9 Day Small Group Gulf Savannah and Historic Rail Tour

Overview

Tour Pricing

All prices are per person in AUD.

Tour Inclusions

• Highlights
  • Historic Gulflander rail journey from Normanton to Croydon
  • Savannahlander rail journey
  • Atherton Tablelands, Malanda and Ravenshoe
  • Herberton Historic Village
  • Millstream Falls
  • Georgetown, Cumberland Chimney and Croydon’s goldfields
  • heritage
  • Lake Belmore
  • Normanton’s historic landmarks and railway heritage
  • Burke and Wills Camp 119
  • Mutton Hole Wetlands and Gulf birdlife
  • Karumba sunsets over the Gulf of Carpentaria
  • Karumba sunset cruise and a visit to the Animal Bar
  • Guided soak at Talaroo Hot Springs on Ewamian Country
  • 2 nights glamping in permanent Eco Tents at Talaroo Hot
  • Springs
  • Einasleigh’s outback pub and Copperfield Gorge
  • Undara Lava Tubes
  • Almaden Railway Hotel and Dimbulah
• Inclusions
  • Gulflander rail journey from Normanton to Croydon
  • Savannahlander rail travel on Days 8 and 9
  • Nine-day touring itinerary, starting and finishing in Cairns
  • Road transport and transfers as outlined in the itinerary
  • Eight nights’ accommodation: six nights in motel-style rooms and a cabin, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and two nights glamping in permanent Eco Tents at Talaroo Hot Springs with shared facilities
  • Eight breakfasts, nine lunches and eight dinners
  • Herberton Historic Village visit
  • Guided Talaroo Hot Springs experience including a swim in a private soak pool
  • Heritage sightseeing through Georgetown, Croydon and Normanton
  • Burke and Wills Camp 119 and Mutton Hole Wetlands visits
  • Karumba sunset cruise
  • Undara Lava Tubes experience
  • Road transfer from Mareeba to Cairns on the final day

   

  • Not Included / Optional Extras
  • Barramundi Discovery Centre experience in Karumba on Day 5 (optional extra, $37 per person)
  • Afternoon tea at Dimbulah on Day 9 (own expense, cash only, contributing to the local community)
  • Souvenirs, personal purchases and any food or drinks outside the listed inclusions

Additional Information

• Additional Information

  WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • Experienced and passionate guides with local knowledge and experience
  • Modern, comfortable, air conditioned 4WD vehicles
  • Cold water supplied
  • Food as coded on itineraries
  • Where our schedule permits – morning / afternoon tea
  • Overnight stops in motel suites
  • All National Park, site & ferry fees / accommodation costs

  Small, luxury tours to exclusive breathtaking locations, carrying a maximum of six (6) people per trip. Guides are passionate and very experienced, utilizing their bush skills and wealth of local knowledge to ensure your trip runs smoothly. As well as being fun and informative, learn about the wonders of the Indigenous culture, flora and fauna, botany, geology and history of our totally amazing continent.

  FOOD On our tours we provide you with all meals as coded in the itinerary. There is always plenty of food at mealtimes and we try to cater to individual tastes where we can, by asking you questions on our booking form about food. Continental breakfast daily consists of fruit juice, cereals, tea & coffee, toast and jams. Lunch and dinner will also be provided as indicated per itinerary. Storage for cold drinks and food is provided when travelling.

  HOW YOU WILL TRAVEL Small, Late Model, 4WD vehicles with some special modifications; all vehicles have comfortable, forward facing seats and are fully Air Conditioned.

  SMOKING As per Government Regulations, smoking is not permitted in vehicles. Ample stops provide time for “smoking breaks” en route.

  TRANSFER OF TOUR DATES Should you wish to transfer to another of tour date, a handling fee of $150 may be charged. No cancellation fee will apply unless the tour is changed inside the full payment period; inside this period, changing dates is the same as cancelling your tour and the cancellation fee will be imposed.

