Normanton to Coen via Kowanyama

Start		Coen
Finish	Normanton
Difficulty
Suitable For
Distance	876.25 km
Minimum Days	2
Average Speed	43.27 km/hr
Travel Time	20 hrs 14 mins

Description

Enjoy the golden savannah grasslands and the monsoonal wetlands of this trek in this rather barren region of Australia. There are a variety of native animals and a diverse portrait of birds including herons, jabirus, brolgas, sarus crane and many other waterbird species that migrate here - especially after the rains.

A good majority of the trek is on the Burke Developmental Road with minor portions being on the Karumba Development Road, Kowanyama Development Road and Musgrave Strathgordon Road before hitting Peninsula Development Road before Coen. The majority of the journey is a true adventure drive with most of it being unsealed. Although some of these roads can be rough, it’s quite navigable by conventional vehicles with care.

The trek passes through beautiful scenery, including some old historic towns. Examples include: Normanton, which is well known for its diverse migratory wading birds and Barramundi fishing and Karumba which sits on the mouth of the Norman River and is home to the Gulf of Carpentaria’s prawning and fishing industries and not to forget its stunning sunsets. Kowanyama, which means ‘the place of many waters’ is a culturally significant Aboriginal community town. This town is situated on the banks of Magnificent Creek and during the wet season, it’s not uncommon to have supplies flown in by air. There are many homestead stations olong the way including Dunbar Station and there is an old ex-fortress telegraph station now called Musgrave Roadhouse. Coen is a beautiful small town located on the old telegraph line that ran from Laura to Bamaga and is considered the last place north for supplies such as food, fuel and mechanical repairs before heading towards the tip of Cape York.

How to Use this Trek Note

To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP	ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2025 mapset!

TrekID: 143

Preparation

Diesel	ULP	LPG
4cyl 123 litres	4cyl 142 litres	4cyl 175 litres
6cyl 134 litres	6cyl 159 litres	6cyl 154 litres
8cyl 134 litres	8cyl 145 litres


Mean Max. °C
Jan	33.0
Feb	32.3
Mar	32.8
Apr	32.9
May	32.0
Jun	30.7
Jul	30.7
Aug	32.2
Sep	34.6
Oct	36.2
Nov	36.2
Dec	34.8
Mean Min. °C
Jan	24.3
Feb	24.2
Mar	23.7
Apr	21.8
May	19.0
Jun	16.1
Jul	15.4
Aug	16.2
Sep	18.9
Oct	21.9
Nov	24.0
Dec	24.3
Mean Rain mm
Jan	341.7
Feb	357.5
Mar	237.1
Apr	55.5
May	11.0
Jun	4.2
Jul	2.4
Aug	2.4
Sep	2.6
Oct	16.9
Nov	56.6
Dec	174.8

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mean Max. °C	33.0	32.3	32.8	32.9	32.0	30.7	30.7	32.2	34.6	36.2	36.2	34.8
Mean Min. °C	24.3	24.2	23.7	21.8	19.0	16.1	15.4	16.2	18.9	21.9	24.0	24.3
Mean Rain mm	341.7	357.5	237.1	55.5	11.0	4.2	2.4	2.4	2.6	16.9	56.6	174.8

Map

Directions

Coen to Musgrave Roadhouse

Driving: 108.33 km

Heading: 161°

Avg Speed: 49.14 km/hr

EST Time: 02:12:16

Drive south on Peninsula Developmental Road/81. for: 108.25 km time: 02:11:58
Turn right. for: 0.08 km time: 00:18

Musgrave Roadhouse to Glen Garland

Driving: 28.15 km

Heading: 253°

Avg Speed: 27.7 km/hr

EST Time: 01:00:58

Drive southwest. for: 0.05 km time: 00:08
Turn right at the end of the road, onto Peninsula Developmental Road for: 0.32 km time: 00:16
Turn right. for: 27.78 km time: 01:00:34

Glen Garland to Opera Hill

Driving: 12.32 km

Heading: 265°

Avg Speed: 25 km/hr

EST Time: 29:34

Drive west. for: 12.32 km time: 29:34

Opera Hill to Musgrave Strathgordon Rd & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk

Driving: 167.12 km

Heading: 269°

Avg Speed: 30.36 km/hr

EST Time: 05:30:16

Drive west on Strathgordon Road. for: 33.65 km time: 01:15:29
Keep right to stay on Strathgordon Road. for: 133.47 km time: 04:14:50

Musgrave Strathgordon Rd & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk to Alice River & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk

Driving: 74 km

Heading: 147°

Avg Speed: 25.54 km/hr

EST Time: 02:53:50

Drive southeast. for: 74 km time: 02:53:52

Alice River & Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk to Mitchell River, Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk

Driving: 11.19 km

Heading: 282°

Avg Speed: 25 km/hr

EST Time: 26:51

Drive southwest. for: 11.19 km time: 26:51

Mitchell River, Kowanyama Pormpuraaw Tk to Kowanyama

Driving: 30.65 km

Heading: 243°

Avg Speed: 37.72 km/hr

EST Time: 48:45

Drive northwest. for: 28.5 km time: 45:23
Bear left onto Chapman Road. for: 1.94 km time: 02:55
Turn left onto Gilbert White Street. for: 0.17 km time: 00:20
Turn left at the end of the road, onto Chellikee Street for: 0.04 km time: 00:06

