Australian Natural Adventures

A specialist travel agency for Australia travel andAustralia tours

  Tourism Australia Premier Aussie Specialist
Accredited Tassie, Northern Territory, NT Outback, NSW, Victoria & Queensland Specialists
Matai Fiji Specialist

Diane and Charles' Australia journey continues...

Day 12 – Wednesday, May 9: Undara
Spend the day on guided tours exploring the lava tubes and outback vegetation of Undara with your Savannah Guide. You visit several different sections of the Lava Tube line beginning with an easy 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 guide will explain environmental, geological and historical features. Tour includes morning tea and lunch taken back at the lodge, and afternoon tea. You return in time for a sit around the camp with a cool drink, and then another outback dinner . A nocturnal tour this evening usually reveals wallabies, Rufous Bettongs - small members of the kangaroo family – owls, perhaps Tawny Frogmouths and other wildlife. On your return enjoy good company, bush yarns and singing around the campfire.     (B,L,D)

Day 13 – Thursday, May 10: Undara / Lake Eacham
Make your way back to the Atherton Tablelands to Lake Eacham, and The Chambers Lodge for your overnight. The Wet Tropics, at an elevation of about 2,500 ft, are home to some of Australia’s rarest and most unusual animals, including four kinds of very restricted possums, gliders, and the definitely weird tree kangaroo, a kangaroo which has adapted to a life in the trees, rather than on the ground. Much of this area is designated World Heritage, as is the Great Barrier Reef. There are huge specimens of strangler fig trees, and the smallest and most primitive kangaroo, the Musky Rat-kangaroo, can often be seen here, as well as fruit pigeons and brush turkeys. Suggested is a walk to see the Twin Kauris and then a one-hour cruise around Lake Barrine. This informative cruise usually manages to find Amethystine Pythons, over 12 ft long, sunning along the bank. Your accommodation tonight is The Chambers Rainforest Lodge, a small ecolodge in the heart of the rainforest. Here there is time to relax and enjoy the peace and wildlife which is plentiful here. This evening John, your host, will show you the pademelons – small rainforest wallabies – that come out just after dusk. Other wildlife also is commonly seen around your room. There are several restaurants and cafes in nearby Yungaburra, but as the Lodge is self-catering – it comes with a complete small kitchen – you should pick up some breakfast supplies today.     (B)

Day 14 – Friday, May 11: Atherton Tablelands
This morning Alan, a naturalist, will join you and take you to look for platypus, other wildlife, and the upland rainforest. Alan Gillanders is a "step-aboard" guide, that is he joins you in your vehicle, rather than using a bus. The rainforest of the Tablelands is quite different to the lowland forest around the Daintree which you will see later in your journey. The early part of the morning will be spent looking for platypus at a small stream, then Alan will take you to several areas good for wildlife and interesting plants. During the morning Allen will explain the plants and workings of the rainforest, and much else – he is a font of natural history knowledge. The afternoon is free to explore on your own - ask Alan for suggestions of places to visit. At 7.30pm meet up with Alan again at the platypus viewing platform in Yungaburra, on the Atherton road. Although it’s hard to miss, John, your host at The Chambers, can give you directions. This will be a convenient place to meet, as it’s only a couple of minutes from any of Yungaburra’s restaurants. Your evening is spent spotlighting for mammals and owls. Alan Gillanders is a "step-aboard" guide, that is he joins you in your vehicle, rather than using a bus. The area visited for this is especially good for the strange Tree Kangaroo, which has taken to life in the rainforest trees. A variety of rainforest birds and other animals, perhaps including the leaf-tailed gecko - eight inches long and colored and shaped like a piece of bark - will be found and seen.

Day 15 – Saturday, May 12: Atherton Tablelands / Port Douglas
Make your way south to Walkamin today, and turn inland toward Granite Gorge (see map). At the Gorge there are Rock Wallabies that are very tame, despite being wild. Leave Granite Gorge to come out at Mareeba, and continue north. Just outside Mareeba are the Mareeba Wetlands, an interesting area of deep swamps and wetlands home to many birds. There are boat and other tours available, and several observation areas. Continue along the inland route, once again passing through some dry area (but which will be quite pleasant-looking after the seasonal rain) where, about Julatten, you’ll exit the rain shadow and re-enter the rainforest. Run down the range, at the bottom of which you turn south to Port Douglas to overnight.

