Extend your shade and experience the adventure sooner Aye, Karumba! (in the words of Bart Simpson!).
At the top of the Gulf country is a little place where you will want to buy a holiday home and a boat.
Karumba in north western Queensland will take your breath away with its over-the-water sunsets, slabs of fresh-caught local barramundi, and chill vibes.
But first, a quick stop off at Burketown.
We stayed on Aboriginal land where you now need a permit that you can get online or from the Information Centre.
We threw a line in, saw some crocs right by our campsite (we were freaked out a bit!), and had the best barra burger in Australia (so we think!) at the cafe in Burketown.
Then it was on to Karumba.
Burketown
Leichhardt Falls
Where is Karumba?
Karumba! What can we say about this stunning place? We had been on the road for a few weeks and decided to have some relaxing time here.
The town was built at the mouth of the Norman River downstream from Normanton about 750km from Cairns, Queensland, Australia – and a decent drive too.
While it is a full day’s drive from Cairns, it’s only about 69km north of Normanton.
Sunset
Sunrise
Where to stay in Karumba
We stayed at the aptly named Karumba Point Sunset Caravan Park.
This place has the most beautiful sunset by the water we’ve ever seen in QLD. Typically the sun doesn’t set over the water on the eastern side of Australia.
And in the morning, the most amazing sunrises too.
It was clean and tidy and had great service. It’s right in town at Karumba Point. Check the map if you book in Karumba because there are two parts of the town, the beach side and the town centre.
What's there to do in Karumba?
There is so much to do in Karumba that you might have to stay for a little longer! Check the seasonal changes with the tours, as when we were there in early October, a lot of tours weren’t running because the season had ended.
But we did manage to get on the Ferryman Cruises to spot some crocs and other wildlife. And Rafa also went on a fishing tour with Kerry D Fishing Charters. There are plenty of other tours as well.
HOT TIP – make sure you have a slab of locally caught barra, a beer, and watch the sunset at The Sunset Tavern. Totally worth it!
We also checked out the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre where you can catch and release a barra!
Check out Normanton too
On the way into Karumba, stop in Normanton and snap a pic with the largest croc ever found in the world! It’s a replica statue and you seriously won’t believe your eyes when you see how big it is!
You can check out Trip Advisor for other activities to do while you’re here.
And check this Lonely Planet link too.
Watch the adventure trip here on video
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