Chillagoe Outback Tour - Cairns

REMARKABLE OUTBACK JOURNEY 4WD ADVENTURE CROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE CHILLAGOE COPPER SMELTER MAREEBA WETLANDS VIEW LIMESTONE CAVES GUIDED CRUISE HISTORIC REMAINS LIMESTONE CAVES EMUS IN THE OUTBACK

Chillagoe Caves - The only Outback tour in a day!

Tour Includes:

• Naturalist Guide
• Return hotel transfers
• Air-conditioned 4WD Vehicles
• Mareeba Wetlands with guided cruise
• Morning Tea
• Delicious Aussie Pub lunch
• Tour of Chillagoe Cave
• Chillagoe Smelters
• Mt Uncle Distillery
• The Ultimate day in the Outback!

Departs Cairns: Mon, Wed & Fri at 7:00am, returning at approx 6:30pm

Your accredited naturalist guide will meet you at your accommodation and after introductions all round, the tour will ascend the McAllister Ranges and head west through dirt tracks via the little town of Biboorha, looking for many different species of bush birds, including Emus, Wedge Tail Eagles, Squatter Pigeons and Kangaroos, Frilled Neck Lizards, before reaching our first stop.

First stop is Mareeba Wetlands for morning tea and a twenty minute cruise in an environmentally friendly and quiet electric boat. Birdlife is plentiful on the wetlands. From here journey through the back blocks of the wetland viewing wallabies, emus and other wildlife and then along the agricultural paddocks of this fertile area, eventually crossing over the Great Divide and into the Western watershed.
(This may change to Granite Gorge in the wet season when the wetlands are closed due to flooding)

Travel through historical towns and rolling hills rich in mineral eventually giving way to towering limestone karsts scattered around Chillagoe. Here you will delve into the history of the copper smelters, whose old chimneys dominate the western horizon. Visit the remains of the once mighty smelters to ponder what it was like working there….

Following this it’s time for a wonderful lunch at a true Australian Outback Pub built back at the turn of the century before setting off to have a look at this historical town on route to National Parks cave tour.

The fossilized remains of the ancient coral reefs with hidden limestone labyrinths give a portal to a lost world just like our own Great Barrier Reef.  Millions of years in the making, the limestone formations are nothing short of spectacular.

After the cave tour head back towards the east coast, stopping at Mt Uncle Distillery, this is the only Distillery North of Bundaberg.  Here you have the choice of  a wonderful devonshire tea or a cold beer or wine in Bridges Cafe (own cost) this beautiful rustic Cafe is made of recyclable timber from the old Walsh River Bridge which was built back at the turn of the century, or you may wish to indulge in  the liqueur or spirit tasting of some of there international award winning Spirits and Liqueurs (own cost). Mt Uncle Distillery is also nestled at the foot Hill of Mt Uncle hence where the name came from, which was named after the Uncle of one of  the early explorers of the Atherton Tablelands John Atherton.  This lovely property is also rich Agriculture area and they grow Lady Finger Banana's, Avocados, Macadamia Nuts.  

Billy Tea Bush Safaris is a family owned company established in 1981. This Eco Accredited personalised tour provides custom built vehicles for passenger comfort which are able to withstand the rough terrain. Billy Tea prides itself on its informative tours and the highly experienced and knowledgable guides constantly undergo in-house training to provide accurate, informative, relevant and current information.

*Itineraries may be changed or run in reverse at the discretion of Billy Tea Safaris.