Suggested Tours
ROUTE A
THE WHEELBARROW WAY
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
3/4 Nights 4/5 Days
The Wheelbarrow Way encompasses some of the richest and most important
history of our national heritage. It is the saga of true-blue Australiana.
It is also a drive through an ancient landscape, with spectacular
formations and beautiful caves
Day 1
Depart from Cairns/Port Douglas. Drive via Mareeba and Dimbulah
to Mt. Mulligan and Tyrconnell Historic Gold Mine
Attractions: Near Dimbulah: Impressive
Mt. Mulligan with its significant geology and tragic history:
Historic Gold Mine: Gold Panning:
A guided walk at dusk through a Pioneer Cemetery. Overnight in a
luxury cottage. Camping facilities available.
Day 2
Continue along Wheelbarrow Way to Petford. Drop in at the old store,
and meet Living Legend authoress, Doreen McGrath.
Continue on route to Chillagoe
Attractions:World famous caves: historic smelter site: marble quarries:
Aboriginal culture: Time-line at The Hub.
Overnight accommodation or camping.
Day 3
Return to Petford. Turn right to Emuford. Inspect one of the oldest
mining batteries in Australia, restored vintage vehicles and horse
drawn carriages. From Emuford the road meanders up to the quaint
village of Irvinebank, set in rugged mountainous terrain. It was
from here that Scottish entrepreneur - John Moffat - ruled over
his vast outback empire.
Attractions:
Loudoun House Museum, the 115Year old home of John Moffat:
Heritage Walk: Vulcan Mine: Scenic drive to Lookout at Mt Misery.
Overnight and dine at the Irvinebank Tavern.
Free camping available.
Day 4
Route continues to historic Herberton.
Experience a Day Walk and picnic in the Herberton hills, with Wilderness
Expeditions.
Also, talk to the Visitor's Centre about other Heritage Walks and
attractions. Overnight,
or circuit through the green tableland, before descending into Mareeba
and the brown country. A side trip to the Hau Wang Temple in Atherton,
is recommended. Bird watchers, check separate listing.
ROUTE B
THE SAVANNA WAY
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
5 nights 6 days
The Prehistoric Way features geological wonders from the 2000 million
year old part of the ancient Australian continent, down to the relative
recent time of only 10,000 years ago. The evidence is all there
to explore!
Fossils from an early coral reef, when life was beginning to flourish
in the oceans, long before it moved on to the land; limestone bluffs,
the remnants of that early coral reef; spectacular caves, probably
home to the largest number of cave dwellers in the world, and suggested
home to many more yet to be discovered. Marine fossils from the
age of the great dinosaurs, and the giant marsupials from the era
Australia became an island continent. Lave Tubes. Hot Springs. Volcanic
Craters and Crater Lakes.
DAY 1
Visit 190,000 year old Undara Lava Tubes, the longest system in
the world. Follow signage along Ootan Road to link with the Wheelbarrow
Way, just outside of Almaden. Stop in at the Railway Hotel for a
cold drink, a home-made pie and a chat. Continue along Wheelbarrow
Way to Chillagoe, which boasts that its history goes back over 2000
million years. Overnight.
DAY 2
Suggested Tours: World famous caves: Aboriginal Culture: Fossils
from 3 geological ages: old cemeteries: geological attractions:
Museum: Time-line at The Hub:
Old Smelter Reserve. overnight.
DAY 3
Depart for Mareeba via Petford and Dimbulah. Optional side
trip at Petford, to Emuford Battery. At Dimbulah, follow signage
to Tyrconnell Gold Mine. View the stunning escarpment of Mt Mulligan
and experience gold panning, mine tour and cemetery walk at dusk.
Overnight.
DAY 4
Rejoin Wheelbarrow Way and follow route to Mareeba.
Optional side trip to: Xanthin Australian Trees, the Coffee Works,
Mareeba Heritage Centre, Beck's Museum, Mareeba Tropical Savanna
and Wetlands Reserve.
Overnight. Suggest farm stay or at Jabiru Camp at the Mareeba Tropical
Savanna and Wetlands Reserve.
