Australia World Heritage Gondwana Tour
A short 7 day tour from Brisbane offering daily guided walks in the Australian World Heritage Gondwana rainforest, Border Ranges, Girraween, Bald Rock, New England and Oxley Wild Rivers National Parks. Massive monoliths, gorges and ravines, waterfalls and wildlife. An unsurpassed range of scenery and protected habitats from the snow gum forests at 1564m, over untracked wilderness to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean and Cape Byron – 7 days departing Brisbane
Single Supplement part available. Special Discounts apply to this tour. Early Bird price reverts to the Regular Price 6 months prior to each tour departure date.
2021 prices available and bookings received from mid 2020. Register now for advanced releases.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Enjoy one of the finest world heritage areas in Australia, a wilderness shrouded in ancient Gondwana rainforest
Witness the last retreat and evolution of ancient rainforests, dating back 200 million years.
- visit chaotic but grand landscapes of extruding granite monoliths, boulders and slabs
- dramatic gorges and waterfalls carved into the NSW Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and high country
- the vertical rim of an extinct volcano shrouded in mystic moss gardens, home to Antarctic Beech trees 3000 years old
- overlook an untracked wilderness panorama stretching 75 kms from snow country on the Great Dividing Range to waves breaking on beaches of the Pacific coast
- residents include the Superb Lyrebird, Peregrine Falcons and Wedge-tailed Eagles. The endangered and shy Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, or the Spotted Tail Quoll.
- journey through the Condamine Gorge between border range National Parks
- choose your preferred walks to Castle Rock, Bald Rock, The Sphinx, Wollomombi and Chandler Falls
- Savour an early dawn beach walk and climb to Cape Byron for a memorable Pacific sunrise
The character of early Australia will unfold
- bushranger legends, pastoral dynasties and folklore offer fascinating insights.
Be inspired by the dramatic scenery, world heritage areas protecting a variety of habitats and wildlife species
You’ll return to Brisbane through the intensely beautiful big rivers and “rainbow country” preferred by today’s alternative life-stylers seeking life enhancing energy and environment.
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
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Itinerary
Pre departure administration as guest arrivals determine.
Day 1
Day 1 Gold Coast to QLD-NSW Border Ranges
Features:
- Escape the city through a rich tapestry of hinterland farming lots
- Roam the transitioning village of Boonah, retreat for “tree-change” city folk
- View the Scenic Rim and World Heritage Main Range National Park panorama
- Negotiate 4wd crossings through the Condamine Gorge, head of the great Darling River Basin. Bush picnic lunch.
- Take a circuit walk to view the Queen Mary Falls, plummeting over its volcanic barrier
- Spot colourful fringe rainforest parrots, rosellas, satin bower birds & wrens
- Immerse yourself in the spectacle of Border Ranges peaks & pioneering history
- Relax in your gloriously remote cottage ready for a delightful chef’s offering
- Welcome the embracing early morning sunrise washing over surrounding peaks and gorge below
Accommodation: Exclusive Spring Creek Cottages
Meals: Fine evening and breakfast cuisine by in-house Chef and cottage owner
Driving: 141 kms in 4 relaxed stages throughout the day
Walking: 1 hour on formed National Park trail, including time to view and immerse
Day 2
Day 2 Border Ranges to historic Tenterfield
Features:
- Travel scenic backroads toward the cool climate orchards and wineries of the Granite Belt
- Savour the country atmosphere and morning tea delights in an iconic apple orchard packing shed
- Enjoy the local stories and territory of folklore legends – bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, Banjo Patterson, Breaker Morant, the Tenterfield Saddler and his grandson broadway star, Peter Allen
- Visit Thunderbolt’s bush hideaway and historic barriers to a war invasion
- Complete a summit walk to the largest granite monolith in the southern hemisphere, Bald Rock
- Roam through a wilderness of boulder clusters and forest, rewarded by expansive 360 degree views of the Granite Belt straddling two states
- Settle in to historic Tenterfield where the impassioned speech of English immigrant Henry Parkes gave rise to “the birth place of our nation”
Accommodation: 2 Nights at the Henry Parkes Regional Motor-inn
Meals: In-house dinners and breakfasts with tail-gate bush picnic lunch
Driving: 123 kms in 3 relaxed stages throughout the day
Walking: 2.5 hour summit walk on formed National Park trail, including time to view and immerse
Day 3
Day 3 Girraween National Park
Features:
- Enjoy a selection of guided walks in Girraween, the “place of flowers”
- Follow the trails through outcrops of balancing boulders and angular tors
- Explore diversions to Castle Rock, Turtle Rock and The Sphinx
- Roam the massive granite slabs channeling Bald Rock Creek
- Share the day with abundant wildlife in a naturalists paradise
Accommodation: Henry Parkes Regional Motor-inn
Meals: In-house dinner and breakfast with tail-gate bush picnic lunch
Driving: 50kms local travel to National Park
Walking: Selection of walks ranging 2 to 3 hours on formed National Park trails, including time to view and immerse
Day 4
Day 4 Tenterfield to Armidale
Features:
- Travel the highway and backroads through the New England Tablelands, high point on Australia’s Great Divide
- Pass by Merino sheep and wool production, farming dynasties
- Morning tea in the Celtic enclave of Glen Innes, by Australia’s version of the Standing Stones
- Enjoy historic Armidale with its cold climate gardens and parks
- Take an afternoon walk in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park with its dramatic Dangars Falls and Gorge
- Search for the endangered Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies
- Follow the haunting cries and powerful flight of Peregrine Falcons perched on the cliff faces
Accommodation: Quality Regional Motor-inn, Armidale
Meals: In-house restaurant dinner and breakfast. Cafe lunch.
