Cloncurry to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best stops to add to a Cloncurry to Darwin road trip itinerary are Mount Isa, Daly Waters and Katherine. By car, the distance from Cloncurry to Darwin is 1,721km, with a driving time of around 18h8m.
Planning a Cloncurry to Darwin road trip itinerary
A Cloncurry 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.
Cloncurry is where the Landsborough Highway, Flinders Highway and Barkly Highway meet. To find the best Cloncurry accommodation deals, hunt here.
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.
Six amazing day trips from Darwin that will improve your visit
- Litchfield National Park day tour – including jumping crocodile cruise. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Tiwi Islands Indigenous cultural experience including ferry.
- One day or four day Kakadu National Park tour.
- Kakadu scenic flight – with gorges, waterfalls and epic floodplains. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Full day Katherine day tour – including Katherine Gorge cruise.
- Arnhem Land full day tour – with ancient rock art.
There’s an awful lot to see along the way, though. This expert-researched guide should help you plan your perfect Cloncurry to Darwin road trip itinerary.
Cloncurry to Darwin distance and driving time
Using the quickest route by car, the distance from Cloncurry to Darwin is 1,721km. That makes for a driving time of around 18 hours and eight minutes.
The best road trip stops to add to a Cloncurry to Darwin road trip itinerary include Mount Isa, Daly Waters and Katherine.
Things to do in Cloncurry include the John Flynn Place Museum, devoted to the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and fossil-fancying Cloncurry Unearthed.
Cloncurry accommodation options include the personality-packed Gidgee Inn and the solidly decent Leichhardt Hotel Motel.
Cloncurry to Darwin road trip: Cloncurry to Camooweal
On the way from Cloncurry to Mount Isa along the Barkly Highway, decent stops include the Burke and Wills Memorial, the Corella Dam swimming hole and the eerie ghost town at Mary Kathleen.
Mount Isa, the last proper-sized town in Queensland has several attractions. These include the Riversleigh Fossil Centre, the 4.2km walking track up Telstra Hill, and underground tours at the Hard Times Mine.
7 great Mount Isa experiences you really ought to know about
- Hard Times underground mine tour – led by a miner.
- Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre tickets – with optional laboratory tour.
- Combo ticket for Isa Experience Heritage Display, Outback Park and Rodeo Hall of Fame.
- Small group scenic flight – flying over the vast mines.
- Lake Moondarra sunset tour – with drinks and food platter.
- Pay a visit to the bizarre World War II era Underground Hospital.
- Mary Kathleen abandoned mine and ghost town tour.
Mount Isa activity options include the two hour best-of Mount Isa tour, outback scenic flights, a sunset tour to Lake Moondarra and a fascinating visit to the abandoned Mary Kathleen uranium mine.
For Mount Isa accommodation, try the peppy four star Copper City Motel, the centrally-located Icon on Isa and the roadtripper-friendly Discovery Parks Argylla.
The next stretch from Mount Isa to Tennant Creek is a long 661km slog, requiring careful use of fuel stops. The only town on the route is Camooweal, just on the Queensland side of the Northern Territory border.
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.
Cloncurry to Darwin drive: Camooweal to Daly Waters
After Camooweal, there’s no fuel for another 260km, so stock up at the Barkly Homestead when you arrive.
The Brisbane 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.