FRI 25 JULY | No Meals

Day 1  If arriving on a flight, a shuttle bus transfer from the airport to Cairns accommodation, will be provided.

Accommodation for one night in a standard room is at Cairns Plaza Hotel

Free time for remainder of today.

SAT 26 JULY  | BL

Day 2  Boxed Breakfast provided for you to enjoy in your room.

Check out of your room and depart hotel early this morning, travel south to Mena Creek and today’s first stop at Paronella Park

José Paronella’s dream was to build a castle. He chose a special part of Australia and created Paronella Park. Beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic area by the falls, tennis courts, bridges, a tunnel, plus an amazing range of 7,500 tropical plants and trees. Paronella Park is now a heritage-listed tourist attraction.

Upon arrival take an introductory tour and afterwards you will have some free time to explore this fascinating place. Enjoy lunch, before travelling on to Undara Holiday Park.     

Check in before departing on the Wildlife Sunset tour at 4.40pm. See native wildlife such as kangaroos and wallabies and bird species including colourful lorikeets, cockatoos, owls, and emus in the Savannah bushland as you are guided through the Undara Volcanic National Park.

After a small walk, be rewarded with spectacular views from the top of the Sunset Bluff. Enjoy a sparkling wine and nibbles as the big sky sunset dips below the horizon and sets over the volcanic plains below. At dusk, see thousands of microbats emerge from the lava tubes looking for food at Barkers Cave, before returning to our accommodation.

Accommodation for two nights in a homestead room is at Undara Discovery Park

Ensuited cabins, with air-conditioning, small fridge, tea and coffee facilities, with a King or Twin-bed configuration.  

Free time for the remainder of today

SUN 27 JULY|  BD

Day 3   Ringers Bush Breakfast at Undara Discovery Park.

An outback experience you won’t want to miss is the Undara bush breaky served daily at the Ringers’ Camp.

A truly unique experience, as you sit on logs surrounded by bush, toast your own bread on the campfire while bacon and eggs are sizzling on the barbeque, and enjoy a freshly boiled pot of billy tea under the watchful eye of local Kookaburras, Currawongs, and Magpies.

Mid morning, depart on a two hour Archway Explorer Tour of Undara Lava Tubes. Discover the oldest lava tube system on earth in Undara Volcanic National Park.

Walk through the lava tubes on a series of boardwalks and stairs. An experienced tour guide will take you through the Archway as you explore the spectacular remains of the hollow tubes. Be guided through these remarkable lava tubes, created some 190,000 years ago when a sustained volcanic eruption spewed molten lava down a dry riverbed. The outer layer formed a crust, and when the lava below drained away, a series of long, hollow tubes remained.

Over time, sections of the roof have collapsed exposing the lava tubes.

Afternoon is at leisure. You may choose to relax around the holiday park or take a swim in the pool.

You might decide to take a walk one of the many bush trails that lead to breathtaking views over the volcanic landscape.

• The bluff walk and the bluff circuit are small, summit climb walks that once to the top, provide magnificent views over the wooded lava plains to many of the region’s craters. For the early risers, catch an incredible sunrise at the top of the bluff.
• The Kalkani crater rim walk is a 2.5km moderate climb that takes you up the side of a former volcano, where you then follow the circuit trail around the crater rim. You will be greeted with expansive views of volcanic vents and the lava plains and can trace the line of lava tubes from above.

Dinner tonight is at Fettlers Iron Pot Bistro, the onsite bistro where you can enjoy authentic country cooking and homestyle, hearty meals. The menu has been created in a modern style with rustic Australian flavours.

Relax around the communal campfire starting at 7:30pm. Head down to the fire with a drink, take a seat and gaze up at the bright outback stars.

MON 28 JULY | BL

Day 4   Ringers Bush Breakfast

Check out of your accommodation and depart on our long drive to Karumba

Depart Undara early this morning and drive to Georgetown, a little rural town on the Etheridge River which is surrounded by beef cattle country and some of the best gemstone areas in Queensland. Georgetown is one of the real locations mentioned several times in the novel “A Town Like Alice” by Nevil Shute.

Visit The Ted Elliott Mineral Collection, located in the TerrEstrial Visitor Centre. Discover North Queensland’s Premier Mineral & Fossil Museum consisting of over 4,500 specimens – a remarkable display of minerals from all over the world. The collection highlights minerals and gemstones of North Queensland, including gold –  the Providence Nugget and the Devlin Nugget, along with one of the largest quartz crystals in any Australian collection, weighing 250kg.  See fossil specimens including ammonites and nautilus as well as opalised and petrified wood. Opportunity to purchase refreshments at the Georgetown Roadhouse.

Our lunch stop is in Croydon. This small town is situated in the heart of the Gulf Savannah country, with a big history that started with the discovery of gold in 1885. According to the 2021 census, the locality of Croydon had a population of 215 people. After lunch, if time permits Croydon’s Heritage Precinct with police station, jail, Sergeant’s residence, town hall and courthouse, the oldest building in Croydon (circa 1887) are open and free for visitors to wander through. 

Travel onto Normanton to visit the historic railway station museum. Take the self-guided heritage walk around the station precinct. See vintage locomotives, wagons, carriages, buildings and gardens. View ‘Krys’ the Big Croc which was shot on the banks of the Norman River in the 1950’s, before travelling onto Karumba. At a staggering 8.64m in length this replica represents the largest croc ever taken.

Accommodation for two nights in a Villa is at the Karumba Point Sunset Caravan Park

Villas feature a queen bed, two bunk beds, television, ensuite bathroom and kitchenette.

