Cairns to Alice Springs

Day 1 (D) HOME, CAIRNS
Departing from our home states we fly to Cairns. Our Seniors Coach Tours Coach Captain or representative will meet your flight. Transfer to our home for two nights, the All Seasons Cairns. Relax and enjoy the mild climate of this northern city. Join fellow passengers for a pre-dinner drink and dinner together at our motel.

Day 2 (B,D) CAIRNS, PORT DOUGLAS, PALM COVE
Join us for a morning stroll along the Cairns Esplanade, then we enjoy many stunning coastal scenes as we journey north to Port Douglas. Some free time prior to visiting Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided tour of this excellent facility. We return to beautiful Palm Cove, take a stroll along the beach, browse in the shops, enjoy a coffee or a cocktail (own expense) prior to returning to Cairns.

Day 3 (B,D) CAIRNS, SCENIC RAILWAY, KURANDA, MT SURPRISE
Today we travel on the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns, stopping on route to Kuranda at Barron Falls, travelling through lush rainforest and deep gorges. Enjoy a stroll in Kuranda market. Travel to Mareeba, Atherton and Ravenshoe, over 900 metres above sea level, and Mt Surprise. Home for two nights, Bedrock Village.

Day 4 (B,L,D) UNDARA LAVA TUBES
Relax at Bedrock Village prior to the short journey to Undara Lava Tubes. Lunch here before a guided tour of this unique attraction, formed 190,000 years ago when waves of molten lava flowed into creek and river beds. The surface cooled but underneath continued to flow, causing tunnels under the black lava rock.

Day 5 (B,L,D) MT SURPRISE, GEORGETOWN, COBBOLD GORGE
We travel the Gulf Development Road to Georgetown, Forsythe and Cobbold Gorge. Explore the relatively unknown Cobbold Gorge. Our tour includes a boat tour of the gorge, with its majestic sandstone cliffs (some walking required). The gorge is fed by permanent springs and many native fish and Johnstone River Crocodiles are found there. Also view the grave of John Corbett, murdered in 1871 during the gold rush. Tonight relax in the outback Cobbold George Resort.

Day 6 (B,L,D) COBBOLD GORGE, CROYDON, KARUMBA
We journey through the outback of northwest Queensland returning to Georgetown then travelling the Gulf Development Road to Croydon, centre of a shire half the size of Tasmania. Around 7,000 people lived in Croydon at the height of the 1880’s gold rush. Croydon is the eastern terminal for the Gulflander railway, built in gold rush times, but today a historic reminder of another era. During the afternoon we continue to Karumba Lodge, our home for two nights.

Day 7 (B,L,D) KARUMBA, GULFLANDER TRAIN
Today enjoy a leisurely ride on the Gulflander railway to Critters Camp, across the golden savannah grasslands. During the afternoon explore Karumba, at the mouth of the Norman River on the edge of the Gulf of Carpentaria with its extensive tidal flats. Fishing, including prawns, is the main industry. Relax and enjoy an afternoon drink at the Karumba pub.

Day 8 (B,L,D) KARUMBA, CLONCURRY
Through outback Queensland we journey to Bourke and Wills Roadhouse (morning cuppa) and Cloncurry, centre for a large grazing and copper and gold mining area. Following a later lunch enjoy John Flynn Place, a tribute to the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and also, time permitting, the Mary Kathleen Memorial Museum, named after an abandoned town from which three of the buildings originated. Home tonight, Gidgee Inn.

Day 9 (B,D) CLONCURRY, MT ISA
A short journey this morning to the city of Mt Isa, on the Leichhardt River, once the home of the Kalkadoon tribe. We visit Outback At Isa, including Riversleigh Fossils Interpretative Centre. The afternoon is free to explore, browse or relax. Home tonight is the All Seasons Verona Motel.

Day 10 (B,L,D) MT ISA, TENNANT CREEK
A day of travel today as we cross the Queensland – Northern Territory border near Camooweal on route to Barkly Homestead. Following lunch we continue to Three Ways, where we meet the north–south Stuart Highway. A short distance south lies Tennant Creek. Visit the Battery Hill Mining Centre, relax and enjoy the views prior to arriving at our overnight home, Eldorado Motor Inn.

Day 11 (B,L,D) TENNANT CREEK, ALICE SPRINGS
As we journey south today we visit the Devils Marbles, a collection of huge rounded red coloured boulders, important in the creation story of the Dreaming. The boulders are dreamtime fossilised Rainbow Serpent eggs. Lunch at Ti Tree Roadhouse prior to completing our journey to Alice Springs. Visit the Old Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill for a view overlooking the town. Home for two nights is the Aurora Resort Territory Inn.

Day 12 (B,D) ALICE SPRINGS
Visit the 300 million year old West McDonnell Ranges, pause at the John Flynn Memorial, visit Simpson Gap and Stanley Chasm. During the afternoon we visit the award-winning Alice Springs Desert Park, an introduction to the plants, animals and people of “the Centre”. Or you may choose to relax at our hotel, or browse in the shops along Todd Mall. A special event tonight as we visit the Sounds of Starlight Theatre featuring the renowned didgeridoo player Andrew Langford. A highlight of our holiday.

Day 13 (B) ALICE SPRINGS, HOME
Visit the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame and Royal Flying Doctor base. Our program this morning depends on airline schedules to various states. Passengers join various flights home concluding a most interesting holiday through the Queensland and Territory outback country.