SAVANNAHLANDER PACKAGES CAIRNS - FORSAYTH - CAIRNS

Options that cater to every need

Travel on the Savannahlander provides a range of options catering for those
who want to experience the varied attractions of the Queensland outback
and the Gulf Savannah, or for those who simply want to ride the train.
You can even get a few mates together and experience the
hospitality of the local pubs in the area.
The prices of the following packages can be found on
our website or by phoning the booking number 1800 793 848

Outback Odyssey Etheridge Rambler

This package features the highest level of accommodation
and all the tours. Tours include Chillagoe Caves and town
tour, a morning Cobbold Gorge boat cruise and a two hour
Lava Tube tour. Dinner and breakfast at overnight
accommodation is included. This package is subject to
availability of accommodation. Book early, although
alternatives can usually be arranged.
Savannah Explorer
This package offers all the tours, but staying in ensuite
accommodation in Forsayth and Mt Surprise rather than out
at the tour sites. Includes transfers, tour of Chillagoe Caves
and Town, Cobbold Gorge and Undara, dinner and
breakfast at overnight accommodation.
Savannah Rail Runner
This one is for those more interested in the train trip
than the tours, but who still demand a high standard of
accommodation. Included is dinner and breakfast at
overnight accommodation.
Join the train at Mt. Surprise on Thursday afternoon and
travel to Forsayth by train before heading over to Cobbold
Gorge for an overnight stay. This is ideal for self drive
passengers who want to start their trip from the “bush” or SAVANNAHLANDER SCHEDULE
caravanners who don’t want to leave the black top. This is
arguably the most rugged and scenic part the track.
Day 1, Wednesday – Cairns to Almaden: Day 3, Friday – Forsayth to Mt. Surprise:
Departs Cairns 0630 Departs Forsayth 0830
Surprise Getaway Arrives Almaden 1315 Einasleigh 1115 – 1200
Join the Savannahlander in Cairns for the Wednesday Overnight at Almaden or Chillagoe Arrives Mt. Surprise 1415
departure and stay overnight in Almaden. Overnight stay at Mt. Surprise or Undara Lava Tubes
On Thursday re-join the train for the run to Mt Surprise, Day 2, Thursday – Almaden to Forsayth:
arriving in time for lunch. After lunch return to Cairns by Departs Almaden 0800 Day 4, Saturday – Mt. Surprise to Cairns:
Coach. Mt. Surprise 1130 – 1215 Departs Mt. Surprise 0815
Einasleigh 1400 – 1445 Almaden 1145 – 1210
Arrives Forsayth 1745 Arrives Cairns 1830
Barron River Rover Overnight stay Forsayth or Cobbold Gorge
Join the Savannahlander in Cairns for a trip up the
beautiful Kuranda Range, then continuing along the banks The Savannahlander service operates between March and December. The above times are correct at time of going to press
of the Barron River to Mareeba. In Mareeba there’s a short but should be used as a guide only. Check out our website or call to find out about new or changed options.
wait for the bus which will get you back to Cairns at
11.15am, or get off at Kuranda and return by Skyrail.

The Savannahlander is funded by the Queensland Government and proudly operated by Cairns Kuranda Steam.
For bookings and more information contact the Savannahlander booking office:
Pub Crawl Other Short Options

1800 793 848

Enjoy the hospitality of the outback pubs on this trip. Meals
are not included but pub counter meals are available at all
venues. You stay at the Railway Hotel at Almaden,
Goldfields hotel in Forsayth and the Mt Surprise Hotel.
Half day trips and tours on the Savannahlander are
operated by some local tourist parks. You can do Einasleigh
to Forsayth with the Forsayth Tourist Park (07 4062 5324)
on Thursday or Forsayth to Einasleigh on Fridays. P.O. Box 718 Edge Hill
These all originate and end in Forsayth with bus transfer Queensland Australia 4870
where necessary. The Bedrock Village Van Park (07 4062
Ph: (07) 4053 6848 Fax: (07) 4053 6818
3193) does Mt Surprise to Einasleigh tours on Thursdays
with a bus transfer back to Mt Surprise. Email: info@savannahlander.com.au Web: www.savannahlander.com.au
All information is correct at the time of printing and subject to change without notice.
Brochure valid until superseded by eighth edition.

