Getting Here and Around

Located on one of Australia's most adventurous drives, known as the Savannah Way.

Burketown is located on the Albert River in the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory, a regional area known as the Gulf Savannah.

This is a remote part of Australia with relatively few travellers. That is something special, and it also requires a planned approach. If you are driving your own vehicle carry appropriate equipment, maps, food and water. Plan your itinerary including fuel, food and water stops, and be able to carry rubbish securely to the next dump. Then you can relax and enjoy the drive!

Before adventuring onto outback roads you should obtain a weather report. Check road conditions via the RACQ, Shire Councils ( Burke, Normanton, Cloncurry and Mount Isa ) and local police. You can also view the river crossing cameras in the Burke and Carpentaria Shires. If you cannot view the current Burke Shire Council Road Report, please contact the Council Office on (07) 4745 5100. Note that your mobile phone may not work in the outback, check with your provider.

Getting here by road

230km west from Normanton, around 3.5 hours drive.
430km north from Mount Isa, around 6.5 hours drive.
450km north west from Cloncurry, around 7 hours drive.
900km south west from Cairns, around 15 hours drive.
2600km north west from Brisbane, around 22 hours drive.

If travelling from the Northern Territory, the town can be reached via Daly Waters and Borroloola.

Getting here by Air

Rex is the only airline that services Burketown and has direct flights in and out from Cairns, Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Mount Isa and Normanton.

Savannah Aviation offer charter flight services as far afield as Cairns, Darwin, and Alice Springs and have destinations throughout the Gulf region. They operate from their office in Burketown, visit Savannah Aviation for more information.

Getting here By Bus

Trans North Bus and Coach offers a route from Cairns to Karumba, stopping in many of the outback towns along the way but does not extend as far as Burketown.

Charter flights

Savannah Aviation offers charter flights to many destinations in the Outback and around North Queensland. Based in Burketown, this includes local attractions such as the Morning Glory Clouds, Sweers Island and Boodjamulla National Park, as well as other regional centres. Savannah Aviation are also available for scenic flights over many of the magnificent sights of our Northern Outback and Gulf region. Phone (07) 4745 5177 / Fax (07) 4745 5211.