Last-minute opportunity for Queenslanders! Gulf Savannah Adventure (7 September 2021)

Day 1 - Arrive in Cairns

On arrival at Cairns airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This evening at 6:00pm, make your way to the hotel bar - Gin Social, to meet your fellow Travel at 60 community travellers. Dinner this evening is not included, however your hotel is located within walking distance to a number of terrific restaurants and cafes. If you don't feel like venturing out too far we can recommend the award-winning Mondo on the Waterfront, located in front of the hotel.

Overnight: Hilton Cairns

Day 2 - Cairns – Malanda

Rise and shine early this morning for a 6:30am departure. Your outback Queensland tour begins, travelling up the Gillies Range to the Atherton Tableland. We stop off at Lake Barrine for a short walk to the twin Kauri Pines, before travelling on to Herberton.

Today, we explore the historic village of Herberton, where you can re-live the folklore and romance of yesterday's Australia in every piece of this eye-opening collection. Sit in the schoolhouse. Stand at the bar of the pub. Enjoy a latte in the Bakerville Tearooms. This award-winning attraction is more than a vintage precinct - it's a tangible buzz of things past with over 50 original buildings with intact interior displays, original machinery and vehicles, plus thousands of antique items and period memorabilia.

Late this afternoon, we settle into the Malanda Lodge, situated on 11 acres of manicured tropical gardens. All rooms have ground level balconies and views to enjoy the tranquillity, or maybe spot their resident platypus family in the large pond.

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Malanda Lodge Motel

Day 3 - Malanda – Georgetown

An early start sees us travelling west on the Kennedy Highway towards Mount Surprise, where we enjoy lunch with a snake show. After lunch, you'lltravel 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. From here, we travel on to Georgetown where we stay overnight.

Hotel: Latara Motel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Georgetown – Karumba

Enjoy morning 'smoko' on the shore of Croydon's Lake Belmore before we head to 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.

Hotel: Karumba Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 - Karumba – Adel’s Grove

Heading back through Normanton this morning, we make 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' we head to Leichhardt Falls and Burketown, then onto Adel's Grove, a Savannah Guides Site, where we spend two glorious outback nights.

Hotel: Adels Grove, 2 nights

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 - Lawn Hill National Park

Today, enjoy a relaxing time at 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 Lawn Hill gorge and a stunning view of Indarri falls. The gorge is a haven for an abundance of wildlife and is a birdwatcher's paradise. Swimming or paddling a canoe (optional) up the gorge is highly recommended. Return to Adel's Grove tonight.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - Adel’s Grove – Normanton

Today you'll visit 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 will be served at Gregory and you'll stop for a short break at the remote and iconic Burke & Wills Roadhouse before travelling on to Normanton. We stay in Normanton tonight.

Hotel: Gulfland Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 - Normanton – Cobbold Gorge

This morning we depart Normanton's famous Victorian architecture Railway Station as we board the historic Gulflander RM93 train, a Savannah Guides Site. The train will make its way through the savannah landscape across the Norman River to Critters Camp. Then onto Black Bull Siding and the old gold mining town of Croydon and its Historic Precinct, which is another Savannah Guides Site. This afternoon we visit Georgetown and Forsayth on our way to Cobbold Gorge, a Savannah Guides Station, where we stay tonight.

Hotel: Cobbold Gorge Cabins

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 - Cobbold Gorge – Undara

This morning we cruise on Cobbold Gorge's beautiful and secluded waterway, surrounded by spectacular carved Hampstead sandstone which is reputed to be 135 million years old. We then make our way to the famous Undara Lava Tubes, a Savannah Guides Station. There's campfire entertainment after dinner tonight before retiring to your accommodation in faithfully restored antique railway carriages

Hotel: Undara Lava Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 - Undara – Cairns

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 a scenic and leisurely drive over the tropical Athertable Tablelands past the Wind Turbines at Ravenshoe and stopping off at the magnificent Curtain Fig Tree before making our way back to Cairns, where you will spend the night.

Hotel: Hilton Cairns

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11 - Depart Cairns

This morning enjoy a leisurely breakfast before you check-out of the hotel and bid farewell to your fellow travellers. You will be transferred to the airport for your homeward journey.

Included Meals: Breakfast

The following prices are based on the 31 August & 07 September 2021 departure.

• Twin share - from $4,479 per person
• Sole use - from $5,613 per person

Want to avoid the single supplement? If you're willing to share, we can happily pair you with another solo traveller. Subject to availability of another guest of the same gender willing to share. Call us today on 1300 414 198!

On this tour you will enjoy 10 nights accommodation with ensuite bathrooms.

• Hilton Cairns
• Malanda Lodge
• Latara Motel Georgetown
• Karumba Lodge
• Adels Grove
• Gulfland Motel
• Cobbold Gorge
• Undara Lava Lodge

*Please note that as you will be travelling through remote parts of North Queensland, some accommodation will be basic, however all accomodation used in this itinerary will have private ensuite bathrooms.

Fitness Requirements:

• Moderate level of fitness as walks to locations may be on uneven ground
• Unsuitable for wheelchairs
• Gulf Savannah tours require a moderate level of fitness, as walks to locations may be on uneven ground. 

What to Bring:

• Luggage restriction: 1 small soft travel bag per person (maximum size: 30 x 30 x 70cm, preferably without wheels, cannot exceed 10kg)
• Cabin baggage: 1 small daypack per person
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
• Warm layers in cooler months
• Swimmers & towel (if swimming)

Willing to share?:
One of the advantages of travelling on a Travel at 60 dedicated group departure is that we have the ability to match solo travellers, so that you they can avoid paying the single supplement. Subject to availability of another traveller of the same gender willing to share.