7 day Gulf Savannah Experience
Highlights
- Step aboard the iconic Gulflander and Savannahlander trains
- Enjoy a magnificent Gulf sunset in Karumba
- Wander through Croydon’s heritage precinct
- Tour the old goldfield town of Forsayth
- Cruise through Cobbold Gorge on a solar powered boat
- See the rugged sandstone formations of Cobbold Gorge as you walk across the glass bridge
- Explore the oldest standing lava tubes on earth at Undara
- Learn the rich history of Aboriginal culture
Inclusions
- One way travel on the Gulflander from Normanton to Croydon
- One way travel on the Savannahlander from Forsayth to Cairns
- 1 night 3.5 star accommodation in Cairns
- 2 nights 4 star accommodation in Karumba
- 2 nights 3 star accommodation in Forsayth
- 1 night 3 star accommodation in Undara
- Meals as specified
- Karumba Hatchery Behind-the-Scenes Tour and Hand Feeding Experience
- 1 hour Forsayth By Night Tour
- 3 hour Cobbold Gorge Boat Cruise
- Afternoon Undara Lava Tubes Tour
- One way coach transfer from Cairns to Karumba
- One way coach transfer from Karumba to Normanton
- One way coach transfer from Croydon to Forsayth
- Return coach transfers from Forsayth to Cobbold Gorge
- Return coach transfers from Mount Surprise to Undara
Itinerary
Day 1: Cairns
Arrive in Cairns and make your own way to your accommodation. If time permits, take a self-guided tour around Cairns. Stroll along the Esplanade, soak up the outdoor lifestyle at the many restaurants and cafés or spend time exploring the Cairns Aquarium (own expense). Overnight at Cairns Plaza Hotel.
Day 2: Cairns to Karumba (B)
An early start this morning for a full day of travelling by coach to Karumba. Travel over 700 kilometres, as you journey along the Savannah Way. Heading west from Cairns, wind your way up the Kuranda Range onto the Atherton Tablelands and then onto remote, untamed reaches of the Outback. Pass through the historic outback towns of Mount Surprise and Croydon before arriving in Karumba late afternoon. Stay the next two nights at Ash’s Holiday Units, Karumba.
Day 3: Karumba (B)
The town of Karumba is a popular Barramundi fishing port on the Gulf of Carpentaria. This morning, head to the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre and join a behind the scenes tour. Get to see the hatchery operations and learn about the species of the Southern Gulf strain of Barramundi. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Choose to take a cruise through the Port of Karumba estuary or try your luck with a fishing tour (all own expense). Finish the day with a sunset cruise on the Norman River (own expense).
Day 4: Karumba to Forsayth (B, L, D)
After breakfast, transfer to Normanton railway station for your journey to Croydon onboard the Gulflander. Take in the diverse Gulf landscape and its rich history as you travel along the Heritage listed Normanton to Croydon line. Make a stop at Blackbull Siding for morning tea. Arrive in the historic gold mining town of Croydon and enjoy lunch at the Croydon Hotel before transferring to Forsayth.
Enjoy dinner at the Goldfields Hotel followed by a one hour Forsayth By Night tour. Learn about the history of how Forsayth was built during the gold rush and how the rail line development impacted on the town. Stay the next two nights at Finnigan’s Rest, Forsayth.
Day 5: Cobbold Gorge (B, L, D)
Transfer from Forsayth to Cobbold Gorge. After lunch, gain an informative insight in to the geology of the rugged sandstone formations before taking an interpretive walk to the escarpment. Cross over Australia’s first fully glass bridge and take in the view of the gorge’s impressive sandstone walls.
Then explore Cobbold Gorge as you glide through the spectacular sculpted gorge walls on a boat cruise. This gorge is vastly different from others owing to its extreme narrowness, measuring a mere two metres width in places and featuring spectacular 30 metre cliffs on either side. After the cruise, return to Forsayth and spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.