  UNUSED TOUR SECTORS If a passenger fails to join a tour as booked or joins in after the tour has departed, or departs prior to the completion of the tour, no refund will be made for any portion of the tour including food, excursions, accommodation, etc., that are not used or undertaken.

  INSURANCE Tour Operators and/or its agents are not responsible or liable for loss, damage or theft of luggage or personal belongings whatsoever, nor for personal injury, accidents, hospitalization, illness or medical expenses. In our experience, most claims arise from personal or close-family illness before holiday departure, resulting in cancellation charges. We strongly recommend all intending passengers consult their travel or insurance agent and take out adequate travel insurance to cover events that may effect your ability to travel (including, but not limited to, health, baggage, loss of monies through cancellation, additional expenses incurred through illness or personal liability prior to travel and early return, for example, following the death of a relative). Recieve a free no obligation quote online or talk to our staff.

  CLIMATE Winter in the tropical north is the dry season and temperatures will be mild with low humidity. Through the months of September and October, the temperatures become increasingly warmer.

  FITNESS Tours have been designed to suit a reasonable level of fitness; the ability to be able to do some walking along nature trails and cope with remoteness is essential. People suffering from lack of tolerance or not of general good health should consult their GP before taking part on these tours. Please Note: Passengers accept that it is their responsibility to ensure that their health is in a state which will allow them to enjoy the tour and successfully complete the activities that the tour offers. If you are unsure, we highly recommend seeking advice from your GP

  LIABILITY The operator and its employees accept no responsibility for any booking, contract, travel, accommodation or group tours which result in any loss, damage, accident, diversion, or theft in regard to luggage or personal belongings, and will be exempt from all liability in respect of direct or indirect consequential loss or damage, death, injury, sickness, irregularity, delay liability, and additional expenses, or inconvenience or any other event beyond its control including accident, failure of machinery or equipment, accommodation, transport, or other services.

  AIRLINE INDEMNITY (where applicable) Airline involvement in these tours is as air carrier only. Airlines carry no responsibility for statements in tour itinerary relating to ground content of these tours and the operator indemnifies them against any claim, action, loss, or damage arising there from.

  CLOTHING AND WHAT TO BRING Clothing and footwear should be casual, comfortable and suited to tropical conditions.

  • Clothing – shorts, trousers, shirts, swimwear, hat, sunglasses, a jacket and a change of warm clothes in case of inclement weather are advisable.
  • Footwear – some form of fast-drying wet-shoe would prove useful. Personal – sun protection, insect repellent, medications, toiletries, (overseas travellers should bring a suitable adapter).
  • Don’t forget to bring your video or camera along with plenty of film & spare batteries (recharge facilities are available).
  • Money and/or credit card for personal expenses such as drinks, souvenirs and optional extras.

  LUGGAGE Each passenger is entitled to take one bag (soft sided), 80cm x 30cm x 30cm. (No more than 10kgs as space is very limited) and no suitcases. You may also have a small day bag or pack weighing no more than 4kg, however most guests tend to carry a bottle of water and their cameras only. Baggage over the prescribed limit cannot be carried without prior arrangement.

  LUGGAGE CHECKLIST:

  • 1 x soft bag per person, as described above
  • Photo ID
  • Clothing 3 to 4 changes (t-shirts and shorts)
  • Light jacket & long pants
  • 1 x pair of sandals
  • 1 pair of light walking shoes
  • 1 x pair of bathers
  • 1 x beach towel
  • Toiletries
  • Hat, sunglasses
  • Torch
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunblock
  • Camera
  • Small personal water bottle
  • Small daypack

  Booking Terms and Conditions

  Be aware that some confirmed bookings are not refundable if cancelled, and also may not be transferable to another date or otherwise changed. Alternatively, a change may only be permissible subject to payment of an additional fee or charge. Your entitlement to a refund for cancelled bookings is subject to the relevant Supplier’s terms and conditions. Please note that if we are entitled to a service fee for placing a booking, we will remain entitled to this fee if you cancel the booking or the Supplier fails to provide you with the Product for any reason (other than our default), including in an event of Force Majeure. We will be entitled to deduct our service fee from any refund we receive on your behalf before remitting the balance to you. Suppliers’ fees are outlined in their relevant terms and conditions.

