Savannah Option Cairns to Normanton via Dunbar

Hi,

What time of year are you looking at doing the trip? This more than anything will determine whether it is achievable or not. To my knowledge after Chillagoe there are no specific campsites, but there are plenty of creeks / rivers where you should be able to stop for the night if required (crocs shouldn't be an issue til you're closer to the coast, but keep them in mind!)


Most of this route is dirt and is quite isolated. This time of year (as you'd be aware) we're coming into the wet season, the rains when they come can and will close the roads, and you may find some water over the road in the hollows (probably not suitable for the Forrester).


On the other hand during the dry the roads are actually quite easy to travel (even in a falcon / commodore) and the weather will be much more pleasant! (I'm sitting in the AC watching the thermometer climb past 44 degrees in the shade)


Fuel is available in Chillagoe, and if I've followed you route correctly from there it's a bit less than 600km to Karumba. When I did this trip I filled up in Chillagoe and had no issues getting to Normanton.


Be aware of the standard corrugations and livestock on the roads, but otherwise enjoy the trip!


Anthony

As Anthony said its a good drive, and that time of the year should be dry enough to get through.

Before you get to Dunbar there aquite a few lagoons on either side of the road, in a bit but you can see some of them.

The camp on the Mitchell can be a bit sandy as you get closer to the river, a 4WD not towing would be better to go in and have a look first.

Hi TM,

In addition to other observations already noted, I would add that you need to very carefully consider whether you wil be crossing the Mitchell R via Dunbar. A very long, soft sandy crossing that can cause anguish. We had a good look a few years ago, thought it do-able and got stuck in sand before even getting to the water, tyre pressures already dropped etc etc, so then extracted ourselves and camped the night before a detour next morning.

Rgds,

Rob.

Hi Triton,

I did this track mid last month.
It hadn't really started to rain yet so all the crossings were dry and easy. The Gilbert had a bridge over it.

Heaps of funny looking birds, cane toads and pigs to see.









A pretty easy track in the dry, I saw a couple of sedans at the Karumba end.

Cheers
Alan