Gulf Savannah Visitor Guide

Australia’s Adventure Drive - www.savannahway.com.au 49 Savannah Lodge Cnr Beames and Bowen Street, Burketown P : 07 47455177 | F : 0747455211 E : savair@bigpond.com | www.savannah-lodge.com • Quality self contained Rooms • Tropical Garden Setting • Swimming Pool • Large Deck area for dining • Free Guest BBQ • Wireless Internet • EFTPOS Facilities • Guest pick up from the Airport • Breakfast available • Other meals can be arranged Savannah Lodge is a small family owned and operated accommodation establishment, providing friendly and personalised service to all our guests. Our beautiful garden setting creates a cool tropical and peaceful atmosphere. Advance bookings advisable. Burketown Known as the Barramundi Capital of Australia, Burketown is on the Albert River 25km from the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria with wetlands to the north and savannah grasslands (hailed by early explorers as the Plains of Promise) to the south. The Nicholson River, some 17 km to the west, delivers perennial fresh water to the wetlands which are breeding grounds for crocodiles, barramundi, prawns and birds. The grasslands to the south provide habitat for an array of wildlife including kangaroos, emus and many seed eating birds. Burketown also has a rich Aboriginal history. Macassans from Sulawesi established semi-permanent settlements along the coastline and islands for 600 years prior to European discovery. Established in 1859 it is the Gulf’s oldest town. American Civil War veterans, Dutch East India Company traders and Native Mounted Police mingled in this pioneer outpost, and the Burketown to Normanton telegraph line competed with the Adelaide to Darwin line to connect Australia to Europe. "Gulf Fever" decimated the town and forced its evacuation in 1866 until re-establishment 18 months later. Morning Glory Clouds are a unique cloud formation that occur usually between September and November. They are tubular cloud formations that roll out of the Gulf in the early morning. Burketown is the best place in the world to view this phenomenon, attracting many gliding thrillseekers who surf the clouds for hundreds of kilometres. Burketown Visitor Centre Open 9:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri during Tourist Season Weekends and After Hours by Appointment Cnr Musgrave & Burke Streets, Burketown Phone: 07 4745 5111 www.burketown.com.au 19-21 Apr 2019 World Barramundi Fishing Championships 4-5 May 2019 Gregory Downs Horse Races and Canoe Marathon 22-23 Jun 2019 Gregory Campdraft and Horse Sports Jul 2019 Burketown Campdraft and Horse Sports Sep 2019 Burketown Rodeo TBA Morning Glory Festival JOIN A LOCAL EVENT! Burketown Cemetery Burke Shire