  Please review the full Terms and Conditions and Schedule of Fees prior to making a booking.

  Supplier Terms and Conditions Cancellation Summary:

  • Bookings cancelled more than 61 days prior to departure will incur a fee of $600 whichever is greater.
  • Bookings cancelled between 60 and 46 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 25% of the tour total.
  • Bookings cancelled between 45 and 31 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 50% of the tour total.
  • Bookings cancelled 30 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 100% of the tour total.

  Seasonal weather conditions and operational requirements may cause a variation in the tour itinerary. The operator reserves the right to substitute or modify if required. Please read our terms and conditions carefully. Departure and Return times are approximate. We endeavour to room guests with ensuite facilities where available. Once full we use shared facilities. Please note this tour is not suitable for infants or children under 4.

  We strongly recommend all intending passengers take out adequate travel insurance to cover events that may effect your ability to travel (including, but not limited to, health, baggage, loss of monies through cancellation, additional expenses incurred through illness or personal liability prior to travel and early return, for example, following the death of a relative).

  Caravan Park Accommodation – Cairns
  There are three Caravan Parks to choose from with limited storage options available at one of these properties. The Caravan Parks usually request a minimum stay of at least 4 nights pre/post tour to store your caravan/car/campervan/motorhome. Storage prices are anywhere from $20-$30 per night. These Caravan Parks are located all around the Cairns region and if applicable to your chosen tour itinerary your 4WD safari vehicle will either pick up or drop off at your chosen Caravan Park. We will provide you with these Caravan Park options once your selected tour booking has been confirmed. Should passengers choose to stay elsewhere, we can advise you which pick-up point is the closest to your chosen accommodation.

  Motel Accommodation – Cairns
  We work with a local motel located in the Cairns CBD that offers quality, clean, and a range of good value room styles (see below). The room styles and inclusions can include free Wi-Fi, guest laundry, a swimming pool, and maybe luggage storage whilst you are on tour. Pick-up will be at the hotel or nearby. We’re happy to make the booking for you or we will give you the motel details, pick-up times, etc after you have booked your Gulf Savannah Tour. If your tour goes through to Darwin, we can also book accommodation in a similar price range that will be convenient for your trip.

  Travel Insurance
  As a valued customer we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase discounted travel insurance. It is HIGHLY recommended that passengers take out travel insurance or trip cancellation cover. As a valued customer we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to get a free no-obligation quote.

  Credit Card Payments
  Credit Card Customer Payment Link enter this link into your browser: pay.travelpay.com.au/AUSTC 

  If paying via the Customer Payment Link, please ensure you complete all fields and ensure you enter the correct Trip Reference Number, so we can identify your payment.

  Direct Deposit

  Direct Deposit payments take up to 3 business days to process. Please call your consultant to confirm bank details, and notify us when your payment has been made

  Westpac Bank: Australian Tours and Cruises
  Reference: Your Trip Number
  BSB: O37-015 Account: ### #18
  Branch Address: 33 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS 7050
  In Bank Payment of Cash Or Cheque: Add $5 for bank fees
  International Direct Deposit: Add $25 for bank fees
  SWIFT or BIC CODE: WPACAU2S

• Trip Reviews

  We just came back from the Cairns to Darwin – Savannah Way tour. This was the best trip ever. The constant change of landscapes and wildlife was amazing. Our guide Darryl is very knowledgeable on any subject and easily communicates at all levels. The flexibility and small groups in a friendly atmosphere make these tours unique and unforgettable. We are booking the next tour! Bozena