KENNEDY HIGHWAY TO (near) NORMANTON. GULF DEVELOPMENT ROAD.

This east west route has its eastern exremity at the Kennedy Highway. Its western extremity is at the Bourke Development
Road (Matilda Highway) just south of Normanton. It has lots of single lane sealed sections with intermittent dual lane
sealed sections, though some are narrow. There is more dual lane sections towards the western end.

0 km (535.5 km) Eastern extremity, "T" junction with Kennedy Highway approx. 90 km north of the Lynd.
There is a Class 2 gravel pit just north of the junction .. see Kennedy Highway section.
[9.5 km] Single lane.
9.5 km (444.0 km) Dual lane section starts.
[8.4 km]
17.9 km (435.6 km) Junction .. south side to Undara Lava Tubes.
[24.9 km] Total of 17.1 km single, 7.8 km dual lane sections.
42.8 km (410.7 km) Junction .. north side to Almaden (on Chillagoe Road).
[13.2 km] Dual lane section.
56.0 km (397.5 km) Elizabeth Creek just east of Mount Surprise. Across bridge, west side of road is a level cleared area ..
power lines above. Signed on opposite side of highway "no camping", but would appear sign relates to track running
along side creek on eastern side??
Class 3 to 4. 18° 08.58's. 144° 19.63'E. Hema map 11, F 11.
No shade, rubbish bin, 20m max from road, barely OK big rigs.
[1.0 km]
57.0 km (396.5 km) Mount Surprise pub .. south side with servo, museum, van park, cafe to west of pub.
Medium size parking area in front of railway station complex signed "no camping" .. north side.
Class 5. 18° 08.82'S. 144° 19.10'E. Hema map 11, F 11.
OK big rigs, weak CDMA.
[0.1 km]
57.1 km (396.4 km) Dump point (adjacent to highway), public toilets .. north side. Sealed area adjacent to highway in front
of toilets.
Class 5 (suggest). 18° 08.85'S. 144° 19.03'E. Hema map 11, F 11.
Toilets, no shade, WATER at dump point, ? hygenic, rubbish bin, smallish rigs park in front of toilets, big rigs
park on highway.
[32.0 km] Single lane.
89.1 km (364.4 km) Junction .. south side .. signed 42 km to Einasleigh. We travelled 0.8 km along that road to large
reasonably level cleared gravel area visible on eastern side.
* Class 3. 18° 12.25'S. 144° 02.78'E. Hema map 11, F 10.
No shade, bush fireplaces with plenty of wood, quiet, OK big rigs, ch. 10 + ABC TV, no CDMA.
[4.7 km]
93.8 km (359.7 km) Unsigned rest area .. Einasleigh River .. south side. Small circular level dirt turning area with
limited parking adjacent.
Class 2. 18° 11.06'S. 144° 00.62E. Hema map 11, F 10.
Little shade, rubbish bins, 25m max from highway, just OK big rigs, no CDMA, Jardine Memorial.
[0.3 km]
94.1 km (359.4 km ) Einasleigh River.
[7.4 km]
101.5 km (352.0 km) Routh Creek .. unsigned rest area noticed .. turn off 100m east side of bridge, north side of highway.
Class 2. Hema map 11, F 10.
Noticed some shade, water hole in creek, rubbish bins, 30m from 100 kph highway, ? OK big rigs, appeared nice spot.
[37.0 km] From memory, greater than 50% dual lane to Cumberland Chimney.
138.5 km (315.0 km) Gravel pit noticed .. south side, rubbish bin.
[13.1 km] From memory, greater than 50% dual lane.
151.6 km (301.9 km) Georgetown junction .. Forsayth Road/main street to south. Noticed "no camping" signs in parks.
Town drinking WATER available at Info Centre .. tap on large rock in bus parking bay N.W. of info building.
[21.4 km] From memory, greater than 50% dual lane.
173.0 km (280.5 km) Junction .. south side to Cumberland Chimney. Travel in 0.5 km to signed picnic area. Large level dirt
turning and parking areas overlooking shallow water hole containing water lillies.
Class 2+. 18° 18.03'S. 143°' 21.07'E. Hema map 11, F 9.
Shade, bush fire places, rubbish bins, 500 m from highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted.
[54.2 km] From memory, mostly dual lane.
227.2 km (226.3 km) Gilbert River bridge.
[0.3 km]
227.5 km (226.0 km) Unsigned rest area .. north side .. series of level dirt turning/parking areas extending back from
highway. Some gates to properties from area.
* Class 2. 18° 12.02'S. 142° 52.35'E. Hema map 11, F 8.
Some shade, bush fireplaces, rubbish bin, 75 m max from highway, OK big rigs, no time limit noted, no TV, no CDMA.
[23.3 km] A number of truck parking bays, and, from memory, dual lane over this section.
250.8 km (202.7 km) Little River .. causeway noted across river to the north. ? possible to park overnight.
Class 2?. 18° 16.54'S. 142° 40.80'E. at gate to west of bridge, south side of highway. Hema map 11, F 8.
Needs investigating, maybe not suitable big rigs.
[26.8 km] A number of truck parking bays, and, from memory, dual lane over this section.
277.6 km (175.9 km) Large truck parking area .. north side. Shade and rubbish bin.
[24.1 km] A number of truck parking bays, and, from memory, dual lane over this section.
301.7 km (151.8 km) Croydon Post Office/servo .. north side.
[0.5 km]
302.2 km (151.3 km) The Original Tabletop School (being restored) .. south side .. WATER taps at side.
18° 12.24'S. 142° 14.69'E. Hema map 11, F 7.
Opposite highway is a park with WATER tap near road. Diagonally opposite school is Info Centre.
[62.7 km] Comprising 25.3 km dual, 8.6 km single, 28.8 km dual lane sections.
364.9 km (88.6 km) Blackbull Siding .. north side .. sealed level parking area between road and railway siding. Parking area
appears open to public .. remainder over rail line appears set up as private "cup of tea" stop over for Savannah
Lander. Also, signed "caravan park" .. all looks quite run down.
Class 3. 17° 56.43'S 141° 45.31'E. Hema map 11, F 7.
Toilets, brush covered tables, no shade, 40m max from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs.
[67.0 km] Dual lane section, which continues west to the Bourke Development Road.
431.9 km (21.6 km) Critter Camp .. north side .. medium size circular level dirt turning area between road and railway line.
Class 2-. 17° 51.93'S. 141° 09.86'E. Hema map 11, F 6.
Rough bush shelter, no shade, 40m max from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs, no CDMA.
[3.4 km]
435.3 km (18.2 km) Entry track east side of culvert to level sandy/gravel area between road and railway .. south side. Small
lagoon to east. Extra area across rail line .. also, rough track down to old causeway across river then back to highway.
Class 2. 14° 08.15'S. 141° 08.15'E. Hema map 11, E, 6.
Very litte shade, bush fireplace & firewood, 50m max from 100 kph highway, barely OK big rigs, no TV, no CDMA.
[0.2 km]
435.5 km (18.0 km) Norman River.
[0.8 km]
435.3 km (17.2 km) Junction .. south side to Leichardt Lagoon .. closed gate across road .. signed "park closed".
[17.2 km]
453.5 km (0 km) Junction .. Bourke Development Road (Malilda Highway) 7.7 km south of Normanton Post Office.
Turn north for Bourketown, Normanton, Kurumba. Turn south for Cloncurry, Julia Creek.

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