Kowanyama to Burkes Lagoon

Driving: 94.71 km

Heading: 132°

Avg Speed: 26.61 km/hr

EST Time: 03:33:33

Drive south on Chellikee Street. for: 94.71 km time: 03:33:31

Burkes Lagoon to Burke Dev Road & Kowanyama Rd

Driving: 6.55 km

Heading: 127°

Avg Speed: 25 km/hr

EST Time: 15:43

Drive southeast on Kowanyama Road. for: 6.27 km time: 15:03
Keep left to stay on Kowanyama Road. for: 0.28 km time: 00:41

Burke Dev Road & Kowanyama Rd to Staaten River, Burke Dev Road

Driving: 71.63 km

Heading: 212°

Avg Speed: 30.13 km/hr

EST Time: 02:22:38

Drive west on Kowanyama Road. for: 0.28 km time: 00:41
Make a sharp left onto Dunbar Kowanyama Road. for: 71.35 km time: 02:21:58

Staaten River, Burke Dev Road to Wyaaba Creek, Burke Dev Road

Driving: 23.1 km

Heading: 213°

Avg Speed: 30.03 km/hr

EST Time: 46:09

Drive south on Burke Developmental Road. for: 23.1 km time: 46:09

Wyaaba Creek, Burke Dev Road to Gilbert River, Burke Dev Road

Driving: 63.12 km

Heading: 200°

Avg Speed: 30.18 km/hr

EST Time: 02:05:29

Drive southwest on Burke Developmental Road. for: 63.12 km time: 02:05:28

Gilbert River, Burke Dev Road to Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd

Driving: 72.76 km

Heading: 242°

Avg Speed: 32.95 km/hr

EST Time: 02:12:29

Drive south on Burke Developmental Road. for: 72.76 km time: 02:12:29

Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd to Maggieville

Driving: 1.78 km

Heading: 308°

Avg Speed: 56.27 km/hr

EST Time: 01:53

Drive northeast on Burke Developmental Road. for: 0.01 km time: 00:01
Turn left to take the ramp. for: 0.08 km time: 00:12
Bear right to stay on Karumba Road. for: 1.69 km time: 01:42

Maggieville to Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd

Driving: 34.65 km

Heading: 269°

Avg Speed: 59.81 km/hr

EST Time: 34:45

Drive west on Karumba Road. for: 34.58 km time: 34:35
Turn right onto Col Kitching Drive. for: 0.06 km time: 00:10

Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd to Karumba

Driving: 4.67 km

Heading: 213°

Avg Speed: 52.75 km/hr

EST Time: 05:18

Drive southeast on Col Kitching Drive. for: 0.06 km time: 00:04
Turn right at the end of the road, onto Lloyd Clarke Way for: 3.61 km time: 03:23
Turn right onto Walker Street. for: 0.47 km time: 00:44
Turn left onto Clarina Street. for: 0.48 km time: 00:52
Turn left at the end of the road, onto Clarina Street for: 0.05 km time: 00:16

Karumba to Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd

Driving: 4.67 km

Heading: 33°

Avg Speed: 54.16 km/hr

EST Time: 05:10

Drive northeast on Clarina Street. for: 0.05 km time: 00:16
Turn right to stay on Clarina Street. for: 0.48 km time: 00:51
Turn right at the end of the road, onto Walker Street for: 0.47 km time: 00:43
Turn left at the end of the road, onto Lloyd Clarke Way for: 3.61 km time: 03:15
Turn left onto Col Kitching Drive. for: 0.06 km time: 00:06

Karumba Dev Rd & Karumba Point Rd to Maggieville

Driving: 34.65 km

Heading: 89°

Avg Speed: 59.92 km/hr

EST Time: 34:41

Drive southeast on Col Kitching Drive. for: 0.06 km time: 00:04
Turn left at the end of the road, onto Lloyd Clarke Way for: 34.58 km time: 34:37

Maggieville to Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd

Driving: 1.93 km

Heading: 128°

Avg Speed: 56.44 km/hr

EST Time: 02:03

Drive east on Karumba Road. for: 1.82 km time: 01:49
Make a sharp left onto Burke Developmental Road. for: 0.1 km time: 00:13

Burke Dev Road & Karumba Dev Rd to Stake Hole

Driving: 7.74 km

Heading: 197°

Avg Speed: 87.08 km/hr

EST Time: 05:19

Drive southwest on Burke Developmental Road. for: 7.74 km time: 05:20

Stake Hole to Norman River, Burke Dev Road

Driving: 20.9 km

Heading: 207°

Avg Speed: 93.85 km/hr

EST Time: 13:21

Drive south on Burke Developmental Road. for: 20.9 km time: 13:22

Norman River, Burke Dev Road to Normanton

Driving: 1.63 km

Heading: 239°

Avg Speed: 36.41 km/hr

EST Time: 02:41

Drive southwest on Burke Developmental Road. for: 1.45 km time: 01:59
Turn left onto Brodie Street. for: 0.09 km time: 00:16
Make a right U-turn at Brodie Street to stay on Brodie Street. for: 0.09 km time: 00:26

Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.