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The Gulf's region National Parks are breathtaking like nowhere else in
the world with stunning views tropical rainforests and an abundance
of flora and fauna. The islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria offer clear
blue waters and golden beaches with excellent game fishing.
Burketown
      
   
Situated on the Albert River, the natural dividing line between the
northern wetlands and the southern grasslands. Burketown is home to
only a small number of people. Established in the 1860s as a supply
town for cattle farmers it is the oldest town in the Gulf area and has
survived cyclones, epidemics and yellow fever.
- Getting There: Situated at near the bottom of the Gulf - miles from anywhere
- Attractions: Leichhardt Falls 72km south-east, Wetlands and bird watching.
Lawn Hill National Park & Riversliegh fossil field are situated 220km southwest.
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Croydon
 
All that remains of this historic gold mining town today is just a pub
and a store. Croydon was a boom town last century when the area
yielded 750 000 ounces of gold and 875 ounces of silver. The town is
the eastern terminus of the Gulflander train.
- Getting There: By road 570km west-south-west of Cairns
- Attractions: Gulflander train to Normanton
Doomadgee
A large aboriginal community on the Nicholson River which can only be visited with permission the community's council. A tourist village is located just out from the aboriginal community with a guesthouse, caravan park and other facilities.
- Getting There: Between Burketown and the Queensland - Northern Territory border.
- Attractions: Aboriginal arts and crafts. Hells Gate Roadhouse, 104km west is a base for tours to the Gulf's Macassan Coast
Karumba
    
Situated on the Norman River which enters the Gulf through a maze of
mangroves, Karumba is the only Queensland town on the Gulf. An important fishing port the town was once Australia's biggest prawn proccessing centre, the town's population swells from April to June and August to December when the prawn trawlers arrive.
Karumba was once a refueling stop for the Empire flying boats which travelled between Australia and the UK.
- Getting There: 69km west of Normanton on the Gulf of Carpentaria
- Attractions: Famous for barramundi fishing. Old Flying Boat slipway
Mornington Island
 
The largest of the Wellesley group of islands, Mornington may be visited but permision must be first obtained from Mornington Shire Council.
- Getting There: Flight from Karumba
- Attractions: Game fishing resort operates March - December
- Interest: Home to Aboriginal artist Dick Roughsey
Normanton
Located 80km up the Norman river from Karumba, Normantown was first discovered by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1884 on route through the Gulf country to Arnhem Land. Burke & Wills travelled through this area in 1861.
During the 1880s Normanton was a major port for and gold and silver mining as well as the surrounding cattle country. One of Australia's most unusual railways - "The Gulflander", an unconnected service from Croyden, was constructed during this boom era.
- Getting There: 145km west of Croyden
- Attractions: Burke & Wills Camp & memorial 20km south, their last camp before reaching the Gulf. Historic buildings, impressive corrugated iron Normanton Railway Station.
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