Date: 17th May 2021
Travelled: 260 kms from Georgetown to Normanton
Visited: Normanton, North Central Queensland.
Stayed: Normanton RV Camp, free, no services.ย S17.66242, E141.08760ย
Budget: 37 days @ $140 per day.
We refuel the Jayco as we leave Georgetown continuing west along the Gulf Development Highway. The road continues to change from relatively new to old and narrow and back to new again. The road surface is reasonable even on the older sections and we find 85-90 kms is no problem for the Jayco and 95-100 kms on the newer sections. The speed limit is 110 kms on all the newer sections but we only get passed by another car once during the whole mornings drive.
Red dirt… 
Dirt dirt… 
If we see a road train in the distance, we slow, move off the road and stop. In the 3 hours drive to Normanton we only pass three.
The brahma on the side of the road are a worry. 
Another long narrow bridge crossing the Gilbert River. 
Pam takes a great photo on the roll.
150 kms after departing Georgetown we drive through Croydon. The Gulflander Rail Line runs from Normanton to Croydon. More about that later as we have booked tickets for this afternoon.
Some quick photos as we pass through Croydon.
We stop for a coffee at Black Bull Siding (part of the Gulflander Line), itโs about half way between Croydon and Normanton.
Another keen cyclist…(not the same one)
Normanton, Queensland, Australia
Forty minutes later we roll into Normanton. Normanton stands on the Norman river about 70 kms south of Karumba and the Gulf of Carpenteria. Its current population stands at 1,200 people.
We go straight to the tourist office to get a local tourist map and a free camping pass for the council reserve just over the river. Then straight back to the railway station for a quick lunch as the Gulflander departs at 2pm.
The RM93 (circa 1950) has been in service on the Gulflander Line since 1982.
We have booked for the 2 hour tourist run to Critterโs Camp, rather than the 5 hour journey to Croydon. Whilst it was a fun experience with plenty to see along way as well as an excellent commentary, the thought of sitting on this thing for 5 hours as it bumped and banged its way to Croydon leaves me glad we didnโt.
The Gulflander done we stop for a not very cold beer at the Normantonโs Purple Pub. 34 years since my last beer here. By now itโs getting late, so we drive over the river and find a spot with several other motorhomes and caravans.
We have a quiet evening although we had to close up all the windows about 7pm when a swarm of little tiny bugs showed up. As it was a cool evening the fan provided enough ventilation.
We return to Normanton in the morning, walking the tourist trail before fueling up for the drive to Karumba.
Now thatโs what Pam calls a crocodile. 
Michael + Pam
2 thoughts on “Normanton, Queensland ๐ฆ๐บ 2021”
Hi guys, Croydon looks like a bustling town. Surely there’s not 2 mad bicycle riders out there cycling around in the outback!!!! Glad you weren’t around in the 1974 flood, don’t think there would have been much left out there after a flood that size. Thank you for doing this trip…..something I wanted to do but Rob wasn’t happy to do all that driving, so now I can enjoy it from the comfort of they study ๐ keep up the good work.
D+R
Thanks for your comment. Donโt fancy the bicycle around Australia myself either. We hope you continue to enjoy the blog. Pam appreciated the comment on the BW photo as well, it was here idea.