The Gulf Savannah "Pioneer" is an 11 day all overland camping safari along the Savannah Way between Darwin and 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.

2012 Departures

• Cairns to Darwin: May 23 • Darwin to Cairns: July 23 Highlights • Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park • Elsey Cemetery and Mataranka Hot Springs • Roper Bar • Limmen, Cox and Towns Rivers • Limmen National Park and "Lost City" • Butterfly Springs • Borroloola • Riversleigh Fossil Fields • Lawn Hill National Park • Burketown • Leichhardt Falls • "Plains of Promise" • Burke and Wills Camp #119 • Georgetown, Croydon, Normanton, Karumba • Undara Lava Tubes • Atherton Tableland Itinerary 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. 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 cross Mitchell Grass plains and the inviting Gregory River on the way to Burketown, our overnight camp.

Day 9 (BL) - Across the "Plains of Promise" to Leichhardt Falls before visiting Burke and Wills Camp #119, the most northerly camp of the ill-fated 1860 expedition. Continuing, we visit Normanton, home of the historic "Gulflander", on our way to tonight's camp at Karumba Point, on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

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

Inclusions And Exclusions
Inclusions: Meals as coded, 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, items of a personal nature

Note
• A fuel levy of $40.00 per person is payable on board.
• Tour is not suitable for children under 7 years of age.

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