10 Day - Whitsunday & Carnarvon Gorge Wonders
Depart Date: 22 August 2009
Tour Cost: from $2658 per person twin share
This holiday package is a distinctly Queensland Holiday…taking you north to experience the blissful tropical weather of the Whitsundays and then for a change of pace discover the unforgettable colours and landscapes of Central Queensland. There are so many attractions to captivate your interest!
In the Whitsundays enjoy a luxury Three Island Cruise that visits Daydream Island, Hamilton Island and Whitehaven Beach. Then it's time to discover Eungella National Park and the highlights of Mackay. Venture from the coast to explore the mining town of Clermont, fossick for a sapphire at Rubyvale, visit Fairbairn Dam and tour Old Rainworth Fort.
A highlight of your holiday is a two night stay at Carnarvon Gorge. Plenty of time to discover the scenic wonders of Carnarvon Gorge, one of the jewels of Queensland. The breathtaking grandeur of sheer cliffs, aboriginal rock art, lush moss gardens and sparkling streams will delight as will the unique Wilderness Lodge accommodation. Come and enjoy a diversity of landscapes from the tropical beauty of the Whitsundays, to the ‘sapphire country’ of Qld's Central Gemfields and then the lush ancient sheer cliffs of Carnarvon Gorge. It’s all there waiting for you to explore with your Down Under Crew!
DAY 1 BRISBANE—ROCKHAMPTON D
Saturday 22nd August 2009: Depart Brisbane Roma Street at 7.00am. Travel north on the Bruce Highway, with passengers joining enroute as required between Brisbane and Maryborough. Enjoy a lunch stop in the Heritage City of Maryborough before travelling on to the “Beef Capital” of Queensland, Rockhampton. Stay Quality Inn Centrepoint.
DAY 2 ROCKHAMPTON—AIRLIE BEACH BD
Sunday 23rd August 2009: Continuing north we travel along the Hibiscus Coast to Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, stopping at Sarina for lunch (own expense) then through Mackay, often referred to as Australia’s "sugar capital" as it produces one third of the nation’s sugar crop. Settle in to our accommodation late afternoon. 2 Night Stay Club Crocodile Resort.
DAY 3 WHITSUNDAY CRUISE BLD
Monday 24th August 2009: A memorable day ahead as we board from Abel Tasman Marina the luxury catamaran Fantasea Cruises for a Whitehaven Beach Three Island Cruise. Enjoy exploring the sparkling bays, secluded beaches, stunning rainforest, and fringing coral reefs of Daydream Island. Hamilton Island is the largest island resort in the South Pacific and boasts an exciting mix of things to see and do. Seven pools, boutiques, galleries, bars, a number of restaurants, over 40 optional activities, walking trails and a koala and wildlife gallery are just a few of its features.
Picturesque Whitehaven Beach is one of the Whitsundays premier natural attractions - seven kilometres (five miles) of glistening white silica sand complemented by crystal clear waters. Renowned as one of the top ten beaches in the world, Whitehaven Beach is located on Whitsunday Island, the largest island in the region and is uninhabited and fully protected due to its National and Marine Park status. Its shallows are graced by various species of turtles and these ancient creatures are often sighted during daily visits. Return to shore after a great day and enjoy a well earned dinner and rest at your motel.
DAY 4 AIRLIE BEACH—MACKAY BLD
Tuesday 25th August 2009: Bid farewell to the Whitsundays as we retrace our steps south west through lush cane fields and small country towns for lunch at the Eungella Chalet. After lunch discover Eungella National Park which is the longest, oldest stretch of subtropical rainforest in Australia. It is one of Queensland’s most popular national parks, covering over 51,700 hectares of rugged and unexplored land. Here you can spot the platypus in its natural environment from a viewing deck over Broken River - one of the only places in Australia you can easily do so. Eungella also has 225 bird species recorded including the Wompoo Pigeon, Crimson Rosella, Regent Bower Bird and the rare Eungella Honey Eater. After an enjoyable day of sightseeing it’s time to make our way to our overnight accommodation in Mackay. Stay Coral Sands Motor Inn.
DAY 5 MACKAY SIGHTSEEING BLD
Wednesday 26th August 2009: Discover Mackay this morning as we embark on a City Heritage Tour. This guided tour leads you through the heritage of Mackay and its colourful past. Included are visits to local attractions. Lunch is served at the Pine Islet Lighthouse Restaurant with a spectacular view of The Reef Marina. The tour includes the Botanic Gardens, the town beach, Artspace, South Sea Islander Meeting Hut, The Reef Marina, Pine Islet Lighthouse, the worlds biggest bulk loading port at Hay Point, Northern Beaches, Mackay City Heart and "The Mill" with the opportunity of souvenir shopping. Return to our motel mid afternoon for some free time.
DAY 6 MACKAY—EMERALD BLD
Thursday 27th August 2009: A change of scenery today as we head west past the Peak Ranges to the Central Highlands. Once through the mining town of Clermont we stop for lunch and a tour at the Capella Pioneer Village. Next explore the world of sapphires with an underground sapphire mine tour and learn how to find sapphire in the ancient river bed. See the small mine shafts that the early miners crawled through. Then, do it the ‘easy’ way by fossicking through a sapphire bearing ‘wash’ to find your own stone or perhaps that elusive stone may be found in the jewellery showroom. After a delicious afternoon tea farewell Rubyvale and head for our overnight accommodation. Stay Emerald Meteor Motel.
DAY 7 EMERALD—CARNARVON GORGE BLD
Friday 28th August 2009: Start the morning with a town tour which includes, a visit to the Central Highlands Science Centre for a ‘hands-on’ experience with the various science activities; the Heritage Mosaic pathway and the worlds biggest Van Gogh Sunflower Painting. Our next stop is Fairbairn Dam. At a massive 15000 hectares surface area when full and holding 1.3 million megalitres of water, the Fairbairn Dam was constructed in 1972 across the Nagoa River "Gap" creating Lake Maraboon (Aboriginal for "where the black ducks fly"). Enjoy lunch at the Lake Maraboon Holiday Village Restaurant before making our way to the historic Old Rainworth Fort. Wander through the unique stone buildings which encompass an era from 1862 to 1896 before continuing on to Carnarvon Gorge. 2 Night Stay Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge.
DAY 8 CARNARVON GORGE BLD
Saturday 29th August 2009: Without leaving your cosy bed, enjoy the birdcalls or sit and watch the pretty-faced wallabies graze. The sheer wonder of Carnarvon Gorge radiates from the National Park where, for the ambitious, a day-long trek begins with a track map and packed lunch, or you're welcome to join an informative shorter walk led by a guide. The Gorge has many Aboriginal rock art sites. In Angiopteris Ravine, rare King Ferns grow luxuriantly and there's an opportunity to see Aljon Falls and the Moss Gardens. After all that walking and discovering, it's nice to know comfort awaits back at the Wilderness Lodge. After dinner, enjoy a relaxing activity.
DAY 9 CARNARVON GORGE—MILES BLD
Sunday 30th August 2009: Reluctantly, farewell to breathtaking Carnarvon Gorge. Rejoin the Carnarvon Developmental Road for Injune. Arrive in Roma for lunch at 'The Big Rig' before continuing on to the Miles Historical Village. Stay Starline Motor Inn.
DAY 10 MILES—BRISBANE B
Monday 31st August 2009: Homeward bound through the agriculturally rich Darling Downs to Toowoomba. Farewell to all who have shared this wonderful holiday with you. Arrive in Brisbane mid afternoon. Northbound passengers stay on board the coach for arrival into Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.