| H |
eralded as one of Australia's last true
frontier adventures, the Savannahlander takes it's passengers
on a fascinating safari into the remote heart of Queensland's
Gulf Savannah. |
This 1960 rail motor departs from Cairns Station once a week
and travels through a region of tropical North Queensland
known as the Savannah country... making frequent stops for
visitors to get a closer look at Bower Birds' nest or perhaps
to feed the local rock wallabies. One stop never missed is
a nice hot cup of billy tea with cakes and scones next to
the railway line... smack-bang in the middle of nowhere!

The train journeys to Mt Surprise, a gem-fossicking town
on the outskirts of the massive Undara Lava tubes; the world's
largest and most accessible underground lava tube system.
From here the rail journey continues on to Forsayth...enjoying
the experience of seeing the local Hotel owner feeding approximately
400 black cockatoos on sunset each day.
Affectionately known as "the silver bullet", with
a top speed of 50 km/h, the Savannahlander rattles through
the brown grass and termite nests of the eastern Gulf country
from Cairns to Forsayth... a real old fashioned rail experience
that rocks and rolls for 35 hours and 423 km into the outback.
Other attractions on the region's visitor's "must do
list" is the therapeutic Tullaroo Hot Springs plus one
of the geographical wonders of the world - The Undara Lava
Tubes. Go underground to find the massive tube caves that
originated millions of years ago from a once active volcano.
To read what other travellers had to say about his trip on
The Savannahlander, see
A Journey Back to the Past
- Another famous railway which recently celebrated its centenary
is the Kuranda Scenic
Railway - a picture postcard image...
which has defined the region for many years
- Travelling between the pioneering towns of Normanton
and Croydon the Gulflander,
constructed between 1888 and 1891, is more like an adventure
than a train ride.
|
Departures |
|
Valid from March 2005 - 17 December 2005
Departs |
Arrives |
| Cairns Wednesday
6:30am...
overnight at Almaden |
Thursday 5:45pm,
overnight at Forsayth |
| Forsayth
- Friday 8:45am...
overnight at Mt Surprise |
Cairns - Saturday
6:40pm |
|
Schedules |
|
| Cairns to
Forsayth |
|
Forsayth
to Cairns |
| Wednesday |
|
Friday |
| Cairns |
dep |
6:30am |
|
Forsayth |
dep |
8:45am |
| Kuranda* |
dep |
8:05am |
|
Mount Surprise |
arr |
1:45pm |
| Almaden |
arr |
1:00pm |
|
Saturday |
dep |
8:15am |
| Thursday |
dep |
8:00am |
|
Almaden |
arr |
11:45am |
| Mount Surprise |
arr |
11:30am |
|
|
dep |
12:10pm |
| |
dep |
12:15pm |
|
Kuranda |
dep |
5:02pm |
| Forsayth |
arr |
5:45pm |
|
Cairns |
arr |
6:40pm |
| * only stops for pre booked passengers |
|
Fares |
|
Fares: are per person in Australian dollars
Valid: 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008
| Cairns - Forsayth or v.v. |
Adult |
Child |
| Single fare one way* |
$190 |
$135 |
| Return* |
$320
|
|
* Fares do not include overnight
hotel / pub accommodation at Almanden, Forsayth or Mt
Surprise
|
|
|