Things to do in Karumba, Queensland: Fishing, cruises or Barramundi Discovery Centre?

The best things to do in Karumba, Queensland include the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre, Norman River cruises and sunsets at Karumba Point. Karumba fishing charters are the main attraction for most visitors, however.

There’s a sense of true Australiana in Karumba, Queensland. It’s a place you have to make a real effort to get to. It’s hot, it’s sticky and surrounded by crocodiles. And everyone is dressed extremely casually. Karumba is a place made for big hats and a beer.

Cairns to Karumba drive

Most of the best things to do in Karumba are fishing-related, but you’ve got to get there first. The drive from Cairns to Karumba is 748km long, taking just over eight and a half hours. For this reason, Karumba is best visited as a stop on the drive from Cairns to Darwin – it’s a relatively short detour off National Highway One just before Normanton.

Karumba lies on both the Norman River and the Gulf of Carpentaria. To explore the river, you’re best off taking a cruise with Ferryman River Cruises. The company operates bird-watching cruises during the day, then heads back out towards the mangroves to spot crocodiles and watch the sunset in the early evening. Ferryman River Cruises tickets cost from $70.

Things to do in Karumba, Queensland: Nature cruises

More boat tours are available with Croc and Crab Tours. There’s a little more to these trips, with the option of a nature cruise in the morning and a sunset cruise in the evening. The Croc and Crab Tours morning cruise lasts three hours, costs $75 and takes in the Norman River, Six Mile Creek and Karumba Port. The crew also lift up crab pots to inspect the catch, in between bird-watching and looking for big crocodiles.

The two hour early evening cruise cost $80, includes food, and heads out to Sand Island – widely regarded as the best place in Karumba to see the sunset.

From land, Karumba Point offers good sunset viewing, too. You might as well do it with a beer in hand, though. Handily, the Sunset Tavern is at Karumba Point, looking out over the mouth of the Norman River and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Things to do in Karumba, Queensland: Fishing charters

Most visitors to Karumba, however, want to go fishing. Kerry D Fishing offers Karumba fishing charters. Barramundi, perhaps Australia’s iconic fish, are the main target.

A fishing trip in Karumba, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

If you want to learn more about barramundi, though, head to the Les Wilson Barrramundi Discovery Centre. This interactive interpretive centre looks at the lives and habitats of this mighty fine eating fish. It’s on the site of a barramundi hatchery, and it’s the only place in the world to breed the southern gulf barramundi.

Karumba accommodation

Karumba accommodation options include the End of the Road Motel, Karumba caravan park, Gone Fishin’ Holiday Units and the Savannah Shores hotel.

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