The Savannah Way - Cape Crawford to Mataranka

The Savannah Highway is another one of those ‘tourist’ highways that runs from Cairns, Queensland to Broome, WA. Stretching 3699kms, passes through 15 National Parks and 4 World Heritage areas. Some of the Savannah Way is only suitable for 4Wd vehicles.

Due to wet weather and road closures we picked up the Savannah Way at Cape Crawford. We were hoping to start at Normanton.

Entering the SW from Cape Crawford-a sign on the gate read “prescribed aerial burnoff; 5-8^th June-do not continue if prone to asthmatic conditions etc.  We dropped our tyre pressure to 35psi, and off we set. Well this is definitely a 4wd track and you need a camper trailer or off road van to drive.

Incredibly slow and heavy going, the track is just that a track-no seal/bitumen. Gravel or bluestone as the Ozzies call it. You cannot get up a speed as the river crossings and dips appear out of no- where very quickly. Occassionly they are signposted in a small red sign saying’caution’. We travelled 45 kms to our first camp site-it took us about 1 hour. A lovely small site at Batten Creek-we shared it with John and Joy-whom we had met at Cape Crawford. There is no cell phone coverage and this couple had a Tvan with a HF radio.

We decided to go to Lorella Spring, described as a wilderness camp on a 1 million acre cattle station, privately owned- having been recommended by a fellow camper. The track to this is only 30kms off the main track-but this was worse, it took us about 50 minutes to drive.