Travelling to Lawn Hill NP

Chris,
The closest town is Camooweal and from there it is 250km to Lawn Hill Gorge, dirt all the way. From Mt Isa it is around 320km of which 98km is bitumen. The roads out there are typical of Queensland roads.........poor. When we were there a few years back in a 4x4 the road was so bad we had to drive along the windrow( that is the bit that the grader pushes up on the side of the road). There were also long stretches of bulldust. But the locals drive those roads although they don't care as much about their cars I suppose.
But things might have changed in the interim. Happy shuddering!
Cheers,
WillieNever a dull moment

The other way in is from the east - turn off the Burke Development Road at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse (192km north of Cloncurry), 144km to Gregory Downs where the road deteriorates; a further 77km to Adeles Grove / Lawn Hill.

This would be an easier trip for your vehicle. People actually take caravans this route ... at least once :}

The other way in is from the east - turn off the Burke Development Road at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse (192km north of Cloncurry), 144km to Gregory Downs where the road deteriorates; a further 77km to Adeles Grove / Lawn Hill.

This would be an easier trip for your vehicle. People actually take caravans this route ... at least once :}

G'Day Chris if in doubt maybe hire a 4x4 in Mt Isa use through the national park and pick up your car on the way out. Mark

cwebb,was there 2 months ago coming in from the Burke Dev. Rd.The roads were drivable by car (met alot coming and going , some with caravans) but take it easy,the dips into creek beds are severe and sections of the road are quite stony,I wouldnt want to travell any faster than 50km max. What ever you do get in there someway as this was my highlight for our three month Aussie trip.

cwebb,

There is also a water crossing. Although it is a fjord, I think you are mad trying to get there in a standard 2wd. I don't think the owners at Adeles or the rangers at Lawn Hill would appreciate it either, especially if they have to rescue you. What communications will you have?

Lawn Hill is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Perhaps you should ring the rangers at Lawn Hill and ask them what they think.

Don't take me wrong, I am not critising the mode of vehicle...my parents took the whole family around Australia in 1975 in an old EJ Holden, well before bitumen existed in most of QLD, NT, WA and SA.

I hope you get there as I am sure you will enjoy the colours, canoeing and walks.

CheersJust Do It!

I believe we went up the Yelvertoft Rd which was tar all the way to Camooweal Rd, and then was dirt all the way (via Riversleigh - check out the fossil site!). There were a couple of creek crossings just before Riversleigh.

As mentioned, great place and worth the visit.

Chris,
In June we went up to Lawn Hill/Adels Grove via Mt Isa, Riversleigh, total of 323km, 177km of bitumen, took us 6hrs, on the dirt we were just poking along 50 to 80kph towing a 17ft van, stopping for photos and smokos etc.. Road was ok just drive to the conditions, ie slow down, and dont have too high a psi in your tyres. 3 creek crossings were all passable by 2wd at that time, they have concrete base and were not deep at the time, but the base is slippery so dont brake or accelerate on the crossings, just slow and steady is the way to go. The last 15 or so km was the roughest, formed dirt road that hadn't been graded for years, not pot holey, just rough stone embeded in the surface.

We came out the other road via Gregory Downs to Burke and Wills Roadhouse, this road still had around 90km of dirt and was in a little better condition with no water to drive thru.. Plenty of traffic on both roads in June. I'm used to dirt roads and so what might be a horror road to some who are not used to driving the dirt maybe a reasonable good dirt road for others like myself.

Lawn Hill is a top spot to visit, Adels Grove is a top spot to stay.

enjoy your trip

In June 1992 (I know that it may have changed by now) but anyway we made it in a renault 16 with a camper trailer. Ground clearance is the main concern and if you don't mind the car being rattled. We stopped at Mt Isa and met a few people who had just returned from there and they told us the conditions, maybe you could do the same. But yeah we got there no worries we stopped overnight at Gregory River overnight then continued. I don't see why not as long as conditions haven't changed since. Flat tyres were the only bad reports that we heard and that caravans had their windows shaken out of their tracks. Absolutely wonderful place, well worth the effort