Winton to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best stops to add to a Winton to Darwin road trip itinerary are Winton, Mount Isa and Katherine. By car, the distance from Winton to Darwin is 2,068km, with a driving time of around 21h43m.
Planning a Winton to Darwin road trip itinerary
A Winton 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.
Winton brings sunset tours through the rock channels of the Rangelands, trips to the dinosaur footprints in the Lark Quarry Conservation Park and adventures through the mesa landscapes of Carisbrooke Station. For the best Winton accommodation deals, search 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.
There’s an awful lot to see along the way, though. This expert-researched guide should help you plan your perfect Winton to Darwin road trip itinerary.
Winton to Darwin distance and driving time
Using the quickest route by car, the distance from Winton to Darwin is 2,068km. That makes for a driving time of around 21 hours and 43 minutes.
The best road trip stops to add to a Winton to Darwin road trip itinerary include Mount Isa, Daly Waters and Katherine.
4 Winton experiences that will make your visit better
- Day tour to Carisbrooke Station and the ancient dino footprints of the Dinosaur Stampede.
- Sunset tour to the outback rock channels of Rangelands Station.
- 3/4 day tour to the Dinosaur Stampede and Merton Gorge.
- Half day tour to the Age of Dinosaurs Museum – or make your own way and visit the fossil preparation laboratory.
Winton accommodation recommendations
Australian hotel specialist Wotif offers accommodation in Winton for from $138 a night. Search the options here.
But the best bets are…
- For best quality: Winton Outback Motel.
- For best value (and a pool): Boulder Opal Motor Inn.
- For families: Hamilton Retreat.
- For heritage: North Gregory Hotel.
Winton to Darwin road trip: Winton to Cloncurry
Winton on the Landsborough Highway brims with attractions. Australian Age of Dinosaurs looks at the wealth of dinosaur fossils found around Winton. There’s also the Waltzing Matilda Centre, which celebrates Australia’s national poem, composed by Banjo Paterson nearby.
Moving on north towards Cloncurry, there are a couple of famous pubs. The Blue Heeler in Kynuna, on the Diamantia River, plus McKinlay’s Walkabout Creek Hotel are good slices of stereotypical Australia.
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.
Click through for the next section: Cloncurry to Camooweal.