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This quintessential Aussie road trip is definitely one for the bucket list.
Hailed as Australia's wildest road trip, the journey from tropical Darwin to coastal Broome will also take you along a stretch of the Savannah Way, through a contrast of palm-fringed gorges and vast grasslands, towards pristine beaches and surreal sunsets.
Watch the scenery change from one day to the next as you leave Darwin and drive through some of Australia’s wildest terrain.
This long but incredible journey will take you through gorges, our vast outback and past unmissable landmarks before the horizon opens up in Broome and its pristine beaches.
At a glance
Distance and days | 1,890km, which can be done in three to four days |
Why go? | Visiting Aboriginal rock art sites through Nitmiluk National Park, fishing for barramundi at the Victoria River, viewing the Wolfe Creek meteorite crater - viewing the Staircase to the Moon at Roebuck Bay |
When to go | March - October |
Day one: Darwin to Katherine (320 kms)
After the three-plus hour drive from Darwin, the outback township of Katherine is ideal for spending a few days and exploring. The star of the show is the dramatic Katherine Gorge, especially at dawn and dusk when the colours turn beautiful shades of mauve and red.
Nearby Nitmiluk National Park has more than 100km of walking trails to choose from, where you’re bound to spot a red-tailed black cockatoo or a freshwater crocodile snoozing on the water’s edge.
The spectacular Aboriginal rock art sites dotted throughout Nitmiluk, aka ‘place of the cicada dreaming’, are sacred to local Jawoyn who have a close relationship with their land, culture and traditions.
Day two: Katherine to Victoria River (380 kms)
The mighty Victoria River is renowned as a mecca for fishing barramundi which can be caught all year round. If you prefer someone else to skipper the boat, take a scenic cruise at sunset to admire the magnificent and unique native boab trees, the oldest living trees in Australia.
Day three: Victoria River to Halls Creek (500 kms)
From Victoria River, head on to Halls Creek, originally the site of a 19th century gold rush and although it only lasted three months at the time. More than a century later in 2015 commercial mining has begun to pull gold out of the Halls Creek area once again. There’s gold in them hills and if you try your luck at panning you just might strike it rich.
Viewing the Wolfe Creek meteorite crater, formed 300,000 years ago, is a must.
The crater lies on the edge of the East Kimberley and Great Sandy Desert and is the second largest meteorite crater in the world. You can walk to the top of the crater and along the way check out the brown ringtail dragons stalking insects in the shrubs.
Day four: Halls Creek to Broome (690 kms)
The longest stretch on this road trip is also the last, where you join what is know as The Savannah Way, ending at the clear turquoise waters and dazzling white sand of Broome.
Don’t miss Roebuck Bay with its alluring Staircase to the Moon, a spectacular natural phenomenon of tidal reflections that only occurs around the full moon between March and October.
