Queensland Savannah

Late in the morning you will be transferred to Cairns’s airport for our Regional Express flight to Normanton. On arrival in Normanton we’ll transfer by coach to Karumba, where we’ll settle into our accommodation for the next two nights. Dinner this evening is at the popular Sunset Tavern across the road, where you’ll have’ front row seats’ to watch the spectacular sunset over the Gulf while enjoying dinner.

Overnight: Ash’s Holiday Units, Karumba (B, D)

This morning after a hearty breakfast, for those who are interested, our friends at Karumba tours will host a bird watching boat tour along the river and estuaries, including a history of the town from the aspect of the river as the gateway to the Gulf. The rest of the morning is at leisure for you to enjoy the town and take a break from the busy schedule to just relax. You also have the option to visit the Barramundi discovery centre which your tour leader can facilitate.

We then gather in the late afternoon to join the Sunset Dinner Cruise. Our little boat takes off from Karumba out into the Gulf waters. Watch the sky and sea turn to fire while relaxing on Sun Island (tide and weather permitting), an intriguing and completely flat sand cay. We enjoy a light dinner of banana prawns, a specialty fish dish, tropical fruit platters and ice-cold drinks.

Overnight: Ash’s Holiday Units, Karumba (B, D)

After breakfast we roll back across the flood plains and grasslands to Normanton and board the legendary Gulflander. Also known as the Tin Hare, the old rail motor has traversed the line between Normanton and Croydon every Wednesday for over a century on a unique line known as, “the line from nowhere to nowhere”. Our driver and guard keep the commentary rolling and the whole experience is a slice of authentic Australian bush travel, complete with the odd stop to drop off mail or allow wandering livestock and native animals to cross our path.

We arrive in time for lunch at the Club Hotel in Croydon and then our coach takes us to the remote out-station of Cobbold Gorge Resort, arriving just after sunset, where dinner is hosted on the deck of the restaurant. You are then free to have a nightcap at the bar or wander back to your cabin, marvel at the stars and enjoy the peace and quiet of this wild Savannah location.

Overnight: Cobbold Gorge Resort, Cobbold Gorge (B, L, D)

After a hearty bush breakfast, we’ll join a morning tour and boat cruise of Cobbold Gorge. Custom-made electric boats glide through the water below the spectacularly sculptured gorge walls in an almost eerie silence, ensuring minimal disturbance to wildlife – there’s every chance of seeing one of the resident freshwater crocodiles! The gentle bush walk takes you up to the edge of the gorge and then a smart glass bottomed bridge takes you across it revealing even more aspects of this ethereal place.

After lunch we’ll board our all-terrain vehicle for a tour of Robin Hood Station (supposedly named because it adjoined the Sherwood mining lease), a 1284-square-kilometre cattle grazing property run by third-generation cattleman, Simon Terry and his wife Gaye. On your station tour you’ll visit the cattle yards, dams and outbuildings, hearing rare insights into the cattle grazing industry and relaxing over a traditional outback ‘smoko’. You can also take a helicopter joy flight (optional) to see this spectacular country from the air.

Overnight: Cobbold Gorge Resort, Cobbold Gorge (B, L, D)

After breakfast this morning, staff from Cobbold Gorge Tours will transfer us to Einasleigh where we enjoy lunch at the iconic Einasleigh Pub right beside the vast Copperfield Gorge. In the mid-afternoon, the train pulls into Mount Surprise where we transfer to the Archway Explorer Tour of the fascinating lava tubes. The Lava Tubes are giant volcanic caverns—the oldest in Australia and the longest continuous tubes on Earth. Check-in to our accommodation and after a hearty dinner wander over to the character-filled pub or settle in for some entertainment around the campfire at the village.

Overnight: Mt Surprise Village or Undara Resort, Mt Surprise (B, L, D)

The second leg of the Savannahlander journey to Cairns has us boarding early at Mount Surprise. The journey is full of rugged Outback scenery, and we’ll make a few stops: lunch at the Railway Hotel, Almaden; Dimbulah for afternoon tea; Barron Falls and the grand Barron Gorge; and finally, Cairns in the evening, where we’ll check into the centrally located Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort.  After all the food we’ve enjoyed along the way, dinner this evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (B, L)

This morning we head north by air-conditioned coach to Mossman Gorge with a morning tea stop in Port Douglas along the way and some time to explore the famous Port Douglas markets.  At the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, we enjoy a light lunch followed by a walk through the beautiful tropical rainforest in Mossman Gorge itself. After lunch we return to Cairns via Kuranda, “The Village in the Rainforest”. The Skyrail Gondola is a special experience that takes us down to the coastal plain, flying over the canopy of the rainforest and marvelling at the wonderful views across the ranges and out over the Coral Sea. This evening is at leisure to explore the Cairns Esplanade, just around the corner from our hotel.

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for a tour of the region of the rich Atherton Tablelands. We start by travelling south across the Sugar Cane fields then up the steep Gillies Highway to the lush forests and farming country of the tablelands. First stop is the excellent Mining Museum, after which we take the short run to meet the team at the outstanding Herberton Historic Railway Museum. Here we learn about the restoration work and history of the railways of the tablelands before sampling it ourselves with a steam run on the 1905 Peckett Steam Loco along the old line to the astounding Historic Village (steam may be substituted with their heritage diesel). Australia’s timber, farming and mining history lives again at this authentic and award winning 100% family owned attraction. You’ll have time to explore the collection of more than 60 original buildings complete with shops, a functioning tearoom, antique motor vehicles, small engines, fashion, John Deere tractors and more.

We return on the mountain road via Mareeba to Cairns.

We should arrive with plenty of time to freshen up and rest before enjoying a delicious three-course farewell dinner on the colourful Cairns esplanade.

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (B, L, D)

Breakfast is at your leisure in the hotel and then you are free to continue on your way to other awaiting adventures. Tour terminates. All out, all change. Please mind the gap! (B)