Duration:
Operated By:
After collecting you from your hotel at approximately 7:00 AM, we’ll head for the Outback Savannah country west of Cairns. We’ll make our way up the Gilles Highway and on to the Volcanic Crater and then continue through the fertile Atherton Tablelands and its agricultural diversity to Ravenshoe. Pass through this charming town on our way to the Undara Lava Tubes National Park. Upon arrival, we check in for the unforgettable Undara Archway Explorer Lava Tube Tour. On this tour, we explore caverns and discover the true geological beauty and secluded hidden nature with the experienced and informative Savannah Guides on a 2-hour boardwalk guided tour of the Undara Lava Tubes. The lava tubes are acclaimed as the world’s longest and oldest lava tubes, which lie in the northern parts of tropical Queensland. The caves were formed over 190,000 years ago when a major volcano in the McBride volcanic province erupted, causing molten lava to flow down a dry riverbed. As the volcanic eruption slowed and stopped, the lava drained out of the tubes, leaving a series of long, hollow tunnels. These tubes have withstood the test of time and are currently preserved to retain the history of being formed over 190,000 years ago.
Leaving the Undara Lava Tubes behind, it is time for some lunch at Fettler’s Iron Pot Bistro, which takes pride in place in a former railway carriage. The menu at Fettler’s is as retro as the furnishings, serving up corned beef, Georgetown sausages and homemade desserts, including their crowd-pleasing chocolate volcano. After a relaxing lunch, we then venture around Undara National Park. Our first stop will be at the Kalkani Crater, which follows the line of the volcano and circuits the crater rim. The views are mesmerising – to take in the Undara lava plains and other volcanic vents that point to a time when this was an active eruption zone.
Finally, as our Undara tour concludes, we head back towards Cairns via the Gillies Range. While the sunsets over the Gulf Savannah Country, on our way back, we take in the breathtaking sites of the Australian Outback. Reminiscing on the fantastic Undara tour we have just experienced before returning to your accommodation.
Meals: Lunch, at Fettler’s Iron Pot Bistro. Morning Tea, at Undara.
SUITS
Interests:
Skill Level:
Accessibility:
Share:

Feel it, do not read it!




Our guide tried hard and got a second star, she was very enthusiastic and helpful and good at making spiders and crickets sound interesting.
Three young kids under 10 from one family didn’t make the experience any better the youngest got very tired about 1/2 way through.
If you like looking at spiders and crickets and the odd bit of glowing fungi then this is the trip for you.
Did manage to glimpse the eyes of a small croc near the end but all in all a very disappointing noisy boardwalk night walk.
Not worth the $110 per couple





















Jan & Mike

Although we didn’t see many larger animals, we were very intrigued by all the smaller insects and fungi! Definitely recommend this tour, would love to do it again after some rain.




Despite the fact the area had only recently opened up to the public after Cyclone Jasper devastated the area, the group got to see a whole host of fungi, plants, insects, and even mammals. Each that we saw was met with engaging facts and exploration of the symbiosis of the rainforest.
A well crafted story from start to finish. Thoroughly recommend! (Bring a better than a phone camera if you want to photograph the coolest stuff)




We ran across them while looking for a tour through the Daintree Rainforest, but we also wanted a tour up through the middle of the country and were unable to find any offerings. So, after booking a 3-day Daintree tour, we asked if they had any suggestions for the outback tour we wanted. Instead of a recommendation, they created a custom tour for us.
Both of these tours greatly exceeded our expectations.
Had we done our own outback tour, we’d have missed the wine country north of Adelaide, the incredible Brachina Gorge with it’s hundreds of millions of years of geologic history, a tour of the opal mines of Coober Pedy, the iconic Uluru and it’s nearby (and arguably better) Kata Tjuṯa, and the awesome Kings Canyon.
Similarly, I doubt most Daintree tours would have exposed us to its unexpected treasures, from its intertwined symbiotic plant/animal relationships and ecologic ties to the adjacent Great Barrier Reef, to quiet forest trails, beaches, and waterholes. And the night tour’s spiders, opossums, walking sticks, sporing fungi and bioluminescent flora were out of this world!
By the time we were done, our heads crammed with experiences and information we never expected, the owner and staff, especially Mark, Kane, and Jackie, felt more like friends than tour guides.







