The Undara Experience

The drive from Charters Towers to Undara was very exciting for us when Tom Tom-Tom told us that in 350 k's we were to make one left hand turn on what was otherwise a very straight road. How exciting is that??

Our first full day at Undara was spend doing the 12 k walk around through the park. Lots of up hills and rock hopping etc. It was a pleasantly warm day, not too hot and even though our muscles were hurting at the end of the day we were not dying of thirst.

Did you know that Undara is the largest area of volcanic activity anywhere on the planet?

We took the full day tour of the lava tubes the next day. We started off with a brisk 3 k walk around the crater of a small volcano, then headed for the lava tubes. The first we visited was Road Tube (photo above) it was open at either end, so was well lit and only small in length - about 100 metres.

The next was Wind Tunnel. It was shaped like an elbow and we needed our torches for that one. The tubes can be quite difficult to access so rock scrambling is something you try to master. Our next lava tube was Barkers. Hated that one. It went for about 800 metres and there was only one entrance. It was like entering the gates of hell. There is a problem with oxygen down there and everyone found it very difficult to breath. We only went down about 400 metres - it is impassable further along because of water and the danger of lack of oxygen.

Our last tunnels were Stephensons and Arch (photo above). These were quite lovely, both water filled at the moment so some of the group went for a little swim off into the tunnel.

All in all a great time at Undara.

Today we set off with the intention to follow a dirt road for about 100 k's to Chillagoe. The gods were not smiling on us. At the first turnoff the road was closed, the next turn off the road was a slippery muddy mess. We decided not to take it as it is a mega road for road trains and we did not fancy encountering them on such an awful road. The next attempt was partially successful. We turned off, drove about 40 k's and came to a creek crossing. Mike paced it through but felt the bottom was far too soft, and as we did not have a winch and there was nil traffic on the road we then had to turn around and retrace our steps. So we have given up on Chillagoe for now and we are in Atherton, at the back of Cairns. Today we have driven about 350 k's to arrive at a place that should have been about 200 k's from where we started!!

So we will be here for 2 nights before heading off to Cooktown. Tomorrow the Atherton Show is on so we plan to pay it a visit. Somehow or other I don't think it will be like the Royal Easter Show.