This route forms a north south route through north western Queensland.
There are a lot of single lane sealed sections, though in October '06, a lot of work was being done to widen those
sections. Bad edges exist in many places.
There are a number of communications towers along this road. We checked in the vicinity of all for CDMA coverage .. nil!
0 km (460.2 km) Junction with Barclay Highway just west of Cloncurry.
[5.8 km].
5.8 km (454.4 km) Large vehicle inspection bays .. both sides.
[8.7 km]
14.5 km (445.7 km) Gravel pit .. east side.
[21.5 km]
36.0 km (424.2 km) Corella River.
[9.0 km]
45.0 km (415.2 km) Quamby Pub .. east side. Very large level sealed truck parking bay opposite.
Class 3. 20° 22.32'S. 140° 17.04'E. Hema map 11, K 5.
No shade, 30m from highway, OK big rigs. Weak CDMA from east when parked up on road.
[21.2 km]
66.2 km (394.0 km) Dugold River.
[9.3 km]
75.5 km (384.7 km) Junction .. west side .. southern entrance to Kajabbi.
[4.7 km]
80.2 km (380.0 km) Signed rest area .. west side. 2 parallel loops off/on highway, front one sealed, rear one gravel .. plus
extra level dirt area at rear northern corner.
Class 2. 20° 04.85'S. 140° 13.66'E. Hema map 11, J 5.
Toilets, covered tables, little shade, dump point and signed non potable water, bush fireplaces, rubbish bins,
35m max from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted, no CDMA, lit at night time.
[103.5 km] Approx. 25% double, 75% single lane sealed in Oct. 06. Long sections in southern half being converted to dual lane.
Many gravel pits have been, and are being built for these roadworks over the full length of this section.
183.7 km (276.5 km) Junction .. east side .. signed to Julia Creek 234 kms.
[1.0 km]
184.7 km (275.5 km) Bourke and wills Roadhouse .. east side .. large level dirt area in front and around fuel bowsers.
Camping ground adjoining to south.
[0.5 km]
185.2 km (275.0 km) Junction .. west side .. to Gregory Downs, Bourketown.
[28.4 km] Comprising an 8.8 km single and a 19.6 km dual section.
213.6 km (246.6 km) Signed truck parking .. east side .. level dirt loop off/on highway.
Class 2-. 18° 59.22'S. 140° 26.08'E. Hema map 11, G 5.
Little shade, 25m max from highway, OK big rigs, no CDMA.
[34.2 km] Comprising 17.3 km single, 16.9 km dual lane sections in total .. of 10 short seperate sections.
247.8 km (212.4 km) Signed truck parking .. east side .. medium size level gravel area adjacent to highway.
Class 2. 18° 41.90'S. 140° 30.73'E. Hema map 11, G 5.
Covered table, bush BBQ, rubbish bin, 30m max from highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted, no CDMA.
[27.8 km] Comprising 23.6 km single, 4.2 km dual lane sections in total .. of 5 seperate sections.
275.6 km (184.6 km) Signed truck parking .. east side .. large level dirt area.
* Class 2. 18° 31.62'S. 140° 39.19'E. Hema map 11, G 5.
Toilets, covered tables, some shade, dump point and signed non potable water, bush fireplaces, rubbish bins,
40m max from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted, no TV, no CDMA, lit at night time.
[33.4 km] Comprising 19.3 km single, 14.1 dual lane sections in total .. of 5 seperate sections.
309.0 km (151.2 km) Signed rest area .. east side.
Class 2. 18° 17.29'S. 140° 48.58'E. Hema map 11, F 5.
Covered tables, no shade, bush BBQ, rubbish bins, 25m max from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted, no CDMA.
[15.6 km] Comprising 15.5 km single, 0.1 km dual lane sections in total .. of 3 seperate sections.
324.6 km (135.6 km) Flinders River.
[24.0 km] Comprising 3.0 km single, 21.0 km dual sealed sections in total .. of 4 seperate sections.
348.6 km (111.6 km) Signed rest area .. west side .. large sealed loops off/on highway.
Class 2. 15° 57.76'S. 140° 54.22'E. Hema map 11, E 6.
Covered tables, no shade, bush BBQ, rubbish bins, 25m max from highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted, no CDMA.
[31.9 km] Comprising one 5.3 km single and a total of 26.6 km dual lane sections .. of 3 seperate sections.
380.5 km (79.7 km) Junction .. east side .. Gulf Development Road to Croydon, Georgetown etc.
[1.8 km]
382.3 km (77.9 km) Junction .. west side .. Savannah Way to Burketown etc.
[1.8 km]
384.1 km (76.1 km) Truck inspection station .. west side .. sealed loop off/on highway.
Class 3. 17° 41.66'S. 141° 03.27'E. Hema map 11, E 6.
Covered tables, no shade, bush BBQ, rubbish bins, 10m max from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs.
[4.1 km]
NOTE: Dump point is in Philip Street (well signed from main road). 17° 40.86' S. 141° 04.59' E. Hema map 11, E 6.
WATER is potable, but ? hygenic taken from tap at dump point .. see notes on "water" under "hints and kinks".
388.2 km (72.0 km) Normanton Post Office .. west side.
[0.2 km]
388.4 km (71.8 km) Info Centre .. west side .. old Burns Philp building.
[0.2 km]
388.6 km (71.6 km) Junction .. west side .. to wharf/boat ramp area .. signed "no camping". Travel in 400m to large level
sealed area.
Toilets, tables under large roofed area, no shade, bush BBQ and wood, rubbish bins, OK big rigs.
[0.7 km]
389.3 km (70.9 km) Norman River .. centre of bridge.
[0.2 km] Road north to Karumba is dual lane and sealed.
389.5 km (70.7 km) Tracks each side, east side to old bridge, west side to ? opposite wharf/boat ramp area.
Query overnight camping possibilities, but open, exposed area. Needs investigating.
[27.8 km]
417.3 km (42.9 km) Walkers Creek .. east side, tracks off highway both north and south of bridge. One track each side leads down
to old causeway across creek. Others provide potential overnight spots.
Class 2-. 17° 28.36'S. 141° 10.74'E. in south side. Hema map 11, E 6.
Little shade, bush fireplaces, 50m max from 100 kph highway, OK medium size rigs, no time limit noted, no CDMA.
[1.2 km]
418.5 km (41.7 km) Burke Development Road to Chillagoe etc.
[37.2 km]
455.7 km (4.5 km) Junction outside Karumba .. continue ahead to town centre, turn right for Karumba Point.
There is a large level dirt, (suggest truck) exposed parking area opposite this junction.
------------------------------
0 km Turning right for Karumba Point.
[2.8 km]
2.8 km Caravan Park where we stayed .. $23 pvpn high season, $18 pvpn after 1 October.
[0.5 km estimated]
3.3 km Pub ahead, Ash's accomodation on left, turn left for Ash's Barra and chips (recommended) and other caravan
park at end of street.
------------------------------
[1.8 km] Continuing towards town centre.
457.5 km (2.7 km) Recreation Club .. east side. We understand that this area is used for overflow caravan parking when caravan
parks are full. Also, that a "chit" has to be provided from each van park saying they are full, before gaining
admittance to Club!
[2.7 km] Following signs to town centre.
460.2 km (0 km) Pub .. taken as Karumba town centre.
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