Where to stay to visit Undara Lava Tubes

jbrinks · Senior Member

Where to stay to visit Undara Lava Tubes

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We enjoyed staying at Undara in 2007. The campground was fine, the Lava tubes tours interesting although expensive , some nice walks. One of the best features was the ranger talks round the campfire after dinner. We wouldn't go back though, once was enough as its not cheap, and the road in was dirt and rough. I heard the road has been upgraded ? I reckon if you are going there you might as well stay there.
We thought Chillago was much more interesting, although not well developed for tourism at that time. Had they put as much effort into exploiting all the local features as Undara it would be fantastic.

Duh · Guru

jbrinks wrote:
We would like to see Undara Lava Tubes, have seen mixed responses if they are worth the money or not. Has anyone done this tour where is the best place to stay to visit them. I have found Bedrock Tours from Mt. Surprise or the camp ground at the tubes where they have railways carriages. Any suggestions please.

Excellent bitumen road all the way in, caravan park there for those who want it, so no travelling to get to the tubes, very short walk to info centre, café etc, also tour direct from their onsite cheaper than at Bedrock, tour from Info Centre includes bus ride in and out.

We only booked in for one night, did the tour next day (make sure you book both before you arrive) and they allow those on tour to stay in the caravan park for the next morning while doing the tour and allow time for their free complimentary coffee at the café after the tour.

Then those who are not staying another night depart the caravan park for elsewhere. Google the tubes for more info...

I have heard good reviews of the Bedrock tour too (although dearer due to travel distance I imagine) and that caravan park as well.

-- Edited by Duh on Tuesday 13th of August 2013 12:31:20 PM

keithintassie · Veteran Member

Like Gertie I too stayed at the Undara Lava Tubes some few years ago (Senior Moments ar alive and well here).

Went to attend a performance of "Opera in the Outback" and stayed at the Undara village in their modified railway carriages. At our small group had flown in to Cairns and we travelled to Undara in a 20 seater bus. I remember that trip VERY well as I think some of the bruises had just subsided.

In conclusion . . . the opera was great . . . . . . . the experience was great . . . . . . the accommodation was great . . . . . getting there was not so great.

As for the tubes themselves, it's not an experience you'd need to revisit but it's there to be seen.

Hope that helps and remember . . . . you'll never, never know if you never, ever go !

Keith

Gwian · Senior Member

We were at the tubes a week ago and we thought it was well worth the visit. Sealed road all the way in from the turn off and although the campsites were expensive ($35) and the tours (cheapest 2 hr tour $52.50) it was something that you only see once. Nightly entertainment around the campfire ( 8pm - 9pm) was very good and the walks around the marked tracks were well worth doing. We stayed 2 nights and enjoyed it all.

Grevo · Veteran Member

We stayed at Bedrock Village CP in June this year and did the half day Lava Tubes tour. We stayed at Bedrock because we have a small dog and the staff look after your dog for free when you go on one of the tours. The trip from Bedrock to the Lava tubes takes about 40 minutes on their bus and the tour guide told us some of the history of the Mt Surprise area during the drive. I found the tour very interesting and I think the half day tour is more than adequate.

spida · Guru

I stayed at J&J CP at Mt Surprise and did the tour from there which was excellent. Very knowledgeable guide and to go in to the tubes was amazing. Tour included tea and cakes. The CP puts on a cheap meal every night which proved very popular and got people together.

herbie · Guru

Every thing here ticked all our expectations. There is some thing here to suit every one. We stayed in the lodge when we visited, from memory it was $68 per person per night.That did not include the tours of the Lava Tubes or meals. But it was some thing we wanted to see.

No matter what you may have read or heard about this place you can't beat standing in the massive caverns and staring into the blackness of the disappearing tubes,imagining the scene 190,000 years ago.Thats when a major volcanic eruption in the region spewed 23 cubic kilometres of lava across 15550sq of countryside.

Scientists believe that at the height of the eruption the volcano was expelling 1000cubic meters of molten rock per second at temps of around 1200c.It truly is a subterranean marvel.Well worth a visit...

Two Strays · Senior Member

Hello All

I would recommend Joe and Jo's Bedrock Caravan Park. Their tours are worth the expense. Knowledgable guides and you get a chance to see the other side of the road, so to speak. I would endevour to be there when the train from Cairns to Einsleigh arrives and take the two hour trip to Einsleigh. Fantastic experience.

Happy Caravanning

Turtle Trekers · Veteran Member

We also visited the Lava Tubes some weeks back. An absolutely fabulous experience! We stayed at the Bedrock Village at Mt Surprise and took the full day tour to the Tubes - it included morning and afternoon teas and a 3 course lunch at the resort - soup, cold meats/salad/cheeses and cake. The tour included Kalkani Crater walk and about four tubes. Afternoon tea was at a little spot that took in the whole valley. Wonderful time.

If you do go, try to be there for the train trip to Einsleigh on Thursdays - we arrived that afternoon and the people who did go on it thought that it was wonderful. Alternatively, you can do a self drive tour/loop from Mt Surprise to Georgetown, Forsayth and then Einsleigh/Copperfield Gorge and back to Mt Surprise. An all day trip but some great countryside.

Louise and Alan

Duh · Guru

Because we stayed at the Undara caravan park (see; http://undara.com.au/accommodation/ ) after viewing the tubes we moved on to Mount Surprise but instead of Bedrock Cp we stayed at the caravan park across the other side of the road behind the BP roadhouse as we were Oz Park members and at that time it was an Oz park, not sure if it still is in the Oz Park chain (Oz John will know).

The Park there was a lot cheaper and also allowed dogs by arrangement, not flash but nice clean ablution block, swimming pool and drive through large sites. Next to the BP at the front of the park they have a café that makes fantastic pizzas and is highly recommended, good old fashioned style cooking. You book at the BP for the CP where they also have a rock collection for the rock hounds, the park is owned by a hands on lady and her partner runs the servo, a bit of a strange fellow with an offbeat sense of humour until you get to know him. See this link;

http://turu.com.au/parks/qld/tropical-north-queensland/mt-surprise-tourist-park-motel-and-bp-roadhouse.aspx