Enjoy the hospitality of the outback pubs on this trip. Meals are not included (except at the Goldfields Hotel in Forsayth,  where a light breakfast is included), but great value pub counter meals ... read more


Undara Lava Tubes | Print |

Undara Lava Tubes
Undara Lava Tubes
Undara crater erupted 190 000 years ago, sending a molten lava flow that travelled over 160 km and soon covered an area of 1550 square kilometres. It is the Longest single lava flow recorded in the world. As the exterior lava hardened it formed tunnels, or pipes, through which molten lava continued to flow, creating Undara's black basalt tubes. Lava tubes are also found in Victoria and elsewhere in Queensland, but the most extensive system is at Undara.

Discovered 80 to 90 years ago, the tubes are accessible through holes where sections of the roof have collapsed. Some openings, such as Archway Cave, are filled with rainforest vine thicket and fig trees and are home to animal and insect species that have successfully adapted to life underground. It was not until 1989 that an area of 17 600 hectares covering the crater and lava tubes was gazetted as Undara Crater National Park, although it had first been recommended for reservation as a national park by the National Parks Association of Queensland in the late 1940s.

Savannahlander passengers have the opportunity to do an afternoon tour of the Undara lava tubes when the Savannahlander stops for the night in Mount Surprise. There are a number of packages that include an Undara tour.