Winton to Katherine road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best stops to add to a Winton to Katherine road trip itinerary are Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Daly Waters. By car, the distance from Winton to Katherine is 1,754km, with a driving time of around 18h34m.
Planning a Winton to Katherine road trip itinerary
A Winton to Katherine road trip is an epic drive through the Australian outback, crossing from Queensland to the Northern Territory. 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.
Katherine offers Katherine Gorge boat cruises and the Top Didj Aboriginal cultural experience. For Katherine accommodation favourites, head this way.
There’s an awful lot to see along the way, though. This expert-researched guide should help you plan your perfect Winton to Katherine road trip itinerary.
Winton to Katherine distance and driving time
Using the quickest route by car, the distance from Winton to Katherine is 1,754km. That makes for a driving time of around 18 hours and 34 minutes.
The best road trip stops to add to a Winton to Katherine road trip itinerary include Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Daly Waters.
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 Katherine 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.