Explore spectacular Gulf Country! Take the Savannahlander train into cattle country, see historic Normanton, enjoy a Gulf of Carpentaria sunset cruise and explore Burke & Wills’ infamous Camp #119. Then relax in Lawn Hill National Park and marvel at the Undara lava tubes.
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (SD) Specialty Dinner Tour Code: QGS
Malanda Lodge is centrally located to all of the Atherton Tablelands top attractions and boasts Pickle & Smoke on site restaurant, a licensed bar and resort pool all set on 11 acres of landscaped grounds. Rooms include free WIFI, reverse cycle air conditioning, fridge, microwave, toaster, tea and coffee making facilities.
Latara Motel is located in Georgetown in the heart of the Savannah Way. It is the perfect base to explore the surrounding area and unique attractions, such as the Cobbold Gorge, Talaroo Hot Mineral Springs, Undara Lava Tubes, Etheridge Shore Goldfields and the world class Ted Elliot Mineral Collection in the Terrestrial Information Centre.
The Motel is spread over seven acres of natural bushland gardens and sweeping lawns, creating an oasis in the desert. There is a saltwater swimming pool, restaurant and bar and extensive gardens.
Karumba Lodge is the centre of all the excitement and adventure on offer in the Gulf Country. Situated on absolute river frontage, the Karumba Lodge overlooks the Norman River in the centre of the main township of Karumba.
This provides easy access to all the town’s facilities including the bakery, post office, bank, supermarket, fishing charters and river cruises. The Lodge also directly adjoins the town’s main boat ramp and pontoon providing very convenient access to the Norman River and the great fishing the Gulf of Carpentaria has to offer. The motel offers 24 air conditioned motel rooms all with riverviews and a range of powered sites for vans and motor homes with BBQ areas and brand new showers and amenities. There is a licenced restaurant, gaming room and bar and bottleshop onsite.
This motel is located on the outskirts of Normanton and offers motel accommodation as well as a camping ground onsite. The motel has 28 ground floor airconditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms. In each room there is a phone, internet connection, fridge, iron and ironing board and there is also a laundry on site. Facilities at the property include a swimming pool, licensed restaurant and BBQ area.
Cobbold Village offers outback accommodation near Cobbold Gorge. All rooms have ensuited bathroom with toiletries, air conditioning, TV, bar fridge, coffee and tea making facilities, plus power points to recharge laptops, phones and digital accessories, and all linen is provided. For meals, drinks and the all-important coffee, MacDonalds Deck Licensed Bar & Bistro has your dining needs covered.
Undara Lava Lodge offers a unique outback adventure. This accommodation puts you in the heart of the Australian Outback, providing an authentic escape into the bush. Offering friendly hospitality and an array of native Australian plants and animals right on your doorstep, including but not limited to kangaroos, wallabies and kookaburras. You can relax around the billabong style swimming pool., it’s not unusual to see Eastern Grey kangaroos relaxing under the shade of the trees, or to spot a family of wallabies jumping through the grass. At night, join the free campfire with entertainment by the Savannah Guides. Programs change daily and could include anything from sing-a-longs to nature talks and bush poetry.
Georgetown is a pleasant, sleepy little town on the Etheridge River which is surrounded by rich beef cattle country and some of the best gemstone areas in Queensland. It boasts one of the finest attractions in Queensland – the Ted Elliott Mineral Collection at Terrestrial. It is superbly presented and, even if you only have a limited interest in minerals, it is compelling. Equally impressive is Cobbold Gorge – a narrow and impressively beautiful gorge which can be traversed by boat although, at some points, the walls of the gorge are no more than two metres apart.
Karumba is a fishing destination and industrial port on the banks of the Norman River where, each winter, anglers from all over Australia arrive to try their luck in the fish-rich waters of the Gulf. Once it was nothing more than a small, sleepy outback town. In recent years it has evolved into two interconnected, but quite separate, towns. There’s the “commercial-industrial centre” with its wharves, barramundi farm, prawn processing plant and MMG Century Mine loading facility. It has little interest for tourists. Then there is the “tourist centre” with a four-star motel, caravan parks, cafes, the Sunset Tavern with its views across the mouth of the Norman River, and there’s the justly famous Mud Crab and Crocodile tour.
