Wilderness Challenge - 4WD Adventure Tours, Day Trips & Camping Safaris To Cape York, The Gulf Savannah, The Kimberley And Kakadu







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11 Day Pioneer Gulf Savannah Camping Safari

The Gulf Savannah "Pioneer" is an 11 day all overland camping safari along the Savannah Way from Cairns to Darwin or Darwin to Cairns through a land of real outback characters, bush pubs and wild yarns, wedge-tailed eagles and wallaroos, hot springs and cool rivers, and a rich history of Aboriginal culture, explorers and pioneers.



Highlights

Trip Map


  • Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park
  • Elsey Cemetery & Mataranka Hot Springs
  • Roper Bar
  • Limmen, Cox & Towns Rivers
  • Limmen National Park & "Lost City"
  • Butterfly Springs
  • Borroloola
  • Riversleigh Fossil Fields
  • Lawn Hill National Park
  • Burketown
  • Leichhardt Falls
  • "Plains of Promise"
  • Burke & Wills Camp #119
  • Georgetown, Croydon, Normanton, Karumba
  • Undara Lava Tubes
  • Atherton Tableland

Itinerary - Cairns To Darwin

Day 1 - (LD) Visit the Atherton Tableland's unique Curtain Fig Tree and “The Crater” National Park on the way to our first camp at Undara. Here you can explore the Lava Tubes (optional), acclaimed as the largest and longest lava tube system in the world.

Day 2 - (BL) Pass through the historic gulf towns of Mt Surprise, Georgetown and Croydon. Visit Normanton, home of the historic "Gulflander" train on the way to our camp at Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Dinner is at your own expense this evening.

Day 3 - (BLD) Travel to Burke & Wills camp #119, the most northerly camp of the ill-fated 1860 expedition then on to Leichhardt River and Falls where we camp tonight.

Day 4 - (BLD) Across the "Plains Of Promise" to Burketown and beyond to the inviting Gregory River. Mitchell Grass plains and spinifex clad ranges on the way to our two-night camp at Adel’s Grove, gateway to Lawn Hill National Park.

Day 5 - (BLD) A leisurely day in Lawn Hill National Park to relax, swim, canoe (optional) and explore the many walking tracks at this unbelievable oasis. In the afternoon a chance to take a tour to the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields (optional).

Day 6 - (BLD) Across the vast expanse of Lawn Hill cattle station to the Queensland Road, now the “The Savannah Way”, once used by the legendary "Overlanders". On past Hell’s Gate we cross into the Northern Territory to a bush camp at the Robinson River, a favourite spot of “The Bush Tucker Man”.

Day 7 - (BLD) Continue west to Borroloola, infamous frontier town, for supplies then on to Butterfly Springs for two nights.

Day 8 - (BLD) Today we venture into Limmen National Park to see spectacular carved sandstone pillars known as “Lost City” formations. Millions of years of water and wind erosion have sculptured an ancient seabed into these incredible shapes.

Day 9 - (BL) Travel on the “Great North Road” to remote Roper Bar, where explorer Ludwig Leichhardt crossed in 1845. Now the Roper Highway on our way to Mataranka Hot Springs to swim and relax in the crystal clear thermal pool. We camp at Mataranka tonight. Dinner is at your own expense this evening.

Day 10 - (BLD) Supplies in Katherine before Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park where you can relax, bushwalk or enjoy a cruise on the famous gorge (optional). We camp in the National Park tonight.

Day 11 - (B) You will be taken to Katherine Coach Terminal to travel on your coach to Darwin (included). Safari terminates at Darwin Coach Terminal.

Meal Codes: B = Breakfast   L = Lunch   D = Dinner


Itinerary - Darwin To Cairns

Day 1 (LD) - Make your own way to Darwin Coach Terminal to begin your adventure. Coach to Katherine (included). On arrival in Katherine you will be met by your Wilderness Challenge guide. We top up supplies in Katherine before making our way to Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, our overnight camp.

Day 2 (BL) - An opportunity this morning to enjoy a cruise (optional) up the famous Katherine Gorge, bushwalk or simply relax. On to Mataranka for a therapeutic swim and relax in its crystal clear thermal pools. We camp nearby tonight. Dinner is at your own expense.

Day 3 (BLD) - Leaving civilisation we travel to remote Roper Bar, where explorer Ludwig Leichhardt crossed the Roper River in 1845. South now we cross the Towns, Cox and Limmen Bight Rivers on the way to Butterfly Springs, our two night camp.

Day 4 (BLD) - Today we visit Jandanku (Limmen) National Park to see spectacular carved sandstone pillars known as “Lost City” formations. Millions of years of water and wind erosion have sculptured an ancient seabed into these incredible shapes.

Day 5 (BLD) - We visit Borroloola, infamous frontier town, for supplies before crossing into Queensland on the Queensland Road, now The Savannah Way, once used by the legendary "Overlanders". Tonight our camp is at a remote Gulf river.

Day 6 (BLD) - On to Hell’s Gate, Doomadgee and across the Nicholson River. Here we detour to travel across Lawn Hill Station, one of Queensland's most remote cattle properties. Adel's Grove, gateway to Lawn Hill National Park, is our two-night camp.

Day 7 (BLD) - A leisurely day in the National Park to relax, swim, canoe (optional) and explore the many walking tracks at this unbelievable oasis. In the afternoon a chance to take a tour to the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields (optional).

Day 8 - (BLD) Leaving Lawn Hill National Park we travel through spinifex clad ranges and across Mitchell Grass plains to the inviting Gregory River. On to the frontier town of Burketown then across the "Plains Of Promise" to Leichhardt Falls where we camp tonight.

Day 9 - (BL) Today we visit Burke & Wills camp #119, the most northerly camp of the ill-fated 1860 expedition. We pass through Normanton before heading for Karumba on the Gulf Of Carpentaria, tonight's camp. Dinner is at your own expense this evening.

Day 10 (BLD) - Return to Normanton en-route to the historic gulf towns of Croydon, Georgetown and Mt Surprise. Now a short way to our overnight camp at the famous Undara Lava Tubes.

Day 11 (BL) - This morning you can join a tour of the Lava Tubes (optional), acclaimed as the largest and longest lava tube system in the world. Leaving the Tropical Savannahs behind we visit “The Crater” National Park and unique Curtain Fig Tree on the Atherton Tableland. This afternoon we arrive in Cairns bringing to an end your safari of adventure and discovery in Australia's Tropical Savannahs.

Meal Codes: B = Breakfast   L = Lunch   D = Dinner




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2012 Fares and Departures

Twin Share
$3095
Sole Use
$3345
Child (7-14) - Sharing
$2995

Rates are per person and in AUD$. Rates are valid to 31 March 2013.

Tour is not suitable for children under 7 years of age.

2012 Departures

   • Cairns to Darwin: May 23
   • Darwin to Cairns: Jul 23


Inclusions And Exclusions

Inclusions: All meals as coded in itinerary · Camping equipment except sleeping bags · All National Parks and Aboriginal Site fees · Coach between Katherine and Darwin

Exclusions: All soft and alcohol drinks · Optional tours


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Wilderness Challenge 4WD Adventure Safaris
Cairns, North Queensland, 4870, Australia
P: +61 7 4035 4488 | P: 1800 354 486 (Freecall Within Australia) | E: info@wilderness-challenge.com.au





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