11 Day Tour - 'Gulf Savannah'
"Bush Lodge" accommodation
(Cairns - Cairns)
Departing: 29th August 2010
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**
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HIGHLIGHTS: • Crater Lakes • Atherton Tablelands • Undara Lava Tubes • Cobbold Gorge • Sunset cruise in Gulf • Burketown • Outback cattle stations • Lawn Hill Gorge • 40 mile scrub • Historical Gulflander Train
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INCLUDES: • Travel in air conditioned 4WD coach • 10 x nights "Bush Lodge" accommodation • Most meals as shown: B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner plus numerous morning teas • Mareeba Museum • Flinders Discovery Centre • National Park fees • Sunset cruise at Karumba • Gulflander train ride • Cruise on Cobbold Gorge • Guided tour of the Undara Lava Tubes • Services of experienced driver/guide and hostess/cook • GST |
DAY 1:
Tue 29th
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
30th 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
31st 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
1st Sept
FORSAYTH – NORMANTON
Today’s drive takes us via the once thriving goldmining towns of
Georgetown and Croydon. Next two nights at Normanton.
DAY 5: Sat
2nd 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
3rd 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
4th 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
5th 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
6th 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
7th 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
8th 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)
