OUTBACK TOURS
- INDEX
- DESTINATIONS
- YOUR ITINERARY
- ACCOMMODATION
- THINGS TO DO
- TRANSPORT
- TOURS
- ATTRACTIONS
- WEDDING / HONEYMOON
- CAR HIRE
- DINING OUT
- BACKPACKERS
- INTERNET@CAFES
- EQUIPMENT HIRE
- MAPS and INFO
- SAFE TRAVEL
- LINKS
Ah, the great Northern Outback, an untamed expanse of red earth, grass plains and arid landscapes, dotted by old mining towns with their typical Aussie bush pubs. And there is no better way to experience the vastness and majesty of the Tropical North Queensland Outback than by joining any of the numerous Outback Tours that we present you on this page! Discover the fabulous Undara Lava Tubes and Cobbold Gorge, embark on a train journey like no other or admire this amazing land from the air...The Outback is a truly unforgettable experience!
SCROLL DOWN FOR A VERY COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE COMPANIES OFFERING OUTBACK TOURS IN FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND. TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE OUTBACK DESTINATIONS, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT COLUMN.
DARK TAG-A-LONG TOURS
4 Jessie Street, Irvinebank (MAP)
Phone (07) 4096 4156 / Fax (07) 4096 4067
www.darktagalongtours.com
Ride with us OR... TAG ALONG!
The folk at Dark Tag-a-long Tours are locals, and will show you all the special and hidden places of interest that only local residents know about. Choose from a variety of sites, adventures and activities to suit your fitness and interests. Don't be shy, just ask. They're here to please. DARK's 4WD tours are created to cater to your comfort zone, from easy day trips to extremely rough overnight adventures.
This district is steeped in history. Explore sites from the early mining era. Have a look at old head frames, battery sites, mines ranging from the days of pick, shovel and hand steel to modern localities that used modern machinery. You can visit canyons, gorges, and escarpments; waterfalls in the wet season; and waterholes teeming with birdlife. Over 100 types of birds have been identified in the local area. Swim in beautiful *crocodile-free* billabongs. Catch some red claw crayfish for dinner, or have a go at tin panning.
UNDARA EXPERIENCE
Undara Volcanic Park, Savannah Way (MAP)
(Near Mt Surprise)
Phone (07) 4097 1900 / Fax (07) 4097 1955
Tollfree 1800 990 992
www.undara.com.au
Australia's accessible outback!
Located on the eastern edge of the ruggedly beautiful Gulf Savannah region of northern Australia, the multi-award winning Undara Experience captures the essence of the real Australian Outback.
Undara Experience is set in thousands of square kilometres of pristine tropical savannah woodlands, within easy reach of the Great Barrier Reef areas of Cairns and Townsville in Tropical North Queensland. From the Lodge, guests visit the Undara Lava Tubes, part of the longest lava flow from a single volcanic crater on Earth.
Guests have a choice of accommodation styles; specially restored antique railway carriages nestled in the Queensland bush, or a central camping area. Wherever you choose to stay, the Undara Experience includes evening wildlife spotlighting walks, campfire evenings, delicious dining featuring the region's best produce, or a quiet drink in the bar as the outback sunset fades into the clearest starlit night.
THE GREAT CARPENTARIA EXPERIENCE
Phone / Fax (07) 4057 5364
Mobile 0405 138 170
www.carpentariaexperience.com.au
Tour the Carpentaria Region!
The Great Carpentaria Experience Tours is an incredible journey that will delight photographers, railway enthusiasts, plant and bird lovers and those interested in the geography and history of the Cairns and Carpentaria regions. Some highlights include the Savannahlander, the Gulflander, Karumba, Undara, Cobbold Gorge and Burke & Wills Camp #119.
The Great Carpentaria Experience operates two different tours: entire train journey from Normanton to Croydon and entire train journey from Forsayth to Cairns. During the year between April and October (weather and road conditions permitting), The Great Carpentaria Experience also operates small groups, scheduled and chartered tours between Cairns and the Gulf of Carpentaria. During other months of the year they operate chartered tours around the Cairns region, Atherton Tablelands, Cooktown and Mission Beach regions.
RUGGED AUSSIE ADVENTURES
Mount Isa
Phone (07) 4743 2756 / Fax (07) 4743 2749
Mobile 0427 432 756
www.ruggedaussieadventures.com
Brings out the adventurous spirit in everyone!
* Camping Tours * Fishing Tours * Outback Rodeo Adventure * Outback Station Stay *
Whether you want to get down and dirty whilst helping with the mustering or you just simply want to watch the action- the Outback Station Adventure allows you to do all this and much more on one of the largest cattle stations in Queensland.
Take a camping tour to Lawn Hill Gorge, with its beautiful waterfalls. Fish for barramundi or black bream, go swimming or experience a multitude of bird and wildlife including black cockatoos, parrots, lorikeets, kangaroos, pigs and dingoes.
