Page 262 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

260  QUEENSLAND

Queensland’s Outback

In stark contrast to the lush green of the eastern rainforests,
the northwest of Queensland is made up of dry plains, mining
areas and Aboriginal settlements. The vast distances and high
temperatures often dissuade tourists from venturing into this
harsh landscape; yet those willing to
make the effort will be rewarded
Wellesley
Islands
l
lb
Hells Gate Gil il i bert with unique wildlife and
Roadhouse Karumba an insight into
NORMANTON AND
GULF SAVANNAH Australia’s harsh Locator Map
BURKETOWN Croydon Georgetown Queensland’s Outback
e Outback life.
Gregory eg Northern Queensland
Downs Iffley Gregory Range pp252–59
r
ry
Gunpowder
B Townsville
K
BA KL
Tennant Cloncurry Richmond
BARKLY HWY
Creek
McKinlay Hughenden
MOUNT ISA w Sights at a Glance
wy
Corfield
Urandangi Lake e Normanton and
Selwyn Range
Winton Galilee
Bladensburg Gulf Savannah
National Park Aramac
Boulia Rockhampton r Burketown
LONGREACH
t Mount Isa
Isisford y Longreach
Bedourie Gr eat Blackall
Jundah Idalia
Ar tesian National Park
Key
Basin Adavale
Birdsville Windorah WA Major road
W
WARREGO
W
Charleville HIGHWAY Minor road
WA
Eromanga
Wyandra Brisbane Track
Minor railway
BALO ONNE HWY
0 km 150 B BAL L
Cunnamulla State border
0 miles 150
Bourke
eNormanton and barramundi. Karumba, at the covered in savannah grasses,
Gulf Savannah mouth of the Norman River, is abundant with bird and animal
the access point for the Gulf
life, this is the remotest
@ Normanton. n 29–33 Haig St, of Carpentaria and the head­ landscape in Australia. The
Normanton (07) 4747 8422. quarters of a multi­million­dollar economic base of the area is
prawn and fishing industry. fishing and cattle. Prawn
Normanton, situated 70 km It remains something of an trawlers go out to the Gulf of
(45 miles) inland on the Norman untamed frontier town, especially Carpentaria for months at a
River, is the largest town in the when the prawn trawlers are in. time and cattle stations cover
region. It began life as a port, Covering approximately areas of more than 1,000 sq km
handling copper from Cloncurry 350,000 sq km (135,000 sq (400 sq miles). Given the
and then gold from Croydon. miles), the most northwesterly distances, local pastoralists are
The famous Gulflander train still region of Queensland is the Gulf more likely to travel via light
commutes once a week between Savannah. Largely flat and aircraft than on horseback.
Normanton and Croydon.
En route from Normanton to
the Gulf of Carpentaria, savannah
grasses give way to glistening salt
pans, barren of all vegetation.
Once the rains come in
November, however, this area
becomes a wetland and a
breeding ground for millions of
birds, including jabirus, brolgas,
herons and cranes, as well as
crocodiles, prawns and Gum trees and termite mounds on the grassland of Gulf Savannah
For additional map symbols see back flap