Aussie caravanner's expensive mistake prompts urgent travel warning: 'Avoid until further notice'
Queensland MP Robbie Katter took to social media on Friday to urge caravanners and tourists visiting the Gulf Savannah region in the state's Far North to avoid the Hann Highway, after a combination of recent wet weather and natural underground springs caused the surface to lift — turning large stretches of the unsealed road "into a deep, boggy mess".
"We're urging all caravanners and tourists visiting our great region to avoid the Hann Highway until further notice," Katter said.
"[It's] impassable by any vehicle. Road works crews have not been able to access the site safely, and it doesn't seem that the underground springs are letting up soon, which unfortunately means the road is likely to remain in poor condition for the foreseeable future."
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesperson for Etheridge Shire Council confirmed the road remains closed. The spokesperson said it's likely to stay that way until Thursday, when crews will asses it again. "Alternate route is Hughenden via Flinders Highway," the spokesperson said.
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Stretching more than 500 kilometres, the Hann Highway is a crucial inland link between North Queensland and the southern parts of the state, often used as a shortcut between Hughenden and the Gulf region. While remote and less travelled than major coastal routes, it serves as a lifeline for local communities, graziers and outback travellers during the dry season, particularly those embarking on the iconic "Big Lap" or tackling Queensland's lesser-known inland trails.
But conditions like those currently affecting the road can quickly turn treacherous, particularly for caravanners towing heavy rigs who may not realise just how easily their vehicles can become stranded.
Local authorities say boggings have already been reported, with some travellers needing to be towed out — at a cost of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.
The warning comes as inland roads across northern Australia remain vulnerable to ongoing seasonal rains and underground water flows, which can linger long after weather systems move on. Travellers are being encouraged to carry emergency supplies, download offline maps, and check in regularly with local councils or Queensland Traffic for road condition updates.
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