Camper Trailer Action — Issue 104 2017

in front of the fi re!
It’s close to 3000km from Brisbane to the
Gulf, so it’s important to break up the trip into
manageable days. For some that’s three days,
and others six – you need to stick to your limits

• the last thing you want is a 4WD or crew
  member not making it to the fi nal destination.
  What we found to be a real winner was to stay
  out of the main regional centres, so you’re not
  paying ridiculous camping fees and you still

feel like you’re out of the rat race. Places like

Ilfracombe is the perfect example of a good spot

to stay. The Wellshot Hotel is one of Australia’s

best outback pubs, offering a sensational

atmosphere, and best of all you can roll your

swags out the back for a gold coin donation.

The good thing about Queenslanders is they

know what temperature to have their beer – the

perfect fi x for a long day behind the wheel.

As small as Borroloola is, it has all supplies

available, including a wreckers and mechanic.

The caravan park lets you fi ll up on potable

water, do your washing and have a shower

before you do the last 100km to the mighty

Wearyan River.

The road out to Manangoora is the fi rst stretch

of what is an iconic and treacherous section

of the Savannah Way. The rich, red and often

corrugated soil is sporadically broken up with a

water crossing. Plumes of red dust, picture

WE’RE CALLING IT

• THIS IS THE BEST RIVERSIDE

CAMPSITE IN THE GULF!

Every river crossing on the Savannah

Way provides an opportunity to cool off,

especially crossing the Wearyan before

QWHERE: you turn off to Manangoora Station

Manangoora Homestead is 100km north-

west of Borroloola in the Northern Territory

and is situated on the Wearyan River.

QINFORMATION:

It may feel like paradise on the river bank,

but you have to remember this is a harsh,

hot climate that needs to be shown a

certain amount of respect. Late in the dry

season, temperatures can be 45°C during

the day and 30°C and humid at night, so

shade and water will be a whole lot more

important than just your normal week-

end trip to your local river. With shade,

the key is to have as much as you can,

without blocking the breeze. Shade sail

is good for this, as you can throw it on a

wall or two of your gazebo or tarp and

it’ll still let the breeze in.

TRAVEL

Gulf of Carpentaria, NT