Day 16 – Sunday, May 13: Great Barrier Reef
Make your second visit to the Great Barrier Reef, this time to Agincourt Reef out of Port Douglas. This is right on the edge of the Outer Reef, and has many different marine species, as well as some of the familiar ones seen earlier. Once again overnight in Port Douglas.     (L)

Day 17 – Monday, May 14: Daintree area
Head north to explore the Daintree today. Make a stop at Mossman gorge and take the walk across the bridge, as some of the nicest lowland rainforest can be seen here, with massive buttress root systems meandering across the forest floor. Mid to late morning will be a good time to look for crocodiles, and we recommend the one-hour boat trips operated by the Daintree River Cruise Centre (tour times are 9.30, 9.50, 11, 1, 2.30 and 3.30; the earlier tours tend to be more crowded as people and bus tours head north from Cairns). In addition to the crocodiles other wildlife will be seen, and your guide will explain the workings of the mangroves as you head from rainforest-covered banks downstream into the mangrove areas. Head back to the river turnoff and across the Daintree River by ferry to explore the Daintree itself. Head back to Cairns at your leisure, and overnight back at the same hotel as earlier.

Day 18 – Tuesday, May 15: Cairns / Sydney
This morning you are transferred to the airport for your 7am flight south to Sydney on Qantas flight QF60, arriving at 9.50am. Note this is an international flight, and will depart from the international section of the terminal, rather than the domestic. It also requires an earlier check-in, and you should ask at the airport about this when you arrive into Cairns. As your transfer back to the airport is with your hotel, let them know the details. On arrival in Sydney taxi to your hotel in The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest area. As well as a good range of interesting shops, some of Sydney's oldest and most colorful pubs, and best restaurants, are found within a ten minute stroll. Australia has developed its own cuisine, a far cry from the stodgy English-based fare of earlier years. Restaurants featuring a fusion of Asian, European and even native Australian food abound, often featuring the superbly fresh fish abundantly available from Australia's long coastline. At 12.30pm enjoy a 90 minute walking tour of The Rocks, where its convict history will be revealed. Your guide will be happy to let you know about other aspects of Sydney, including restaurants and shops. The rest of the day is free to see Sydney. Recommended is a late afternoon harbor cruise to Manly, returning at sunset (6.03pm tonight) when the lights are coming on at the Opera House and the Bridge. Your return from Manly into the west, and the Opera House and Bridge are against the setting sun.     (*B)

Day 19 – Wednesday, May 16: Sydney
Discover Sydney today, a wonderfully cosmopolitan city. In addition to great shops to buy the needed souvenirs and gifts, just a short walk is the Botanic Gardens and the Domain, which has good views of the harbor, an abundant bird life, and a colony of huge grey fruit-bats, whose wingspans are approximately three feet. The Australian Museum, with its impressive collection of Aboriginal artifacts and art, is also close by. The Taronga Zoo is a ferry ride across the harbor, and a harbor cruise is a good way to truly appreciate this water-side city. The new Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour is a short taxi ride, or a longish walk from your hotel. You may wish to take a guided tour of the Opera House; tours leave on the half hour from 9.30am until 4.45pm. This can be followed by dinner and a show, or just a show, in one of the Opera House theatres, depending on your tastes. Click here to find out what's on. Everything is within walking distance of your hotel, although the Museum is a little far and you may wish to take the bus or a train - Sydney is extremely well-serviced by buses and the underground. Lunch can be taken on a ferry on the harbor, with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as well as the boats and ferries of what is often called the most beautiful city harbor in the world. While there are tours that utilize the ferries, usually with lunch or morning tea, the cheapest way to do this is to simply buy a return ticket to one of the up-harbor places such as Homebush (where the Olympics were held). You’ll see a map of all the places they go at Circular Quay. The ferries have a snack/meal bar, and you can just get an easy lunch or snack there, sit back, and enjoy the ride. If you did not get to the opal shop in Cairns, we can recommend Art of Opal in Sydney for their high quality opals and outstanding service (and pink diamonds and Tahitian pearls!).

Day 20 – Thursday, May 17: Sydney / Los Angeles / Seattle
Sadly you leave Australia today, but taking many memories and permanent souvenirs. Taxi back to the airport for your Qantas flight QF107 departing 10.50am. Due to the International Dateline, you arrive back into Los Angeles at 7.10am this same morning. Pass through customs and immigration, then head across from the American terminal where you landed to the Alaskan one for your flight AS245 at 10.15am, arriving in Seattle at 12.53pm.     (*L,*M,*B)

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

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