junction
Features:
Position: 142.3907ºE 16.0215ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Burkes Lagoon
Distance:
6.27km
Average Speed:
82.26km/h
Burkes Lagoon
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 142.3425ºE 15.9866ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Kowanyama
Distance:
94.73km
Average Speed:
64.66km/h
Kowanyama
The town of Kowanyama is a town on the Gulf of Carpentaria side of Cape York in North Queensland. There are many a number of Aboriginal groups who live here including the Kokoberra, Kokominjena and the Kunjen.
Features:
Position: 141.7457ºE 15.4736ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Mitchell River, Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
Distance:
68.01km
Average Speed:
45.97km/h
Mitchell River, Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
River Crossing
Features:
Position: 141.9638ºE 15.3658ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Alice River & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
Distance:
16.65km
Average Speed:
26.43km/h
Alice River & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 142.0245ºE 15.3783ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Musgrave Strathgordon Rd & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
Distance:
73.63km
Average Speed:
48.21km/h
Musgrave Strathgordon Rd & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
Junction
Features:
Position: 141.6836ºE 14.8736ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Opera Hill
Distance:
169.85km
Average Speed:
82.43km/h
Opera Hill
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 143.1808ºE 14.8552ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Glen Garland
Distance:
12.34km
Average Speed:
72.03km/h
Glen Garland
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 143.2750ºE 14.8475ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Musgrave Roadhouse
Distance:
28.61km
Average Speed:
44.24km/h
Musgrave Roadhouse
Phone: (07) 4098 7765
Features:
Position: 143.5029ºE 14.7782ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Coen
Distance:
102.66km
Average Speed:
11.71km/h
Coen
Coen NPWS Phone: (07) 4060 1137
Features:
Position: 143.1990ºE 13.9456ºS (GDA 94)
Route Control
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Things to See & Do
Musgrave Roadhouse
Phone: (07) 4098 7765
Kowanyama
The town of Kowanyama is a town on the Gulf of Carpentaria side of Cape York in North Queensland. There are many a number of Aboriginal groups who live here including the Kokoberra, Kokominjena and the Kunjen. The name ‘Kowanyama’ which means ‘the place of many waters’, is situated on the banks of Magnificent Creek.
Stake Hole
No description entered.
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.
Burkes Lagoon
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.
Opera Hill
No description entered.
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.
Musgrave Roadhouse
Stake Hole
Opera Hill
Kowanyama
Burkes Lagoon
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Normanton
,
Karumba
,
Kowanyama
,
Musgrave Roadhouse
,
Coen
Diesel
4cyl 128 litres
ULP
4cyl 147 litres
LPG
4cyl 183 litres
6cyl 141 litres
6cyl 165 litres
6cyl 161 litres
8cyl 156 litres
8cyl 152 litres
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel
(* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Kowanyama Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 57.3km NW
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mean Max. °C
33.1
32.4
32.8
33.0
32.1
30.6
30.7
32.0
34.6
36.1
36.1
34.9
Mean Min. °C
24.3
24.2
23.7
21.9
19.2
16.1
15.4
16.1
18.8
21.8
23.9
24.3
Mean Rain mm
335.9
361.6
234.0
54.4
11.5
4.4
2.0
2.5
2.7
16.1
55.8
169.1
Best time to travel
Ok time to travel
Travel NOT recommended
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
Normanton
,
Karumba
,
Kowanyama
,
Musgrave Roadhouse
,
Coen
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Normanton
Normanton, is a small cattle town in the north of the state of Queensland, Australia, just south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, on the Norman River. The town's population is 1447, over half of whom are indigenous Australians (2001 census). The town is one terminus of the isolated Normanton - Croydon Railway, which was built during gold rush days in the 1890s.
Coen
Coen NPWS Phone: (07) 4060 1137
Karumba
Karumba is a town in north-western Queensland, Australia, 71 km by road from Normanton and 2159 km from the state capital, Brisbane. Karumba forms part of Carpentaria Shire Council, the administrative headquarters of which is in Normanton.
Musgrave Roadhouse
Phone: (07) 4098 7765
Kowanyama
The town of Kowanyama is a town on the Gulf of Carpentaria side of Cape York in North Queensland. There are many a number of Aboriginal groups who live here including the Kokoberra, Kokominjena and the Kunjen. The name ‘Kowanyama’ which means ‘the place of many waters’, is situated on the banks of Magnificent Creek.
Normanton
Karumba
Kowanyama
Coen
Musgrave Roadhouse
Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Normanton to Norman River, Burke Dev Road
1.34 km
NE
59°
1 min
Norman River, Burke Dev Road to Stake Hole
21.31 km
NE
27°
13 min
Stake Hole to Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd
7.36 km
N
17°
5 min
Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd to Maggieville
1.72 km
NW
308°
1 min
Maggieville to Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd
34.5 km
W
269°
22 min
Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd to Karumba
4.28 km
SW
213°
4 min
Karumba to Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd
4.28 km
NE
33°
4 min
Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd to Maggieville
34.5 km
E
89°
22 min
Maggieville to Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd
1.72 km
SE
128°
1 min
Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd to Gilbert River, Burke Dev Road
72.48 km
NE
62°
52 min
Gilbert River, Burke Dev Road to Wyaaba Creek, Burke Dev Road
63.96 km
N
20°
47 min
Wyaaba Creek, Burke Dev Road to Staaten River, Burke Dev Road
22.72 km
NE
33°
15 min
Staaten River, Burke Dev Road to Burke Dev Road & Kowanyama Rd
71.18 km
NE
32°
49 min
Burke Dev Road & Kowanyama Rd to Burkes Lagoon
6.27 km
NW
307°
4 min
Burkes Lagoon to Kowanyama
94.73 km
NW
312°
1 hr 27 min
Kowanyama to Mitchell River, Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
68.01 km
NE
63°
1 hr 28 min
Mitchell River, Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk to Alice River & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
16.65 km
E
102°
37 min
Alice River & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk to Musgrave Strathgordon Rd & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk
73.63 km
NW
327°
1 hr 31 min
Musgrave Strathgordon Rd & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk to Opera Hill
169.85 km
E
89°
2 hr 3 min
Opera Hill to Glen Garland
12.34 km
E
85°
10 min
Glen Garland to Musgrave Roadhouse
28.61 km
E
73°
38 min
Musgrave Roadhouse to Coen
102.66 km
N
340°
8 hr 46 min
Normanton to Coen
914.09 km
13 hr 6 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
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What Others have Posted
Member - Van D (NSW) : 17 Apr 08 18:47
Can someone inform me of the terrors of the Musgrave Roadhouse to Co...
Can someone inform me of the terrors of the Musgrave Roadhouse to Coen 103 kms strip of road which takes almost 9 hours. Is it a creekbed? Or maybe a croc sanctuary? 100 kms in 9 hours!! I did better than that in the Himalayas! Enlighten me please......and all the best....Van [Davy]
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 19 Apr 08 15:14 Replies:
6
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None
Views:
463
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Mark99 : 4 Dec 07 23:00
Drove this route regularly for work, one rough trip took 11 hours fr...
Drove this route regularly for work, one rough trip took 11 hours from Pormpuraaw to Kowanyama. Need to check with Kowanyama Land Office of Pormpuraaw Council on conditions
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 5 Dec 07 09:15 Replies:
1
FollowUps:
2
Views:
407
Hide
klm : 24 Nov 07 17:27
any permits required...
any permits required
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 26 Nov 07 16:57 Replies:
1
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Views:
438
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