Driving on Bloomfield track was a great experience and arriving at Cooktown you feel reaching almost the tip of Australia!
Thank you for the experience!
Highly recommend !


My expectations from tour may have been wrong to start with? I had hoped to learn more about the forest rather than just take a walk.
I wouldn't have gone into the forest at night without a guide so that was useful as interesting to see it at night and saw some things I wouldn't have seen otherwise. However, I was expecting to be able to talk to the guide and learn information.
Met at reception, disorganised as late start and more people than she was expecting. Had to fill in electronic waiver but I never even saw it as had no internet access and you had to use your own phone.
In terms of knowing who was with us there was a count at the beginning of the evening and a count at the end of the evening on return, she had no idea whether people were missing during the tour and the group got quite separated at times.
At times I felt unsafe due to the strange behaviour of one individual on the tour and also due to the fact we were so far behind and couldn't hear anything that we had no idea what was dangerous and what wasn't.
I had really looked forward to learning and understanding our environment but that didn't happen. I'm reasonably adventurous but completely new to the rainforest environment and therefore cautious which is why I'd booked the tour.
The initial walking pace was to fast for some, I suspect a nervousness from the guide (who seemed more comfortable with insects than people) and just too many people in the group. We couldn't hear what she was saying on the walk as the footsteps drowned out her voice she talked as she walked and she faced forward at the front of the group. The photo is the closest we got to the guide during the evening.
When the tour started I was aware we had no idea what was going on as we couldn't hear at the back and after hearing something about scorpions I felt the need to speak up and explain the difficulties we were having ( no point in complaining later if you don't speak up at time). I asked if it were possible for her to point things out to the front of the group, then go past but her stay with the point of interest until we'd all seen it and heard about it. She did this once or twice but that was it. Most of the time we knew the front of the group had stopped to see something then by the time we got to it we had to try and figure out what we were looking for. Didn't get to speak to the guide once throughout the tour.
I tried getting to the front of the group but just kept getting barged backwards which felt unsafe in the night forest. Eventually the back group of about 6 of us just followed everyone for the walk.
Things were made harder as the torches weren't great, mine was particularly poor and my partner kindly swapped. The guides torch was significantly better but no use to the back party of the group as she'd moved the torch by the time we got there.
Guide clearly had a passion for the subject. I'm not sure if she was out of her depth with the numbers or just generally people.
Tour could be improved by either smaller group, max 10, a second guide at the back of the group or better group management making sure the whole group was gathered and stationary before talking and then ensuring everyone had a chance to see.
Disappointed in tour but interesting to have a walk at night. Lots to see if you know what you're looking for.




This tour is suitable for all ages and all fitness levels.

We were quite exhausted after a great day with Kel, but we still managed to enjoy and learn from Kane. Be aware though - 1.5 hours easily turns into 2.5 hours with so much to see! Thanks Kane!
Thanks to Kel too for a FUNtastic 2 day tour to Cooktown! :)



Shania took care of our transfer from Cairns to the Daintree Lodge. Immediately she made us feel at ease and welcome, taking time to explain the history and the importance of the Daintree National Park. The two hours ride felt like we were visiting with a good friend.
Kane took care of our night walk and the full day 4WD tour to Cooktown and Daintree tour. Kane’s knowledge and passion for the Daintree all encompassing life is amazing. During the night walk he showed us plants and animals to our amazement and the delight of the children present in our group. During the 4WD day tour we were treated to beautiful sights complemented with history, interesting facts and stories.