Free time for the remainder of today

TUE 29 JULY | BD

Day 5 Cooked breakfast in the onsite cafe

This morning we will be taken on a 3 hour sightseeing Crab & Croc Nature cruise along the Norman River and Six Mile Creek. See fabulous bird life, while watching with anticipation as the crew pull crab pots to see if they have caught the big one!    Keep an eye out for crocodiles swimming or sunning themselves on the muddy banks.

Next, visit the Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery. This interpretive Centre provides the history, stories, lifecycle and habits of these sought-after fish. Discover the wetlands and mangroves and learn about the incredible birdlife and stunning southern Gulf flora.

Watch a short film in the theatre, learn about Barramundi, the fishing industry and the wonderful community of Karumba plus hear stories from the Commercial fishermen who catch them.

Late this afternoon we will be taken on a Sunset Island Dinner Cruise. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the sand island while watching the amazing Karumba sunset as it slowly sinks into the beautiful Gulf of Carpentaria. Enjoy an array of delicious refreshments from tasting platters, including fresh prawns, fish bites, chicken, vegetable crudites and more.

WED 30 JULY| CBLD

Day 6 Continental breakfast provisions are provided for you to enjoy in your villa. Early morning departure at 7am, transfer to Normanton for the Gulflander train journey from Normanton to Croydon, departing at 8.30am.

The Normanton to Croydon railway line is a heritage-listed railway line in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland, Australia. The railway line linking Normanton in the Shire of Carpentaria to Croydon in the Shire of Croydon was built between 1888 and 1891. Originally built to connect the once bustling river port of Normanton to the gold fields of Croydon, today the Gulflander is a tourism icon. From wetlands and grasslands to the arid Savannah, the 1950 railmotor, also known as the ‘Tin Hare’, ventures through countryside that most people would never see.

Affectionately said to go from “nowhere to nowhere” the Heritage-listed Normanton to Croydon railway line has remained fully isolated from the Queensland Rail network, and the only line in Queensland still measured in miles.

Travel across the floodplains and grasslands to the rugged gold country of Croydon. Our train driver will provide commentary on the local history, plus point out unique and interesting plants and animals along the way. Arrive in Croydon at 1.30pm, where our coach will meet us.

Light lunch at a local café, before travelling onto Cobbold Gorge.

This sandstone gorge, claimed to be the youngest in Queensland, was created over the past 135 million years. The narrow ravines (some as narrow as two metres) have carved out deep gorges and permanent waterholes below towering cliffs.

Accommodation for two nights in a cabin is at Cobbold Gorge Village

Ensuited bathroom with toiletries, air conditioning, TV, bar fridge, coffee and tea making facilities.

Dinner is in the Cobbold Gorge Bistro

THU 31 JULY| BLD

Day 7 Breakfast at Cobbold Gorge Village

The best way to grasp the uniqueness of Cobbold gorge with its majestic 30- metre sheer walls from the bottom of the water to the top of the escarpment is on a three-hour tour. Our Savannah Guide will take us on a circular interpretive guided walk to the escarpment, providing an informative insight to the geology of the rugged sandstone formations with the chance to look down into the gorge structure from the glass bridge. The tour also includes a boat cruise on custom-made, electric powered boats, which glide in almost eerie silence, ensuring minimal disturbance to wildlife.

Lunch is in the bistro at our accommodation. Afternoon is at your leisure

 Dinner is in the Cobbold Gorge Bistro

FRI 01 AUGUST | BLD

Day 8 Breakfast at Cobbold Gorge Village

Depart Cobbold Gorge this morning and transfer to Talaroo Hot Springs

Talaroo Hot Springs unite one of outback Queensland’s most extraordinary geological wonders with the Aboriginal hospitality of the Ewamian people.  Set in the heart of Gulf Savannah country, Talaroo’s surreal landscape of pools and terraces, vivid colours and diverse formations provides a captivating backdrop for a truly unique visitor experience. 

Talaroo is one of only two mound springs in Australia and the only one not fed by the Great Artesian Basin but from water seeping from kilometres underground heated by hot granite rocks.  This water takes an incredible 20,000 years from falling as rain in the nearby Newcastle ranges to discharging from the Springs.  

Upon arrival enjoy a light lunch at Talaroo Hot Springs café. After lunch our group will be taken on a guided walk to the Springs.  See incredible views of the vents and terraces from the elevated boardwalk while our guide shares the secrets and history of the Springs and Talaroo.  As the tour concludes we will have the opportunity to soak or dip our feet in the healing waters of the Springs in the original soaking Pool, before returning to the reception. Drive onto Mount Surprise.

Accommodation for one night in a is at the Mount Surprise Discovery Park

Please note we have economy (twin or double share) and budget cabins (single) reserved for our group – there are limited numbers of each room type.

Dinner at the holiday park

SAT 02 AUGUST | BD

Day 9 Breakfast at the holiday park

Early this morning, drive through the Atherton tablelands with a stop in Mareeba at a coffee plantation. Learn about the coffee growing process and sample some of their products. You will have the opportunity to purchase lunch at the onsite café.

 Drive onto Kuranda and take the Skyrail rainforest cableway from Kuranda to Smithfield.  Enjoy a unique perspective of Australia’s World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforest gliding above the ancient canopy before descending to explore the

SUN 03 AUGUST | B

Day 10 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant

Free morning to enjoy at your leisure – until your transfer to the airport or train station

Flight – own arrangements, additional cost

 OR

  You may prefer to take the Spirit of Queensland train back to Brisbane, this train

         departs Cairns Train Station in the early morning and arrives in Brisbane the next

          day. (additional cost)