Chillagoe Caves, Granite Gorge and Outback Day Trip from Cairns
by Billy Tea Safaris
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.A$478Overview
This is a full-day 11.5-hour tour from Cairns that covers several key natural and historic sites in the Australian Outback. Travel by 4WD vehicle through the McAllister Ranges and the Great Dividing Range with live commentary from the driver guide about local wildlife, history, and Aboriginal culture. The tour is limited to 19 passengers. The day begins with pickup in Cairns (with optional extra-cost transfers from Port Douglas and Northern Beaches if arranged beforehand). The first stop is the Skybury Coffee Plantation for morning tea, which includes coffee, tea, and sweet treats. Then the group visits Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park for a two-hour guided tour with a local ranger. The caves are fossilized coral reefs over 400 million years old and feature extensive limestone formations. Next is a 30-minute visit to the Chillagoe Smelter Ruins to see the remains of the historic copper smelting site. Following that, there is a one-hour stop at Balancing Rock to take photos, view Aboriginal Rock Art, and hear Dreamtime stories from the guide. Afterward, the group has lunch at a classic Australian pub in Chillagoe town. The final stop is Granite Gorge Nature Park near Mareeba, where visitors walk a short trail among large boulders and observe local wildlife including endangered rock wallabies. Return transfers to Cairns complete the tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Cairns
Pickup from the Cairns area by the driver guide. Transfers from Port Douglas and Northern Beaches can be arranged for an additional fee if booked before the tour.
10 min
Skybury Coffee Plantation
Stop at Skybury Tropical Plantation, a major tropical fruit and coffee farm with 30 years of history. Morning tea includes coffee, tea and sweet treats.
30 min
Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park
Two-hour guided walk through the caves with a local ranger. The caves are fossilized coral reefs more than 400 million years old, formed when the area was an inland sea.
120 min
Chillagoe Smelters
Thirty-minute visit to the ruins of the Chillagoe copper smelters. The old chimneys remain visible on the western horizon and show the scale of past mining operations.
30 min
Balancing Rock
One-hour visit to Balancing Rock for photos. Also includes viewing Aboriginal Rock Art and hearing Dreamtime stories from the guide.
60 min
Lunch in Chillagoe
One-hour lunch break at a traditional Australian Outback pub in Chillagoe town. Guests should inform the operator of any dietary requirements before the tour.
60 min
Granite Gorge Nature Park
One-hour walk at Granite Gorge Nature Park near Mareeba. The trail passes massive boulders and offers opportunities to see native wildlife, including a colony of endangered rock wallabies unique to the area.
60 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Chillagoe Caves, Granite Gorge and Outback Day Trip from Cairns
by Billy Tea Safaris
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.A$478Overview
This is a full-day 11.5-hour tour from Cairns that covers several key natural and historic sites in the Australian Outback. Travel by 4WD vehicle through the McAllister Ranges and the Great Dividing Range with live commentary from the driver guide about local wildlife, history, and Aboriginal culture. The tour is limited to 19 passengers. The day begins with pickup in Cairns (with optional extra-cost transfers from Port Douglas and Northern Beaches if arranged beforehand). The first stop is the Skybury Coffee Plantation for morning tea, which includes coffee, tea, and sweet treats. Then the group visits Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park for a two-hour guided tour with a local ranger. The caves are fossilized coral reefs over 400 million years old and feature extensive limestone formations. Next is a 30-minute visit to the Chillagoe Smelter Ruins to see the remains of the historic copper smelting site. Following that, there is a one-hour stop at Balancing Rock to take photos, view Aboriginal Rock Art, and hear Dreamtime stories from the guide. Afterward, the group has lunch at a classic Australian pub in Chillagoe town. The final stop is Granite Gorge Nature Park near Mareeba, where visitors walk a short trail among large boulders and observe local wildlife including endangered rock wallabies. Return transfers to Cairns complete the tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Cairns
Pickup from the Cairns area by the driver guide. Transfers from Port Douglas and Northern Beaches can be arranged for an additional fee if booked before the tour.
10 min
Skybury Coffee Plantation
Stop at Skybury Tropical Plantation, a major tropical fruit and coffee farm with 30 years of history. Morning tea includes coffee, tea and sweet treats.
30 min
Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park
Two-hour guided walk through the caves with a local ranger. The caves are fossilized coral reefs more than 400 million years old, formed when the area was an inland sea.
120 min
Chillagoe Smelters
Thirty-minute visit to the ruins of the Chillagoe copper smelters. The old chimneys remain visible on the western horizon and show the scale of past mining operations.
30 min
Balancing Rock
One-hour visit to Balancing Rock for photos. Also includes viewing Aboriginal Rock Art and hearing Dreamtime stories from the guide.
60 min
Lunch in Chillagoe
One-hour lunch break at a traditional Australian Outback pub in Chillagoe town. Guests should inform the operator of any dietary requirements before the tour.
60 min
Granite Gorge Nature Park
One-hour walk at Granite Gorge Nature Park near Mareeba. The trail passes massive boulders and offers opportunities to see native wildlife, including a colony of endangered rock wallabies unique to the area.
60 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.