The view was amazing, the rainforests are a basis for knowledge in botany and geology fields the compeny gave us a very interesting day.



The depth of knowledge of the guide was appalling.
We spent our time largely on the main boardwalk (which we had already walked on that day) looking at plants in the dark which we could see much better in daylight. In terms of wildlife we saw ants, a praying mantis type insect and some very small scorpions that live in the mortar joints of a stone seat on the path. The group was too large to hear easily, the torches were not overly bright and overall it was a real disappointment. I understand that you can not be guaranteed to see wildlife but you would expect a guide to be very knowledgeable about what he is showing you on a set walk that he is familiar with. Just not good enough.


This company is pretty switched onto what you would like to experience.
Nate was very knowledgeable right throughout the tour and his insight to the changing environment was very helpful to being able to understand the history and importance of the area.
There are many places of interest to explore and experience.
As a package deal of all inclusive tours,accommodation,meals,we could not find any issues of what was advertised and delivered.
Kudos to Far North Escapes for making our unknown adventure into a extremely memorable experience.
We would not hesitate to book another trip/tour or adventure with Far North Escapes.
Again,A huge thank you to Nate as he really made our trip a truly memorable experience.

From the forests of the Atherton Tablelands and Daintree, through the dusty roads of PDR to the Tip of the continent and beyond; by land, by sea, and by air .Our outstanding guides have stopped at nothing to ensure that we have an adventure of a life time!
Thank you Andrea and Malia for showing us stunning sights, educating us on local knowledge, feeding us with delicious local gourmet food, driving us safely, and for the always pleasant & captivating conversation. We really appreciate your kindness, professionalism, and commitment to our every need. This trip wouldn't have been the same without your guidance.
Thank you also to our wonderful group of fellow travellers for making this journey a very enjoyable and pleasant one. I am so glad that our paths crossed with each and every one of you!!




Our excellent guide took us to some amazing sites and talked with confidence about everything we saw giving some fascinating details on the animals, plants and cultures, he talked the whole way whilst driving us off road on the bumpy bloomfield track through creeks and stopping at various locations up to Wujal Wujal. There we met a member of the Jalunji peoples who took us to the falls explaining a lot about her culture, then we sat with an older member of their mob and talked about her experiences and their persecution whilst looking through historic pictures. Even though there was so much to see we never felt rushed and were allowed to take our time.

It was la day out with a friend.. Thank you Nate .. The company itself was very nice and accommodative .. genuine people. High recommend .

Our guide duly noted that seeing anything was a lottery - but, sure enough, though it was a while before we spotted anything notable, we did see Huntsman spiders, two sleeping finches, tiny scorpions, moths, a Peppermint Stick Insect, tarantula, fireflies and more. The guide had good information about the forest, its trees, climbers and the fauna we encountered.
Where the experience failed however was in the number of participants - about 16 people. This meant that those at the back of the group (we were walking two-by-two along the boardwalk) missed several of the sightings and the accompanying information.
Before we started the guide was very insistent that we had to (electronically) sign an insurance waiver - even though he described the walk as 'easy' because it was along the paved boardwalk. That part certainly was easy, but the final 400 metres along a very rocky stream bed was really quite dodgy, bearing in mind the darkness. I even had to help an elderly couple up the very steep approx. 1 metre climb on to the road. The guide probably had no idea anyone needed assistance. He was a couple of hundred metres ahead of us by this stage.
I have conducted tours for 15 years all around the world and know that you have to attend to the whole group, all of the time in order to provide a satisfying and professional experience. There were far too many in this group for the guide to appropriately manage and perhaps because of that, a good percentage of the group were neglected.











We walked for a short time on the boardwalk (which we had walked earlier in the day) which anyone could do themselves. Hard to hear guide as a large group. Torches weren’t great. Saw some stick insects, spiders and frogs. Wasn’t great unfortunately and not worth the money for a family.
