Heritage 4WD Tours: 9 day Gulf Savannah Accommodated Toura
9 day accommodated tour to Gulf Savannah from Cairns. Visit the limestone caves at Chillagoe, stay at Georgetown. Enjoy a spectacular sunset cruise at Karumba, explore Adels Grove and Lawn Hill National Park. Visit Normanton and travel on the Gulflander and Savannahlander trains.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Chillagoe Limestone Caves
- “Savannahlander” Train
- Karumba Sunset Cruise
- Burke & Wills Camp # 119
- Lawn Hill National Park
- Riversleigh Fossil Fields
- “Gulflander” Train
- Burketown, Normanton, Georgetown, Forsayth, Ravenshoe
- Cobbold Gorge Cruise
- Undara Lava Tube tour
TOUR INCLUDES:
- Meals as indicated
- Air-conditioned 4WD tour vehicle
- small groups - maximum 25 passengers
- all tours as per itinerary
- 1 nights accommodation - share facilities
- 7 nights accommodation - ensuite facilities
- Permanent tent safari accommodation at Adels Grove with share bathroom facilities on tours departing Cairns 24 May, 14 June, 9, 16, 30 August and 13 September.
Day 1 : DAY 1 CAIRNS – CHILLAGOE (LD)
We start by winding our way up the Kuranda Range to climb on to the Atherton Tableland. We pass dense tropical rainforest and an agricultural landscape to Mareeba and beyond. We travel on to Chillagoe, an historic ore-smelting centre, better known today for its marble mining and limestone caves. We take a tour of the caves, the legacy of 350 million years old marine reef. We overnight in Chillagoe. Share Bathroom Facilities.
Meals :Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 : DAY 2 CHILLAGOE - GEORGETOWN (BLD)
All aboard the “Savannahlander” train as it tracks the Ootann Road into Brahman cattle country. Geology continues to dominate and fascinate as we change from limestone to granite to basalt country and with each geological change, a change in vegetation. Lunch along the way in this vast landscape provides a “fair dinkum” Aussie day. Now we head west across the Newcastle Range to Georgetown where we stay overnight. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 : DAY 3 GEORGETOWN - KARUMBA (BLD)
Morning "smoko" on the shore of Croydon’s Lake Belmore before Normanton for lunch. Here you can absorb its famous landmarks, the "Purple Pub", historic Burns Philp General Store and a replica of Krys, the 8.63m crocodile. Continue on to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria for a cruise to enjoy a spectacular Gulf sunset. We overnight in Karumba. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 : DAY 4 KARUMBA – LAWN HILL (BLD)
Back through Normanton this morning and a poignant visit to Burke & Wills Camp #119, the most northerly campsite of the ill-fated expedition of 1860. Across the vast “Plains of Promise” to Leichhardt Falls and Burketown. On to Adel’s Grove, a Savannah Guides Site, where we spend two glorious outback nights. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities. Permanent tent safari accommodation with share bathroom facilities on tours departing Cairns 24 May, 14 June, 9, 16, 30 August and 13 September.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 : DAY 5 LAWN HILL (BLD)
A relaxed day enjoying Lawn Hill National Park, a spectacular oasis set amid the spinifex clad Constance Range. Enjoy a one hour cruise that offers an up close look at the Lawn Hill gorge and a stunning view of the Indarri Falls. The gorge is a haven for an abundance of wildlife and a birdwatcher's paradise. Swimming or paddling a canoe (optional) up the gorge is highly recommended. Return to Adel’s Grove this afternoon. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities. Limited ensuited rooms available on tours departing Cairns 30 May, 27 June, 18 July, 8, 15 August and 12 September. Once full permanent tent safari accommodation with share bathroom facilities will be used.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 : DAY 6 LAWN HILL - NORMANTON (BLD)
A visit to the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields, a rare treasure house of palaeontology recording the history of Australia’s mega-fauna of 20 million years ago. Lunch at Gregory and a short break at remote Burke & Wills Roadhouse before travelling on to Normanton. We stay in Normanton tonight. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities. Limited ensuited rooms available on tours departing Cairns 30 May, 27 June, 18 July, 8, 15 August and 12 September. Once full permanent tent safari accommodation with share bathroom facilities will be used.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 : DAY 7 NORMANTON – COBBOLD GORGE (BLD)
This morning we depart from Normanton’s famous Victorian architecture Railway Station. All aboard the historic “Gulflander RM93” train, a Savannah Guides Site, for a ride through the savannah landscape across the Norman River to Critters Camp. On to Black Bull Siding then the old gold mining town of Croydon and its Historic Precinct. This afternoon we visit Georgetown and Forsayth on our way to Cobbold Gorge, a Savannah Guides Station, where we stay tonight. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 : DAY 8 COBBOLD GORGE – UNDARA (BLD)
This morning we cruise on Cobbold Gorge’s beautiful and secluded waterway surrounded by spectacular carved Hampstead sandstone, 135 million years old. Travel on to the famous Undara Lava Tubes, a Savannah Guides Station. There's campfire entertainment after dinner before retiring to your accommodation in faithfully restored antique railway carriages. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 : DAY 9 UNDARA - CAIRNS (BL)
After breakfast in the Australian bush, an experienced Savannah Guide will meet you for an informative tour of the world’s largest, longest and most accessible lava tube system. We continue on our scenic and leisurely drive over the Tropical Tablelands past the Wind Turbines at Ravenshoe, stopping off at the magnificent Curtain Fig Tree, before making our way back to Cairns, where you will be taken back to selected accommodation.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch
2018 DEPARTURE DATES:
MAY 23, 30 / JUNE 6, 13, 20, 27 / JULY 4, 11, 18, 25 / AUG 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / SEP 5, 12, 19, 26 / OCT 3
Pick up times are generally between 6.30AM and 7.30AM. Heritage Tours will pick up and drop of at the following places in Cairns:
Queens Court Hotel, 167 Sheridan Street Cairns
Coral Tree Inn, 166 – 172 Grafton Street Cairns
Novotel Oasis Resort, 122 Lake Street Cairns
Top Tourist: 1st City Caravilla Caravan park, Kelly Street Earlville, 07 4054 1403
BIG 4, Cairns Coconut caravan Park, Anderson Road Woree, 07 4054 6644
These 2 caravan parks have storage facilities available for your car and caravan.
Our head office will leave a message at the hotel reception ONE day prior to the tour departure with confirmation of your pick up time .
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