Driving: 219kms in 4 relaxed stages throughout the day
Walking: 1.5hrs roaming on formed trail including time for immersion and wildlife discoveries
Day 5
Day 5 Armidale to Dorrigo
Features:
- A day of startling escarpment scenery with tortuous gorges and plummeting waterfalls
- Enjoy a 2 hour trail walk to view two dramatic ravines.
- Visit the trackless wilderness of world heritage New England National Park
- Descend into the dense Gondwana Rainforest, home to ancient Antarctic Beech Trees thousands of years old
- Immerse yourself in evolution 125 to 500 million years old, protecting 1000 plant species and amazing wildlife
- View the spectacles of “Waterfall Way” highlighted by the twin drops of Ebor Falls
- Take a rainforest canopy walk and hidden backroads across the evergreen Dorrigo Tableland
Accommodation: Mountain Retreat Motor-inn Dorrigo / Bellingen
Meals: Village restaurant dinner and alfresco breakfast. Tail-gate picnic lunch.
Driving: 170 kms in 6 relaxed stages throughout the day
Walking: Choice of 4 National Park trail walks of 0.5 to 2 hours duration
Day 6
Day 6 Dorrigo to Ballina
Features:
- Enjoy a sidewalk breakfast or M/Tea in the eclectic village of Bellingen
- Suddenly, the grand arrival of the South Pacific Ocean
- Travel the scenic country way, retreat for celebrities and movie stars arriving in Grafton, home of the Jacaranda Festival
- Step in for a pub lunch at a tiny historic port on the mighty Clarence River
- Relax over sundown drinks in Ballina at the mouth of another mighty coastal river, The Richmond, ready for a celebration dinner
- Prepare for tomorrow’s iconic sunrise.
Accommodation: Quality Ramada riverside hotel, Ballina
Meals: Restaurant dinner and breakfast. Portside Pub lunch.
Driving: 286kms in 5 relaxed stages throughout the day
Walking: Village roaming during travel breaks
Day 7
Day 7 Ballina to Gold Coast
Features:
- Rise before dawn for an emotional sunrise over the South Pacific, beneath one of our oldest lighthouses
- After breakfast, you’ll embark on a day of headland experiences
- Take a short stroll to view the expansive coastline off Lennox Head
- Arrive at Byron Bay the lifestyle retreat of alternative communities and celebrities.
- Time for a stroll along the iconic beaches to trails leading to Cape Byron, Australia’s most easterly landfall
- Contemplate the nearest landfall to the north is Siberia, east is Chile and south the Antarctic icemass
- An alfresco lunch beachside and then time to reflect as you journey through Rainbow Country to the Gold Coast airport and farewell.
Meals: Restaurant breakfast and beachside cafe lunch
Driving: 100kms in 4 relaxed stages throughout the day
Walking: Relaxed roaming over beaches and headlands
GALLERY
Best Value Inclusions
- All accommodation
- All meals with breakfast, lunch and min 2 course dinner with choices
- Morning and afternoon teas.
- Glass of wine with dinner if you wish
- Spontaneous travel treats and refreshments.
- Tour transport and naturalist guides
- All National Park entry fees
- All feature entries
- Tenterfield historic precinct entry
- Informative travel reference kit
- Use of on-board reference materials and facilities
- Personalised pre-tour planning advice to maximise your enjoyment of the experience
Exclusions
- Expenditure of a personal nature
- Pre and post tour travel and accommodation arrangements
- Travel and comprehensive contingency insurance