T H E O U T B A C K R A I L E X P E R I E N C E

Seventh Edition
 INTRODUCTION JOURNEY STOPS

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Bus Mareeb
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Chillag
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Dim
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Mount
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Forsayth
Cobbold Undara
Gorge Lava Tu
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The Outback Rail Experience Great sights... ...great times

The Savannahlander Once a week, the 1960s railmotors head out from Kuranda Einasleigh
Cairns on their four day, 850km return trip to Forsayth. The 34km rail journey through north Queensland’s heritage listed rainforest encapsulates one of Einasleigh was once a copper mining town. It is set amongst the flat top hills (or mesas) that rise
For much of the journey, the Savannahlander has the the most incredible rail engineering feats of the 19th century. The historic railway was opened in up out of the grasslands. The journey between Einasleigh and Forsayth through the Newcastle
is a unique way to see railway line to itself and this allows passengers to
1891 and climbs through man-made tunnels, across bridged ravines, past the spectacular Barron
Gorge on it’s way to Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest.
Range is a photographer’s dream, with spectacular vistas. On the Copperfield River and
Copperfield Gorge with sheer walls dropping into the sandy river bottom. The river has cut
experience a type of train travel that most won’t have
the Atherton Tablelands come across before.
though a lava fissure giving the visitors another aspect of the lava flow.

and beyond to the Want the driver to stop so you can take a photo? Just ask!
Need to stop and take a closer look at the termite
mound? No worries! Want to sneak up on a mob of
Gulf Savannah. wallabies? Too easy! Want to drive? No, sorry but you can
have a seat up front next to the driver!
The mood is relaxed and you can do as much or as little
as you want. The Savannahlander stops overnight in
three different outback towns, each offering the traveller
something different.
Where to stay overnight? There are many options
from the cheap (bring your own tent and stay at the
caravan park) to the not so cheap (en-suite rooms with
meals included).
There are side trips to be done too, many of which are
included in our standard packages. You can take a tour
of the famous Chillagoe Caves, take a lava tube tour at
Undara or see the spectacular Cobbold Gorge.
The choice is yours.
Mareeba Forsayth & Cobbold Gorge
Originally called “Granite Creek”, Mareeba was a bustling railway centre servicing ore trains of Lies at the end of the old Etheridge Railway line, which was originally built to transport gold ore
the Chillagoe Railway. Today, Mareeba’s progressive shire is home to Tinaroo Falls Dam, with a from the Etheridge Goldfield. Gold nuggets can still be found by amateur prospectors using
surface area two thirds that of Sydney Harbor. Nature-lovers can discover Emerald Creek Falls, metal detectors. Visitors can cruise the narrow channel waters of Cobbold Gorge, carved over
Davis Creek, Granite gorge and Mareeba Wetlands. eons of erosion.
Almaden & Chillagoe
Almaden was the junction of the Etheridge Branch (to Forsayth) and the now closed Chillagoe
line. This is real cattle country and the town is located right in the middle of an operating cattle
station. A coach transfer operates to the historic mining village of Chillagoe where ruins of the
century old smelters still dominate the skyline. In the early 1900’s this region operated the largest
SAVANNAHLANDER & GULFLANDER
private rail network in Australia, servicing the surrounding mines and smelters. Other attractions
include the spectacular Chillagoe Limestone Caves, the Balancing Rock Formation and
Aboriginal rock-art sites.
Extend your Outback Rail Experience...
Mt Surprise & Undara Lava Tubes Want to travel on the Savannahlander and Gulflander in the same week?
A centre for gem fossicking including; topaz, quartz, garnet, caringorn and aquamarine. Ask us about our packages that combine these two great journeys.
Mt. Surprise is on the edge of the immense Undara lava field caused by volcanic eruption in
the McBride Plateau. Undara crater erupted 190 000 years ago, sending a molten lava flow that
travelled over 160 km and soon covered an area of 1550 square kilometres. As the exterior lava
hardened it formed tunnels through which molten lava continued to flow, creating Undara's
black basalt tubes.