Sydney to Cairns inland road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Roma to Rolleston
It’s another 402km from Roma to Emerald, with the first realistic stop in Injune. Here, you can see the Wild Dog Fence – aka the Dingo Fence. This is the longest fence in the world, stretching from Jimbour in south-east Queensland to Nundroo on the Nullarbor Plain. Go to the Womblebank Road 8km north of Injune to see it.
Injune accommodation options include the Injune Motor Inn and Injune Motel. Some travellers choose to stay here as a base for exploring the Carnarvon National Park, even though it’s 140km to the north.
Nonetheless, Carnarvon Gorge is easily the highlight of a Roma to Emerald road trip. It’s a remarkable place of sandstone walls, Aboriginal art and spectacular walking tracks.
Rolleston, about 106km to the north of Carnarvon Gorge is the other gateway to the national park, and the next village on the Roma to Emerald drive. There’s a general store and caravan park in Rolleston, but not an awful lot else.
Sydney to Cairns road trip: Rolleston to Emerald
This is also where the Carnarvon Highway finishes, merging into the Dawson Highway. Further along the Dawson, before you reach Springsure, it’s worth pulling over at the Staircase Range Cutting. Here signs explain how the dramatic cutting was made by Chinese labourers using only hand tools.
At Springsure, the Dawson Highway meets the Gregory Highway. Most travellers use it as a fuel stop, but Springsure accommodation is available at the Springsure Overlander Motel and Dooley’s Tavern.
The Minerva Hills National Park is just 4km from Springsure. There are several good lookouts here, and the best walk is the 1.6km return walk to the Skyline Lookout, which has views of the town and Mount Zamia.
On the way into Emerald, you can pull over at Lake Maraboon, the second largest lake in Queensland. Created by Fairbairn Dam, Lake Maraboon is a popular spot for fishing, swimming and picnics.
Things to do in Emerald once you arrive include pushing lots of buttons at the kid-friendly Outback Exploratorium and admiring the world’s biggest Van Gogh sunflower painting. It’s not, alas, an original.
Where to stay in Emerald
The best Emerald accommodations options are:
- For central location: Motel 707.
- For a more stylish motel: Abode37.
- For a good quality motel with cheap rates: A&A Lodge Motel.
- For families: Discovery Parks Emerald.
Emerald to Blackwood National Park
From Emerald to Townsville, it’s another 611km, which starts off along the Gregory Highway. The first town you’ll pass through is Capella. It comes equipped with a racecourse and golf course, but isn’t going to get too many visitors excited.
Much more interesting is Clermont. Here, the Clermont Historical Centre delves into gold prospecting heritage and the catastrophic 1916 flood that killed 65 people.
Top Clermont accommodation options
The best places to stay in Clermont are:
- For a cheap, decent motel for a one night stay: Clermont Hotel Motel.
- For a bit of character, plus a pool, restaurant and gardens: Clermont Country Motor Inn.
- For overall quality: Smart Stayzzz Inns.
On the Clermont to Charters Towers section of the Sydney to Cairns road trip, the Gregory Highway becomes the Gregory Developmental Road.
Blackwood National Park, shortly after the Belyando Crossing roadhouse, is worth a short break. The 1km Brigalow Circuit gives a good overview of the wetlands.
Click through to the next section: Charters Towers and Townsville.