Destination: Undara Lava Tubes
Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
Departs: Friday all year except 10 Dec - 13 Feb
Rates
Itinerary
Day One: Travel West by coach through the beautiful Atherton Tablelands and on into Tropical North Queensland’s Outback region, known as the Gulf Savannah. Lunch on arrival at Lava Lodge join your Savannah Guide for a fascinating two hour tour of the Undara Lava Tubes. Later enjoy champagne as you watch the sun drop below the rugged Newcastle Range and marvel at the variety of wildlife including literally thousands of micro bats leaving the Lava Tubes to feed for the night. After dinner enjoy an evening of campfire activities. Overnight at the Lava Lodge.
Day Two: Awaken your tastebuds with a bush breakfast at the Ringers Camp to the accompaniment of the morning bird chorus. Then depart for Mount Surprise for your Savannahlander Train safari back to Cairns.
The Lava Tubes
About 190,000 years ago, a major volcano in the McBride Volcanic Province erupted violently, its molten lava flowing quickly down a dry river bed. As the top outer layer cooled and formed a crust, the fiery flow below drained downwards leaving behind a series of long, dark, hollow tubes. After a time, ancient roof collapses created fertile pockets where rainforest plants, animals and insects continue to thrive. The significance of these impressive, natural, geological and cultural wonders have been preserved for present and future generations through the setting aside this important area as the Undara Volcanic National Park. Undara is an Aboriginal word meaning 'a long way'. They were right - you'd have to travel a long way to see a geological wonder to equal Undara's Lava Tubes!