Cruising Granny wrote:

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The Savannahlander Motor Rail will take you from Cairns, over the Tablelands to Forsyth. It's a 4 day trip - 2 up, 2 down.
Travellers stay in a range of accommodation from the local characteristic pub, motel or caravan park cabins at Chillagoe, Forsyth and Mt. Surprise.
A bus will take you to the station from where you get to the Cobold Gorge. One of the station staff drives the 4WD bus and electric boat in the gorge. First thing in the day it's the most peaceful, interesting and colourful experience.
On day 3 you stay at Mt. Surprise, either in the pub, the van park or at the lava tubes accommodation, taking the bus to the lava tubes.
The "train" drivers give very interesting commentary. The motor rail only runs in the dry season because the railway usually gets washed out and damaged in the wet.
Much of the rail is not laid on ballast and sleepers are just lying on the dirt. It's the lightest possible rail steel in narrow guage, and is subject to movement in the heat, adding to the "character" of the journey.
There are several different options and prices, depending on your comfort level.
Of course you can do all this in your own vehicle, but I wouldn't try it in the "green" wet season, as this region is subject to flooding, road damage and land slides.
Safe and happy travels.
(No, I'm not on commission. I just enjoyed the trip)

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wendyv wrote:

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Re the Cobbold Gorge road - roughness may depend on when the grader was last over it. Always better to check it out close to when you want to travel, rather than just write it off.
When we visited the Undara Lava tubes, we were staying at Bedrock Village Caravan park, at Mount Surprise, which is a great caravan park. Last time we were there, they were running tours to the lava tubes - and to Cobbold Gorge - themselves. So that may be another way to see Cobbold Gorge, which is really worth seeing; quite a unique place.

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Cruising Granny wrote:

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The Savannahlander Motor Rail will take you from Cairns, over the Tablelands to Forsyth. It's a 4 day trip - 2 up, 2 down.
Travellers stay in a range of accommodation from the local characteristic pub, motel or caravan park cabins at Chillagoe, Forsyth and Mt. Surprise.
A bus will take you to the station from where you get to the Cobold Gorge. One of the station staff drives the 4WD bus and electric boat in the gorge. First thing in the day it's the most peaceful, interesting and colourful experience.
On day 3 you stay at Mt. Surprise, either in the pub, the van park or at the lava tubes accommodation, taking the bus to the lava tubes.
The "train" drivers give very interesting commentary. The motor rail only runs in the dry season because the railway usually gets washed out and damaged in the wet.
Much of the rail is not laid on ballast and sleepers are just lying on the dirt. It's the lightest possible rail steel in narrow guage, and is subject to movement in the heat, adding to the "character" of the journey.
There are several different options and prices, depending on your comfort level.
Of course you can do all this in your own vehicle, but I wouldn't try it in the "green" wet season, as this region is subject to flooding, road damage and land slides.
Safe and happy travels.
(No, I'm not on commission. I just enjoyed the trip)

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I'd never been on any sort of tour until I went to Mt Morgan Qld. My daughter was living in Rocky at the time, and we drove up to have a look around. When we got to the info centre at the old railway station, they told us about the tour. It didn't cost a huge amount, so off we went. It was very informative and interesting, and even my grandson enjoyed it.

I've done the train trip from Brisbane to Cairns a few times with my pensioner discount. It was a novelty I enjoyed, but over it now.

I like to do my own thing generally, but sometimes you miss something by not doing the tour.

Beth54 wrote:

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I like to do my own thing generally, but sometimes you miss something by not doing the tour.

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Gerty Dancer wrote:

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Beth54 wrote:

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I like to do my own thing generally, but sometimes you miss something by not doing the tour.

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Absolutely, Beth!

The trips I've been on have all been enhanced by some tour or other... there are some places where if you go to on your own, you'll never know a quarter of what they all about.

It doesnt have to be a huge tour either, one of my best memories is a 1hour tour through a Chinese Joss House in Bendigo. We learned such a lot, not just about that little temple but about Bendogo's history and the early-settler chinese and their culture. It all fitted together when we went to other places at Bendigo. 

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I went on the tram tour in Bendigo. I'm old enough to remember the trams in Brisbane, so really enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
I can't remember the name of it, but I also went to the Gold Mine exhibit.

FYI

This was in answer to my email query to Undara.

Hi Beth

Thank you for your enquiry on Undara Experience.  As we get closer to the
middle of the year the chance of rain becomes lesser, and our booking
numbers grow higher.  At this stage we still have campsites available for
the majority of April, May and June.  If you were wanting to come when it
was a little quieter, but still fine weather I would probably recommend late
April to early May.

If you have any further queries or would like to make a booking please do
not hesitate to contact me on the number below.

Kind regards

Kathryn Sinfield
Reservations

Undara Experience
Undara Volcanic National Park
Savannah Way
Queensland
4871

Phone: 1800 990 992 or 07 4097 1900
Fax: 07 4097 1955