Leichhardts Savannah Expedition

Today you will be greeted by our friendly and professional Tour Directors. We’ll then check in to the Shangri-La Hotel located on the Marina, just minutes from the Esplanade.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and meet your fellow adventurers.

Meals : Dinner

Departing Cairns early, we trek west and drive through the scenic Atherton Tablelands. Visit beautiful Millaa Millaa Falls before continuing to Undara Volcanic National Park, which protects the longest lava tube cave system in the world.

Today a local Savannah Guide will take us on a tour through the lava tube cave system. Created when the Undara Volcano erupted over 190,000 years ago, the lava that flowed was enough to fill Sydney Harbour 3 times over. The flows lasted a long time, allowing the outer edge to cool while the interior kept flowing, creating the tubes seen today.

This afternoon we arrive at Undara Experience and check in to our unique accommodation, consisting of restored railway carriages. The lodge has recently been fully renovated and upgraded, with all rooms now featuring private ensuite bathrooms. Tonight, enjoy dinner in the outdoor style restaurant as the outback sunset fades into a clear starlit night.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we depart Undara and head west to Croydon passing by Blackbull and travel through to Normanton before heading into Karumba.

Located on the banks of the Norman River, Karumba came to importance in the 1930’s when it became a stop-over point for flying boats on the run from London to Australia.

We will spend the next two nights at the End of the Road Motel.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we join one of the last great characters of rail travel - The Gulflander. This historic little train takes us on a journey from Normanton to Critters Camp.

From here we head back to Karumba and discover the amazing secrets of the mighty barramundi at The Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre, the only hatchery in the world to breed the Southern Gulf strain of this iconic fish! The brand new interactive and state-of-the-art Interpretive Centre provides the history, stories, lifecycle, and habits of these sought-after fish.

This afternoon we enjoy a special Sand Island sunset dinner cruise in the Gulf. Dine on local seafood while watching a sensational gulf sunset. (Includes wine and beer. Alternative meals are available).

Tonight, we enjoy our second night at the End of the Road Motel. (B,L,D)

Note: Gulflander journey may change subject to operating hours.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we enjoy a tour of the station at Hell’s Gate. Located on Cliffdale Station, Hell’s Gate takes its name from a gap in the escarpment one kilometre south. After lunch on the station, we continue along the Savannah Way and cross the border into the Northern Territory.

Not far into the Territory we turn off and head north into Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Pungalina-Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary and check in to our new safari camp. Built by Outback Spirit in 2019, the camp features unique safari tents with ensuite bathrooms and covered decks, the perfect spot for a three-night stay to discover the area.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Over the next two days, we'll explore Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary and learn about what makes these two properties such important ecological habitats in northern Australia.

Together the two properties cover a combined area of around 305,000 hectares and include coastal monsoon rainforest, tall paper bark forests, palm fringed wetlands, deep gorges, and coastal flood plains. The sanctuary is home to over 40 species of mammals, 190 species of birds and 95 species of frogs and reptiles.

Activities include a scenic helicopter flight over the sanctuary, following the spectacular Calvert River all the way to the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Take a cruise on the Calvert River and experience some rarely seen but truly spectacular scenery. We'll also enjoy an informative ecology tour with trained AWC staff.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Please note: Conditions include a weight restriction of 110kg for the helicopter flights.

Exploring Pungalina – Seven Emu Sanctuary

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we return to the Savannah Way and make our way west to Borroloola on the McArthur River. After a visit to the Borroloola Museum, we pass through Limmen National Park before arriving at the turn off to Lorella Springs. From here it's a 30km drive to Lorella Springs Wilderness Park, a spectacular one-million-acre pastoral lease that stretches right to the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

We arrive late afternoon and settle in for our three-night stay in this extraordinary location. Lorella Springs has recently built new accommodation, all with private ensuite bathrooms.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

As Day 10.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we enjoy Tom Curtain’s national award-winning Katherine Outback Experience, a new addition to our tour.

Later today, we take a 2-hour boat cruise on the Katherine River Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park. The NitNit Dreaming cruise is one of the most popular tours in the region and will take you to the end of the first gorge, where you will experience the beauty of the large boulders, rock pools and sands that make up the crossover to the second gorge.

We return to Knotts Crossing Resort for our second night.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we enjoy a leisurely start before the final stretch of the journey to Darwin. Departing Katherine, we'll pass through Pine Creek and Adelaide River before arriving in the Territory's capital early afternoon. Along the way we'll visit Edith Falls, where you can swim in the paperbark-fringed pool at the base of the waterfall.

After checking in to your harbour view room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the Esplanade, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure before boarding the Charles Darwin for a delicious Territory-style sunset dinner cruise and celebrate a truly amazing trip!

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner