Imagine waking up to a sunrise over the majestic diversity of the outback landscape, feeling the power of an iconic barramundi on the end of your line, hearing the crisp ‘snap’ of a mud crab shell breaking open after a long day hauling pots, before cosying up to a fire under the luminescent stars of the milky way. This is gulf country, and it’s yours to discover.

A land of drought and flooding rains

The Carpentaria Shire represents a majestic union of two disparate worlds - where the Outback’s red dirt, black soil plains, hard ridges, outcrops and fine

Savannah soils meet wetlands, mangroves, saltpans, and the open ocean. In these parts, Mother Nature reigns supreme.

Discover the rustic towns of Normanton and  Karumba filled with artful treasures and rich history.

Spend your days exploring rivers and coastlines including the internationally renowned fishing destination Sweers Island and sample the culinary delights of wild-caught barramundi.

This is the place for nomads and fishermen to connect, exchange stories and celebrate the untouched beauty of the top end.

To see the gulf in full swing, time your visit with one of the events in the enclosed calendar – whether it be the Outback by the Sea Festival, Normanton Rodeo, Annual Horse Racing Carnival or Fishing Classics.

What are you waiting for? Come and explore the Outback by the Sea and find your piece of paradise.

The Carpentaria Shire is lucky enough to have warm weather all year round. It’s a location in the tropics means the destination experiences large amounts of rainfall in the summer months. During the wet season (between November and April), monsoonal showers may cause roads and access points to flood.

GOING WITH THE FLOW – ONLY ONE TIDE A DAY

Here in the Gulf of Carpentaria we only have one high and one low tide a day. This is because it takes 12 hours for a water wave to move across the Gulf of Carpentaria from east to west – and another 12 hours to  ‘bounce  off’  and  come back. This 12-hour period is (coincidentally) the same as the time between two high tides (or two low tides). In the Gulf, the incoming tide ‘cancel out’ the outgoing tide. Except for the most energetic tides, that occur once a day. This tidal regime is also observed in the Gulf of Thailand, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mexico.
 

© 2020 Karl S. Kruszelnicki Pty Ltd