Gulf Savannah NRM

• Located in Far North Queensland, this region covers 196,100 km2.
• Big country. The region is about three times the size of Tasmania. 
• Dominated by dry tropical savannah rangelands—some of the most intact in the world.
• Diverse landscapes. A stretch of Gulf of Carpentaria coastline to the west and wet tropical rainforest to the east.
• Extensive cattle grazing accounts for 84% of land use. Other industries include agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

There are two distinct seasons: a wet season from November to April, bringing heavy rainfall, high humidity, and occasional tropical cyclones, and a dry season from May to October, characterised by drier weather, warm days, and cooler nights.

Home to some of the world’s most intact savannahs, and areas of wet tropical rainforest, the Northern Gulf region supports unique plant and animal diversity.

Around 125 threatened species have been recorded, alongside numerous rare, vulnerable, and iconic flora and fauna. Major drivers of biodiversity decline include altered fire regimes, grazing pressure, and feral cats and pigs.

Tidal wetlands feature extensive mangroves and saltmarsh habitats found nowhere else in Queensland.

The region is drained by four major catchments, all flowing into the Gulf of Carpentaria: the Norman, Gilbert, Staaten and Mitchell. These catchments support a range of freshwater environments, including seasonal lowland rivers, coastal and floodplain wetlands, spring-fed gorges and perennial rainforest mountain streams. The marine environment of the Gulf of Carpentaria is heavily dependent on the monsoonal flows from these rivers, which flush essential nutrients into the Gulf.

The Great Artesian Basin underlies most of the region, feeding several major springs.

Extensive cattle grazing properties cover 84% of the region and are typically 20,000ha or larger, relying on native grasses and vegetation for productivity. Soils, especially in the west, are low in nutrients and prone to erosion. Over recent decades, land condition has significantly declined due to over-utilisation.

The Northern Tablelands supports horticultural production, including citrus, mangoes, and avocados.

Other land uses in the region include mining — increasingly for critical minerals — as well as various irrigated and dry-land cropping operations.

The land and waters within the region include the country of Western Yalanji, Kokoberra, Yir Yoront, Kokomenjen, Kunjen, Kuku Muluridji, Djungan, Jabalbina, Wakaman, Bar Barrum, Ewamian, Tagalaka, Kukatj, Gkuthaarn and Kurtijar people. Gulf Savannah NRM acknowledges and respects these Traditional Custodians of land and sea.

We recognise the expertise, knowledge, historical and cultural connection Aboriginal people have with land and sea and are committed to partnering with, and following the lead of, Traditional Custodians to improve outcomes for people, Country and culture.

Twelve local government authorities fall within the Gulf Savannah NRM region. The principal Council areas are Carpentaria, Cook, Croydon, Etheridge, Kowanyama and Mareeba, with smaller portions of Charters Towers, Douglas, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Tablelands also included.