Longreach to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
Longreach 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.
Longreach 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.