Camooweal to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best stops to add to a Camooweal to Darwin road trip itinerary are Daly Waters, Mataranka and Katherine. By car, the distance from Camooweal to Darwin is 1,410km, with a driving time of around 14h36m.
Planning a Camooweal to Darwin road trip itinerary
A Camooweal to Darwin road trip is one of the epic Australian journeys, featuring a host of quirky outback towns and stunning natural attractions. Most people passing along this route will be on a longer road trip – say from Brisbane to Darwin or Sydney to Darwin.
Camooweal is the most western town on the Barkly Highway before crossing into the Northern Territory.
Darwin, meanwhile, brings schooner cruises, airboat tours and cage-swimming with massive crocodiles. To search for the best Darwin accommodation deals, head here. To check out the full range of tours and experiences available, go here.
There’s an awful lot to see along the way, though. This expert-researched guide should help you plan your perfect Camooweal to Darwin road trip itinerary.
Camooweal to Darwin distance and driving time
Using the quickest route along sealed roads by car, the distance from Camooweal to Darwin is 1,410km. That makes for a driving time of around 14 hours and 36 minutes.
The best road trip stops to add to a Camooweal to Darwin road trip itinerary include Daly Waters, Mataranka and Katherine.
7 great Darwin experiences to book before arriving
- Swim face to face with an enormous crocodile in the Cage of Death.
- Enjoy the romance of Darwin Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise aboard a traditional fishing ketch.
- Explore Darwin’s food and art scenes on a 3.5 hour walking tour – with lunch or dinner included.
- Flit between Darwin’s top attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
- Combine a wildlife tour with the famous jumping crocodiles cruise.
- Get a history fix on a Bombing of Darwin WWII tour and harbour cruise.
- Get the adrenalin pumping on a high speed airboat or jetski tour.
Things to do in Camooweal include finding out about cattle droving at the Drovers Camp, and admiring the cave mouths in Wiliyan-ngurru National Park.
Camooweal is also the gateway to Boodjamulla National Park, home of Lawn Hill Gorge.
Camooweal to Darwin road trip: Camooweal to Daly Waters
After Camooweal, there’s no fuel for another 260km, so stock up at the Barkly Homestead when you arrive.
The Camooweal to Darwin drive finally meets the Stuart Highway at the Threeways Roadhouse. Tennant Creek lies 25km to the south, and realistically, most are going to want to build in an overnight stop here.
Things to do in Tennant Creek include taking in Indigenous heritage at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Cultural Centre. Other options include the Bill Allen Lookout and gold rush heritage at the Battery Hill Mining Centre.
Tennant Creek accommodation
Specialist Australian accommodation booking site Wotif offers Tennant Creek accommodation for from $140 a night. Check the top deals page for the best rates.
However, to narrow down the shortlist, consider these options first.
- For (easily) the best quality: Safari Lodge.
- For roadtripper convenience: Outback Caravan Park.
- For a pool: Bluestone Motor Inn.
It’s another 989km from Tennant Creek to Darwin, but there are a few key attractions along the way.
The landscape visibly changes on the way north, with the dry outback giving way to the vegetation of the tropics. The Renner Springs Desert Inn is a decent stop for fuel and snacks. You can also pull over at the Lake Woods Conservation Covenant. The ephemeral lake here attracts plenty of bird life.
But for an excellent overnight stop, try the Daly Waters Pub. This perhaps the quintessential great Australian outback pub. Expect live music, big steaks on the barbecue and decorations provided by donated paraphernalia from around the world.
Click through to the next section: Daly Waters to Nitmiluk National Park.