Australian Natural Adventures

itinerary for Gail, Rachel & Micah continues.....

Day 16 – Saturday, August 4: Atherton Tablelands / Undara National Park
This morning you meet Up with Allen again for a morning for wildlife – he will let you know when during your prior evening. Spend the early part of the morning looking for platypus at a small stream. Some special birds will be seen, perhaps including the Golden Bowerbird at his huge bower, over 5 feet high. During the morning Allen will explain the plants and workings of the rainforest. After a morning of wildlife head inland, to a completely different habitat, the dry outback. Your journey today, though short, will take you from some of the wettest country in Australia, with over 150” of rain per year, to the rain shadow where drought is a way of life. Today will show the true nature of Australia. From the Lodge drive through the southern tablelands to Undara National Park. Although the Tablelands are rainforested, as you drive west you break into the shadow of this 3000ft range, and emerge into typically Australian dry eucalypt habitat. The park is about 3 hours away, a pleasant drive through ever-changing landscape. The Undara Lava Tubes were formed some 190,000 years ago when a major volcano in the McBride volcanic province erupted, its molten lava flowing down a dry river bed. As the top layer quickly cooled and crusted, the fiery magma below continued to flow through the tubes taking it further and further from the volcano. The eruption slowed and then stopped, the lava drained out of the tubes leaving a series of long, hollow tunnels. Ancient roof collapses created deep, dark and moist depressions where fertile pockets of "dry" rainforest can now be seen. Some rainforest plants and animals still thrive in this remnant environment; each tube offers a rare insight into this unusual geological wonder. The word Undara means 'a long way' in the Aboriginal language, and one of the lava flows from Undara extends 160 kilometers (or 100miles) making it the longest lava flow from a single volcano on our planet. The original tube formed by the flow extended for approximately 100 kilometers, and several sections are accessible. During the eruption cycle, the Undara volcano spewed forth 23 cubic kilometers of lava covering 1550 square kilometers. So far, 68 separate sections of cave have been identified from over 300 lava tube roof collapses. On arrival you can explore the immediate area around your lodge, where you may find a frisky kangaroo or two, before your outback dinner. Your accommodation for the first night is in the dormitory style lodge, but next night is a converted railway car, allowing your different experience in the Australian bush. (D)

Day 17 - Sunday, August 5: Undara National Park
Spend the day on a guided tour around the tubes, park and surrounding formations and savannah habitats. You visit several different sections of the Lava Tube line beginning with a walk around the rim of Kalkani Crater where the collapsed line of the lava tube is highly visible and the vast scope of the tube system is most evident. Your Savannah Guide explains environmental, geological and historical features. Your day includes morning tea, lunch taken back at the lodge, and afternoon tea. Return in time for a sit around the camp with a cool drink, and then another outback dinner followed by good company, bush yarns and singing around the campfire. Undara is operated by the Collins family, original owners of the cattle station (ranch) that became Undara National Park, and their own history is intimately connected with this land. You’ll learn a good deal about the way of life in outback Australia over many generations, back to the founding of the country. A guided sunset walk reveals rufous bettongs, small members of the kangaroo family, wallabies and other wildlife. (B,L,D)

Day 18 – Monday, August 6: Undara / Cairns
This morning take an easy drive back to Cairns at your leisure, coming down from the Tablelands via the Palmerston Highway, with its spectacular views and several good rainforest walking trails in the Wooroonooran National Park. The loop walk to Nandroya Falls is especially rewarding, with a swimmable rainforest pool and waterfall the target. As the car rental place closes at 5pm, you need to be back in Cairns by then, when it will be getting dark anyway. If you are late you can return the car at the airport, and taxi back into the hotel. Check into the hotel first, and drop off your stuff. A third alternative is to keep the car an extra day, though you won’t use it tomorrow, and return it when you drive to the airport Wednesday morning. You should let the rental company know if you take this route. (B)

Day 17 – Tuesday, August 7: Great Barrier Reef
Your second day out on the Reef today. Your boat today is Passions of Paradise, a smaller dedicated snorkel and dive boat, which will take you to Michaelmas Cay, and also to a snorkel area further along on Michaelmas Reef. The variety of reef life is different to the inner reefs seen on your Franklands trip. There are thousands of seabirds on the cay, which allow you to approach closely and make for some great photographs. You arrive back in Cairns about 4.30pm, and have the evening to pick up any needed souvenirs, or to enjoy a meal of tropical fish; barramundi is particularly recommended. (L)

Day 18: Wednesday, August 8: Cairns / Sydney / Nadi
Fly south to Sydney this morning on your Qantas flight QF60 departing at 7am, and arriving at 9.50am. You will be able to check your bags all the way through to Fiji. As this Qantas flight is an international designated one, you need to be at the airport 1.5 hours prior to departure, a bit sooner than usual domestic flights. There are several places to buy food at the airport. As you arrive in Sydney at the International Terminal, rather than the domestic one, the transfer to your 1.10pm Air Pacific flight FJ910 to Nadi, arriving at 6.55pm, will be simple and fast. After passing through Fiji immigration and customs you are transferred to your nearby hotel. (*L,*D)

Day 19: Thursday, August 9: Hotel / Navua /Namuamua
Transfer to Navua this morning where you are met by your brother’s, and uncle’s, friends and take the boat up to Namuamua, where you spend the next two days. We have arranged some yagona root for you, the material used to make kava (locally known as grog), the traditional and slightly narcotic drink in Fiji. This is a traditional gift when visiting a village. You will be introduced to the Turaga Ni Koro (village chief) or his representative. Present him with the kava, which he will accept as a traditional sevusevu (gift of respect). (B)

Day 20: Friday, August 10: Namuamua
Continue to enjoy your hosts’ hospitality. Namuamua is in a scenic area and has numerous activities, including walks to waterfalls, swimming, and you might even catch a game of cricket or rugby.

Day 21 - Saturday, August 11: Namuamua / Navua /Nadi / Los Angeles
Sadly you leave Fiji today, but taking many memories and permanent souvenirs of here and the Australian portion of your trip. You transfer back down river to Navua, then to Nadi this afternoon. After dinner in Nadi you catch your 10.—pm Air Pacific flight FJ810 to Los Angeles, where, due to the International Dateline, you arrive 1.20pm this same day. After passing through Immigration and Customs you take the shuttle to your airport hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax or see a bit of Los Angeles. (*D,*B)

Day 22: Sunday, August 12: Los Angeles / Providence
After overnighting in Los Angeles fly home to Providence today on American flight AA2270 leaving at 7am and arriving in Chicago at 1pm. Change to flight AA4153 leaving at 2.55pm, and arriving in Providence at 6.15pm. Home at last.

(B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner; M: Meal; * in flight meal)

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