11 Day Tour - 'Gulf Savannah'
"Bush Lodge" accommodation
           
(Cairns - Cairns)
Departing: 29th August 2010

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Experience the remarkable history, colourful characters and expansive, ever changing landscape that bounds the warm, shallow waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria

TOUR PRICE:  $2590 per person, twin share.  Single supplement $130.
                                ** We will not be operating a 'Gulf Savannah' tour in 2011**

DAY 1: Tue 29^th Aug              CAIRNS – UNDARA LAVA TUBES         
Depart Cairns at 9:00am (“City Place”, Lake Street – near Hides Hotel) then via the scenic Kuranda Range to Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands for morning tea with time at the fascinating visitors centre and museum.  We drive past the many farms on fertile volcanic soil growing numerous crops and stop for a picnic lunch at the Hypipamie Crater.  A short walk can be taken through lush rainforests to the viewing platform overhanging the crater lake.
As we descend the western slopes we enter the open woodland country and the 40 Mile Scrub National Park where vegetation resembles that commonly found in Africa.  Our first night’s “Bush Lodge” accommodation is established ready for our arrival at the Undara Village.  After dinner the chance to participate in round the campfire activities with other guests at the lodge.  (L,D)

DAY 2:  Wed 30^th Aug              UNDARA LAVA TUBES – COBBOLD GORGE      
This morning a very competent Savannah Guide leads us on a two hour inspection of the massive underground tunnels and explains their formation.  After lunch we follow the tracks of the Savannahlander Train from Mt. Surprise via the old copper mining town of Einasleigh and railway town of Forsayth to Cobbold Gorge for the next two nights.   (B,L,D)

DAY 3:  Thur 31^st Aug             COBBOLD GORGE             
A later start for our day at Cobbold Gorge – one of the most recent natural attractions to be opened to visitors in this region.  Here we board boats and cruise deep into the sandstone gorge with scarcely enough room to squeeze the boats through the narrow cleft in the rocks and freshwater crocodiles are numerous.  Free time this afternoon provides the opportunity to take an optional tour (at your own expense) of the surrounding Cattle Station.    (B,L,D)

DAY 4:  Fri 1^st Sept               FORSAYTH – NORMANTON  
Today’s drive takes us via the once thriving goldmining towns of Georgetown and Croydon. Next two nights at Normanton.     (B,L,D)

DAY 5:   Sat 2^nd Sept           NORMANTON                                                        
First highlight today is a journey aboard the Gulflander train from Normanton to the crocodile infested Norman River (with a photographic stop) and then back to Normanton.  This afternoon is free in Normanton (Burns Philp store, purple pub, crocodile sculpture, historic river wharves etc). We drive to the coastline to the edge of the warm shallow waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and board a ferry for a sunset cruise.      (B,L,D)

DAY 6:  Sun 3^rd Sept             NORMANTON – LAWN HILL GORGE             
Most of today’s drive is on rough gravel roads through typical Gulf cattle stations.  We visit Burke and Wills campsite 119 from where, in 1861, they left on their ill-fated trek back to Coopers Creek.  We also have a stop at the waterfall on the Leichhardt River.  An afternoon stop in Burketown is enjoyed before the final leg to Lawn Hill Gorge for the next two nights. (B,L,D)

DAY 7:   Mon 4^th Sept              LAWN HILL GORGE
Today we spend the day at Lawn Hill Gorge – considered by many as the most beautiful spot in Australia! Lawn Hill Creek flows abundantly between the towering red cliffs of the Gorge that are lined with palms. Swimming, hiking and bird watching are popular activities or hire a canoe (own expense) and paddle the Gorge.    (B,L,D)

DAY 8:  Tue 5^th Sept               LAWN HILL GORGE – CLONCURRY            
Today we travel through vast Gulf country cattle stations and stop for a picnic lunch at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse.  Then continuing through to tonight’s stopover at Cloncurry.    (B,L,D)

DAY 9:  Wed 6^th Sept             CLONCURRY – HUGHENDEN                           
Before leaving Cloncurry we visit the former Uranium mining site at Mary Kathleen then follow the Flinders Hwy travelling through the cattle country towns of Julia Creek and Richmond.and then on to Hughenden.    (B,L,D)

DAY 10:   Thurs 7^th Sept          HUGHENDEN – THE LYND JUNCTION            
First highlight today is a visit to the Flinders Discovery Centre to see the full sized replica of the Muttaburrasaurus dinosaur skeleton plus numerous other fascinating displays. Next we drive along the Kennedy Development Road through vast cattle stations with a stop at the spectacular Porcupine Gorge – promoted as Australia’s Grand Canyon. Our last night on tour is alongside the isolated roadhouse at the Lynd Junction.    (B,L,D)

DAY 11:   Fri 8^th Sept                THE LYND JUNCTION – CAIRNS                      
Our final day back to Cairns is highlighted by a morning tea stop in the gem fields town of Mt Garnet followed by a picnic lunch stop in the high altitude forestry town of Ravenshoe. Our final stop is to visit the interesting, newly established museum at Mareeba. We arrive back in Cairns at approx 5:00pm and you will be dropped off at your centrally located accommodation. (B,L)