Normanton is a genuinely delightful town with an excess of old world charm. It started life as a port for the Gulf of Carpentaria’s cattle industry and grew in importance with the discovery of gold at Croydon in 1885. Today it is primarily driven by tourism with the Purple Pub, the Albion Hotel, and a number of interesting historic buildings making it a convenient stopover for bus tours heading for Karumba and backpackers and travellers making their way around Australia.
Cairns, considered the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, is a city in tropical Far North Queensland. A thriving tropical city where unparalleled natural beauty, spectacular reefs, ancient rainforests, rich culture, and an alfresco dining scene blend into one. It is a place that’s about as laid-back as you’ll find anywhere in Queensland, and certainly not short on a natural wonder or two. In Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, you’ll find UNESCO World Heritage sites begging to be explored in between cities and towns like Cairns and Port Douglas. Cairns is a must-visit for nature-lovers. Hit the morning markets, swim in the sparkling Esplanade Lagoon, taste fresh seafood off the back of a fish trawler, dine in laid-back style like a local, or drink in the view from a rooftop bar. But here, connecting with nature goes deeper. Learn about and experience the local Indigenous culture through the guided tours on offer; or explore the rainforest with Kuku Yalanji people at the Mossman Gorge Centre an hour north of Cairns.
Undara is a place where you can explore natural geological wonders, enjoy the comforts and hospitality of a unique outback setting and where the local wildlife are as abundant, as they are at home, in their surroundings. The Undara Volcanic National Park is a national park in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland. It is situated 275 kilometres southwest of Cairns just off the Gulf Developmental Road. The park was established in 2009 to protect Australia’s longest lava tube and the unique fauna and flora found in the area.
Malanda is home to Malanda Falls and great for bird watching, bushwalking, and scenic drives. It is located 85 km from Cairns and 732 metres (2,402 ft) above sea level. The town is located downstream of the Malanda Falls on the North Johnstone River. Malanda is well known for its rainforest walks, panoramic views, wildlife and a very successful dairy industry. It is also home to the heritage-listed Majestic Picture Theatre, known as the oldest continually-operating cinema in Australia. Malanda Falls, on the North Johnstone River, tumbles over basalt rock formed by an ancient lava flow that spread from the Mount Hypipamee area 15km away. There are two short walks through the surrounding remnant rainforest.
The Savannahlander travels the 850 km return trip between Cairns and Forsayth once a week. The train stops at three different outback towns for the night (Almaden, Forsayth and Mt Surprise) giving passengers the opportunity to enjoy the sights and visit some interesting places. There’s no sleeping accommodation on the train so passengers hop off spend the night in accommodation in the towns while the train waits at the station overnight. There’s also no catering on-board, so meals can be provided by local businesses or you can bring your own if you prefer. You will travel aboard the “Savannahlander” train as it tracks towards Einasleigh. There is enough time to have a beer in the pub or head down and check out Copperfield Gorge, before the train departs for Forsayth.
Take a journey aboard the legendary Gulflander for a rail journey unlike any other. 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. 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.
Cruise on Cobbold Gorge’s beautiful and secluded waterway surrounded by spectacular carved Hampstead sandstone, 135 million years old. Cobbold Gorge, in the heart of the Gulf Savannah region is a pioneering place. An ancient landscape which invites you to breathe in the bush and breathe out your worries. Cobbold Gorge enables you to immerse yourself in the natural wonder of a truly unique Outback Queensland holiday destination. Cruise the gorge and walk atop its walls on a guided tour, exploring the ancient geological landforms and our savannah wonderland.
Set in the Gulf Savannah country, in Tropical North Queensland Australia, Undara is as ancient and alluring as the continent itself. The Undara Lava Tubes stand as silent sentinels to our pre-history. Here you can walk in the path of a volcano and sleep cocooned in an antique railway carriage as you explore this timeless land. This is a place where you can explore natural geological wonders, enjoy the comforts and hospitality of a unique outback setting and where the local wildlife are as abundant, as they are at home, in their surroundings. Undara Experience delivers the essence of the Australian Outback.
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