Brisbane, QLD


Friday, June 17, 2016

IT STARTED IN CAIRNS (Savannah Way 1)

A few weeks ago I went on a trip from Cairns to Darwin with two friends Ann and George. It was the  'Leichhardt Savannah Expedition' with the 'Outback Spirit' company. We travelled in a small 4 wheel drive coach for 13 days and 3733k. We followed the road called 'The Savannah Way', which also follows part of the route that the early explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt, took back in 1844-1845. However, he started from the Darling Downs not far from Brisbane and it took him over a year to walk to Port Essington north of Darwin.

We flew from Brisbane to Cairns. It takes two and half hours. We were met at the airport by our tour guides Maddy and Robin and taken to the Shangri-La hotel.
The view from my room was stunning. It wasn't long before we were on the coach again for a city tour of Cairns.

 It included a ride up into the foothills of the Great Dividing Range to a lookout at Copperlode Dam, where we could see all over the city and suburbs.


Then it was back down the hill to the Cairns Botanic Gardens, where there was a magical display of tropical plants and butterflies.



 Opposite the gardens is a rainforest walk to the lakes.



Night falls fast in the tropics and so it was time to return to the hotel for our greet and meet dinner with the other tour members. There were 17 of us altogether. The trek across the most isolated country started the next day.

25 comments:

  1. so much beauty.. i love the views of the boats and the flowers are fantastic. would love the botanical gardens but not 13 days of travel...

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  2. And winter would be the perfect time of year for this northern adventure. Your photos show the area to be amazing. 17 is a nice number for a tour group and I trust you continued to be well looked after.

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  3. That was quite some trip. Cairns looks wonderful and it must be time for a visit soon.

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  4. The Shangri-La Hotel - that must be a new addition to the accommodation list
    for Cairns?? Certainly no Shangri-La in 2009 on my visit.
    Looking forward to your travelogue with no torrential tropical downfalls
    occurring.
    Cheers
    Colin

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    Replies
    1. Being a bit mischievous !!
      I thought Clark Gable and Sophie Loren started
      it in Naples???
      The comedy movie with Clark and the luscious Sophie.
      Colin

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  5. You had such a pretty place to visit. I love the flowers, so unusual, the scenes are beautiful! A walk through a rain forest is so pretty. The boats look so crisp

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  6. Although I've been to Sydney and the West Coast from Shark Bay to Margaret River I've never been to the Northern Territories. Before the 10 years I spent in NZ we had resolved upon retirement to spend a year with a campervan going right round Australia. It never happened (and never will) so I'm really looking forward to seeing the bit of the country you are about to cross and about which I know next to nothing.

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  7. Gorgeous photos, Diane. I'm looking forward to reading more about this trip.

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  8. Amazing views of nature. I liked that northern territories, had never been in the tropics before. When leaving the aiplane in Darwin with the stairs I felt the humid warm air in my face for the first time.

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  9. Hello Diane, wonderful collection of photos from your trip! It seems like an action packed tour. The views and flowers are beautiful. Your view from the room is gorgeous. I am looking forward to more of your trip! Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

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  10. Beautiful photos, Diane - hope you are having a blast! I look forward to reading your next post.

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  11. Cairns looks wonderful Diane, tres tropical oui! I remember we stopped there years ago for a few days en route to Dunk Island. Beautiful images for us here today, merci beaucoup..

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  12. I enjoyed my visit to Cairns and am thrilled you included photos of the Botanic gardens and the rain forest walk which I thoroughly enjoyed. This looks like a great tour and look forward to seeing more of it.
    You are such a star at going back over my posts and commenting. I greatly appreciate your imput. Now I am home again after a few days by the coast I want to focus on my Underground walks which I love researching.

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  13. Fabulous photos Diane, must have been a fantastic trip by these photos. Looking forward to coming back and seeing others.

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  14. Mr. Leichardt walked it? I'm glad you have a coach! Im looking forward to your trip. So far the photos are wonderful.

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  15. Once again another fabulous post i enjoy these and the wonderful images you take along the way

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  16. Great photos. This will be a wonderful trip to see.

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  17. Wow! You saw some amazingly wonderful places. And it must have been extra neat to share them with your friends. Thank you for the photos.

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  18. Lovely. Botanical gardens are good there.

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  19. You are living your life to the fullest Diane..
    Mardif

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  20. Some great photos here and you do have sharp flowers and butterfly. Quite a trip, wish I was with you. T'other Diane

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  21. The Savannah Way is on my bucket list.

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