Northwest Loop Tour

Starting in Cairns, the expedition takes in such iconic locations as Undara Lava Tubes, Cobbold Gorge, Normanton and Karumba. We’ll also check out Burketown, Cloncurry, and Charters Towers before winding down in Townsville. This area is filled with history of mining rail and agriculture, as well as goelogically unique features, that are iconic and unmissable.

The Tour will begin by exploring Kuranda, the village in the rainforest. Kuranda Heritage Markets will be just one of the attractions we’ll visit, before heading to Atherton and the glorious Crystal Caves. The Undara Lava Tubes, is no less spectacular, being the largest lava tube system on the planet. You will be amazed at what you see and learn as you wind through the tubes on a 2-hour guided tour.

At Cobbold Gorge we will experience a 3-hour tour of the gorge, and stay overnight.

Normanton on the Savannah, home to the Purple Pub and Kris the crocodile is where we will include a 40-minute ride on a charming vintage railmotor, the RM60,built in 1931. 

At Karumba, nothing beats standing on a beach there to take in a magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Barramundi Centre in Karumba is another must-see and there is opportunity to charter for fishing.

At Burketown at very special evening will be spent here, star-gazing while listening to Dreamtime stories from the Gangalidda people.

What goes up must come down – or south in this case, and after a night at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse, we leave for Cloncurry, looking forward to viewing the wonderful exhibits at the John Flynn Museum and Cloncurry Unearthed Museum.

From Cloncurry, we head for Richmond. Here we’ll discover the wonders of the prehistoric world at Kronosaurus Korner. If you think dinosaurs aren’t your thing, maybe some bush tucker and bird watching at Lake Fred Tritton will fit the bill.

Our next stop is Charters Towers,where we explore the wonderful buildings this romantic old mining town has to offer. Later we’ll visit the Venus Gold Battery, a national treasure which is described as the biggest and best-preserved battery relic in the country.

End of the road is Townsville, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Here we will visit the Reef HQ Aquarium, the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium, before sitting down to a farewell dinner together.