DAY 5
Depart for the green Tablelands. Visit Atherton Tableland Information
Centre. Self drive the volcano route - Mt Hypipamee National Park,
Crater Lakes, Seven Sisters etc
Overnight. Exit on desired route.
ROUTE C BIRDWATCHER'S TOUR (1)
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
6 NIGHTS 7 DAYS
Day 1
Start from Cairns. Drive to Yungaburra, stopping off at Cathedral
Fig Tree and Lake Barrine. Overnight Yungaburra.
Day 2
Visit Lake Eacham, Curtain Fig, Lake Tinaroo and other features.
Leave Yungaburra for Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetlands Reserve,
stopping off en route at Hastie's Swamp, Atherton. Overnight at
Jabiru Camp in the Mareeba Wetlands.
Day 3
Leave Mareeba for Kingfisher Park, Julatten, stopping off at Big
Mitchell Creek, Lake Mitchell and Mt Molloy.
Overnight Kingfisher Park.
Day 4
From Kingfisher Park drive early morning to Mt. Lewis. Afternoon,
visit Mary Farms and Mt Carbine. Overnight Mt Carbine Village &
Caravan Park.Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetlands Reserve etc
Day 5
Depart for Port Douglas via the Rainforest Habitat to Breakfast
with the Birds, then to Cairns. Visit Botanical Gardens and Centenary
Lakes, with possible visit to Cairns Crocodile Farm.
Day 6
From Cairns, take a boat trip to Michaelmas Cay. Overnight Cairns.
ROUTE D BIRDWATCHER'S TOUR (2)
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
6 NIGHTS 7 DAYS
Day 1
Visit Cairns Esplanade, Cairns Botanical Gardens, Centennary Lakes,
Pioneer Cemetery. Travel to Daintree Township from Cairns. Overnight
stay at Red Mill House
Day 2
From Red Mill House, go out on Chris Dahlberg's Specialized 6:30am
early morning River Tour. Travel to Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers
Lodge in Julatten. Birds around grounds and surrounding areas.
Day 3
From Kingfisher Park visit Mt. Lewis in the morning., then after
lunch, Mt. Molloy and Mt Carbine for the Bustards and dry land species.
Overnight Kingfisher Park.
Day 4
From Kingfisher Lodge, travel to Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland
Reserve, stopping at Lake Mitchell, Big Mitchell Creek, , stopping
at Lake Mitchell, Big Mitchell Creek.
Overnight at Jabiru Camp in the Mareeba Wetlands.
Day 6
Visit Hastie's Swamp, Atherton, then on to Yungaburra, Lake Barrine,
Lake Eacham, Curtain Fig Tree, and Lake Tinaroo. Overnight stay
at Yungaburra.
Day 7
Return to Cairns.
Please note, every effort has been made to ensure all information
was correct at time of publications.
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On the 3rd September 1873 at Georgetown, North Queensland, a hand
written notice was nailed to the bark wall of the Mining Warden's
office.
"J V Mulligan reports the discovery of payable gold on
the Palmer River. Those interested may inspect at this office the
IO2oz he has brought back. "
The rush was on, and the pastoralists followed. The development
of Far North Queensland had begun.
Men from countries around the world toiled in an incredibly hot,
hostile environment. Their mode of transport was basic. When work
became scarce, or it was time to move on, they walked. Irvinebank
to Chillagoe, Chillagoe to the Hodgkinson gold fields, or over the
wild ranges to Mt Molloy.
"Dad pushed a wheelbarrow in which were stacked all their
belongings. A few pieces of iron, which would be used as shelter;
maybe some hessian. A spade, a lantern, a few kitchen things and
very little else. Mum and the children walked behind. Mum, usually
with a babe in arms. "
(Quote from old-timer Mr. Peel)
It is as a tribute to these pioneers, who trudged the dusty tracks,
that this route has been named The Wheelbarrow Way. With little
more than determination, they carved out a future and opened up
the vast uncharted territory, just back o' Cairns ……….the
Cairns Outback
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