Wonders of the Savannah

Your holiday includes a flight from your homeport to the beautiful Queensland city of Brisbane (as required).

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure for you to explore more of the city. Your hotel is within easy walking distance of the mall & South Bank precincts.

❱ 1 night: Mercure Brisbane or similar

This
morning, enjoy time to browse around the Brisbane Mall before walking to Roma Street Station (nearby) to board the Spirit of Queensland train. Relax onboard in one of the train’s revolutionary RailBeds which provides you with a seat by day and a comfortable flat bed by night. Take advantage of a great entertainment system at your RailBed, with all bed linen, sheets, pillows and towels provided along with a personal amenities pack. A licensed Club Car that provides a range of light refreshments, confectionary and beverages and is open 24 hours.
Enjoy the culinary delights prepared using the freshest of Queensland produce – all meals are served directly to your seat.

❱ 1 night: Spirit of Queensland Train – RailBed Sleeper

Wake up this morning as the train passes through the sugar cane fields of North Queensland. Sit back and relax as you watch the changing landscapes pass by. Arrive in Cairns this afternoon.

❱ 1 night: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Today we board our touring coach and start our holiday by winding our way up the Kuranda Range to the Atherton Tableland. Pass through dense rainforest & agricultural landscapes to Mareeba and beyond. Travel on to Chillagoe and take a tour of the caves, the legacy of a 350-million-year old marine reef. After our tour, check into our Eco Lodge accommodation.

❱ 1 night: Chillagoe Eco Lodge

Travel on the Savannahlander train as it tracks the Ootann Road into Brahman cattle country. Witness the changing landscapes from limestone to granite to basalt country. Enjoy lunch along the way before heading west across the Newcastle Range to Georgetown.

❱ 1 night: Latara Motel

Enjoy morning tea on the shore of Croydon’s stunning Lake Belmore before arriving into Normanton for lunch. Visit its famous landmarks, the ‘Purple Pub’, historic Burns Philp General Store and a replica of Krys, the 8.63 metre crocodile. Later, we continue on to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria for a cruise and enjoy a spectacular Gulf sunset. The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large shallow sea that is enclosed on 3 sides, stretching from Slade Point in Far North Queensland to Cape Arnhem on the Northern Territory’s Gove Peninsula.

❱ 1 night: Karumba Lodge – room with shared facilities

Travel back through Normanton and visit Burke and Wills Camp no. 119, their most northerly campsite. Venture across the vast Plains of Promise to Leichhardt Falls and Burketown. Then its onto Adel’s Grove where you will spend two glorious nights in safari tents.

❱ 2 nights: Adel’s Grove – permanent tent with shared facilities

Enjoy morning tea on the shore of Croydon’s stunning Lake Belmore before arriving into Normanton for lunch.

Visit World Heritage Listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields, a rare treasure house of palaeontology recording the history of Australia Mega Fauna of 20,000 years ago. Stop for lunch at Gregory before we visit the remote Burke and Wills Roadhouse before travelling on to Normanton.

❱ 1 night: Gulfland Hotel

Board the historic Gulflander RM93 train. Journey through the savannah landscape across the Norman River to Critters Camp. Travel on to Black Bull Siding, then the old gold mining town of Croydon. This afternoon, we visit Georgetown & Forsayth, before arriving at Cobbold Gorge.

❱ 1 night: Cobbold Gorge Cabins

Cruise on Cobbold Gorge’s beautiful and secluded waterways surrounded by spectacular carved sandstone which is 135,000 years old! Later, we travel on to the famous Undara Lava Tubes.
Spend a day exploring one of Australia’s rare volcanic marvels! One of the true wonders of Australia, Undara is home to some of the world’s longest lava tubes. Walk through the huge caverns which drop down into the lava flow tunnels and see some of the local wildlife along the way. The lava tubes were created about 190,000 years ago when a staggering 23 cubic km of lava flowed into a river bed. After dinner, enjoy campfire entertainment before retiring to your fully restored antique railway carriage accommodation.

❱ 1 night: Undara Lava Lodge

Enjoy an Australian breakfast, before taking a guided tour of the fascinating 190,000-year-old lava tubes. Visit Ravenshoe, Queensland’s highest town for lunch, before arriving at Mt Hypipamee National Park & the Atherton Tableland’s unique Curtain Fig Tree. This afternoon, descend to the lush green coastal plain of Cairns.

❱ 2 nights: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Enjoy a leisurely day to explore more of Cairns. Spend the day relaxing by the hotel’s pool, go shopping at nearby Cairns Central or explore the beautiful Cairns Esplanade.

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday comes to an end this morning after breakfast. You will be transferred to Cairns Airport in time for your flight home.

Your holiday includes a flight from Cairns back to your homeport.