7 Day Jewels Of The Atherton Tablelands
Departs: Friday 4th July 2008
TOUR COST: from $1868 pp twin share
Leave the cold weather behind and come away on a holiday to tropical North Queensland. This fabulous tour takes us through the heart of Queensland, visiting Biloela, Moura, Clermont & the historic town of Charters Towers. Spend two nights in Atherton. Enjoy the sights of the beautiful Atherton Tableland with its glorious pristine crater lakes and waterfalls. Visit the Malanda Dairy Centre. Watch and experience the processing of milk and the making of delicious cheeses.
Take a walk through the Malanda Falls rainforest, one of the few areas of the World where it is possible to view tree-kangaroos in the wild. Experience the thrill of a rainforest tour in a WWII Army Duck at the Rainforestation Nature Park at Kuranda. After your Army Duck Tour, take time to meander through the Tropical Fruits Orchard, which features over 40 different species of exotic tropical fruit trees. Our tour ends in Cairns where you may wish to spend a few extra days exploring before making your way home (own arrangements) or you may choose to stay aboard and continue on to Cape York. So come join us and be captivated by the beautiful backdrop of rolling green hills, World-heritage listed rainforests and amazing waterfalls. An experience not to be forgotten!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY—BILOELA (D)
Friday 4th July: Depart Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre at 7:30am. Travel north on the Bruce Highway. After a lunch stop in the Heritage City of Maryborough head inland through the citrus growing areas of Gayndah and Mundubbera to Biloela, a thriving rural town in the Banana Shire which is in the Callide Valley south west of Gladstone. Stay Settlers Motor Inn.
DAY 2 BILOELA—CLERMONT (D)
Saturday 5th July: Today travel west to the coal mining town of Moura. Stop just outside Moura at Apex Park to view the 150th Meridian before a visit to the Moura Information Centre to inspect the mining museum. The Dawson Highway leads the way to Rolleston, Springsure and Emerald. Only a short run along the Gregory Highway to the oldest inland settlement in Central Queensland, Clermont. Stay Clermont Motor Inn.
DAY 3 CLERMONT—CHARTERS TOWERS (BD)
Sunday 6th July: Today the lonely Gregory Development Road guides us through large cattle stations to Charters Towers. The impressive buildings and architecture of Charters Towers stand testament to the wealth of the gold rush era. Enjoy a few hours of free time to have lunch and explore the town before a guided tour of Venus Gold Battery, which gives a fascinating insight into how gold was extracted from ore. The tour includes a hologram-and-film presentation projected onto a water screen. Tonight enjoy the Ghost After Dark Show on Tower Hill where the ghosts of the past have a starring role. Stay Cattleman’s Rest Motel.
DAY 4 CHARTERS TOWERS—ATHERTON (BLD)
Monday 7th July: Our journey continues north today through Greenvale, a town which was set up to mine nickel but now that mining has ceased, the town relies on tourists travelling through to support the local economy. From here we travel through Mt Garnet to the Atherton Tablelands. There is a noticeable change in the scenery, from the dry, sparsely timbered interior to the rainforests and lush grassed areas of the tablelands. 2 Night Stay Atherton Rainforest Motor Inn
DAY 5 ATHERTON SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Tuesday 8th July: Enjoy a relaxing day as we take in the sights of the beautiful Atherton Tablelands with its glorious pristine crater lakes and waterfalls. Visit the Malanda Dairy Centre. Watch and experience the processing of milk and the making of delicious cheeses. Take a walk of discovery through the Malanda Falls rainforest. Malanda Falls is one of the few areas of the World where it is possible to view tree-kangaroos in the wild. Travel the Millaa Millaa Waterfall Circuit, and visit Lake Tinaroo, Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine as well as the Curtain Fig Tree before returning to our motel for another delicious meal.
DAY 6 ATHERTON—CAIRNS (BD)
Wednesday 9th July: This morning visit the Mareeba Heritage Museum with its extensive aboriginal cultural display. There are also displays on mining, forestry, tobacco, agriculture and the Wet Tropics. Experience the thrill of a rainforest tour in a WW` Army Duck at the Rainforestation Nature Park at Kuranda. After your Army Duck Tour, take time to meander through the Tropical Fruits Orchard, which features over 40 species of tropical fruit trees. Continue on to Cairns for a night in tropical paradise. Stay Cairns Plaza Hotel
DAY 7 CAIRNS—HOME (B)
Thursday 10th July: This morning farewell your holiday friends who shared this wonderful holiday with you. Journey home by own arrangements**.
**PLEASE NOTE
This tour continues on and becomes the ‘21 day Great Cape York Experience Tour’. If you would like more information regarding this extended tour please phone our Free Call Line: 1800 072 535
NOTE: Tour price is for Land Content only, return arrangements to home port passengers own expense. Ask Down Under Coach Tours or your travel agent for assistance.