Watch all the action as the cowboys try and ride the bucking bulls and horses or as they jump off a horse at 40 km an hour on to a steer with big horns and try to wrestle it to the ground.
COBBOLD GORGE TOURS
Cobbold Gorge, Forsayth (MAP)
90 kilometres south of Georgetown
Phone (07) 4062 5470 / Fax (07) 4062 5453
www.cobboldgorge.com.au
The Ultimate Outback Adventure!
The Terry family welcome you to a truly outstanding and unique property. Apart from the ever changing views, and the 10,000 head of Brahman cattle on Robin Hood Stations’ 1284 square kilometres with a history that dates back to early gold rush days, it also contains a geological wonderland. From the deep shadows cast by the rugged Newcastle Ranges on the eastern boundary to the sandstone escarpments in the west, one can understand why this station provides you with 'The Ultimate Outback Adventure'.
Five Cobbold Gorge tours operate daily from the village and range from pure relaxation to soft adventure. To cruise through this gorge is an awesome and unforgettable experience. Cobbold Gorge is a Savannah Guide Station and visits to the gorge are by guided tour only.
MOUNT SURPRISE GEMS
Garland Street, Mount Surprise (MAP)
Phone (07) 4063 3055 / Fax (07) 4062 3099
www.mtsurprisegems.com.au
Gear up for a dirty weekend - go fossicking!
Join us on a trip to our Mining Claim where you can fossick for Topaz, Aquamarine and Smoky Quartz. This tour runs every morning (8am-12am) April - September. Everything you need is supplied including morning tea.
We travel approx 42 kilometres out on gravel road either in your own vehicle or relax and travel in ours. What you find you keep. We explain and show you as much as we can then its up to you.
So come along and join in the worlds greatest healthy gamble.
AUSTRALIAN WILDERNESS TOURS
Phone (02) 6587 7188 / Fax (02) 6587 7288
Tollfree 1300 661 229
www.awtours.com.au
The small group specialists - maximum 6 people!
Leaving from Cairns, this 7 day / 6 night luxury 4WD tour takes in the many sights of the Atherton Tablelands before heading west to the Northern Territory and Darwin!
After a guided tour of the spectacular Undara Lava Tubes, you will continue into the outback through Mount Surprise and Georgetown to Croydon and Normanton. Enjoy an afternoon tour out to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Lawn Hill National Park is one of the highlights, and there is the option of a guided tour to the World Heritage listed Riversleigh fossil fields, before leaving Queensland for the Northern Territory.
Visit the phenomenal rock formations of the Southern Lost City in Limmen National Park. After numerous wet and dry river crossings and assorted adventures, you finally reach the famous Stuart Highway, Elsey National Park, and the thermal rock-pools of Mataranka. Your final day takes you north through Katherine and past Adelaide River and into Darwin.
SKYSAFARI
Phone (07) 4099 3666 / Fax (07) 4099 1669
www.skysafari.com.au
Life changing experiences await!
From the tropical coast to the western horizon presents many dramatic visual contrasts.
Fly across lush valleys and waterfalls to soon reveal the vastness of the Australian outback and the magnificent spectacle of Mt Mulligan. Discover this escarpment country where Eucalypt trees push through red earth and sparsely dot the landscape. This seldom explored land remains rich in resources for its original inhabitants and for the early settlers who hoped to tame it. Simply surviving has never been so special.
THE SAVANNAHLANDER
Phone (07) 4053 6848 / Fax (07) 4053 6818
Tollfree 1800 793 848
www.savannahlander.com.au
The Outback rail experience!
The Savannahlander is a unique way to see Australia's outback. Once a week the classic 1960's rail motors head out from Cairns on their 4 day, 850km return trip to Forsayth. For much of the journey the Savannahlander has the railway line to itself and this allows passengers to experience a type of train travel that most won't have come across before. Want the driver to stop so you can take a photo? Just ask!
The Savannahlander stops overnight in three different outback towns, Almaden (Chillagoe), Mount Surprise and Forsayth, each offering the traveller something different. Where to stay overnight? There are many options from the inexpensive to the not-so inexpensive. There are side trips to be done too. You can take a tour of the famous Chillagoe caves, explore the Undara Lava Tubes or see the spectacular Cobbold Gorge.
NORTH WEST SAFARIS
Phone (07) 4094 2000
www.northwest-australian-safaris.com.au
Discover places off the beaten track!
NorthWest Australian Safaris offer small and very personalized 4wd camping tours to Cape York and The Gulf Savannah. Tours are all inclusive, with no hidden optional extras.
Because NorthWest Safaris offer small and personal group tours, they travel to those special places off the beaten track away from the mainstream tours to give you that extra special trip. They pick up from Port Douglas or offer free and secure parking for your vehicle/ caravan. They also offer free accommodation and dinner the night before and after the tour on their beautiful property in Julatten. How's that for great old fashioned hospitality!
NorthWest Safaris give very special and unique tours to Australia's most wild and untamed areas that are full of amazing flora and fauna and incredible tales of bravery and survival in these harsh and beautiful areas.
