Billy Tea Safaris - Chillagoe Caves and Outback 4WD Tour

This lovely locally owned company own three 3 x custom designed and built 4WD (four wheel drive) vehicles. Maximum passenger numbers are 16 people on this tour.

Chillagoe is 215km west of Cairns, it is around 3 hours of driving time heading centrally inland. The tour will access it from the northern end of the Atherton Tableland via Mareeba and Dimbulah. The road is sealed to Almaden. Over the final 32km of road there are both sealed and unsealed sections. Conventional vehicle access is possible in dry weather but roads may be impassable in the summer wet season. This is the only company offering tours to this very unique area, it is important to note standard hire cars are not allowed on the road to Chillagoe due to the 32kms of mostly unsealed roads.

To reach the road going out to Chillagoe your tour travels Westerly up the Kuranda Range where you will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of driving through a rainforest national park. Be overwhelmed by the dense rainforest canopy, lichen covered boulders, views out over the ocean from the Henry Ross Lookout and huge vines binding the rainforest trees together. Once through the rainforest the scenery changes in an instant to dry bushland hosting giant roadside termite mounds.

Then on further into even dryer outback territory to the town of Chillagoe made famous for copper/tin mining in its ‘heyday'. Enjoy a lunch at a genuine ‘outback' pub, then on to the caves which is the reason why people now visit. This town has the most amazing limestone cave formations, on the hottest outback day you will be amazed at natures air conditioning below ground level. This is not a quick in and out tour, you walk through the labyrinth for at least 45 minutes to really take in this natural wonder.  

Your guide will explain the history of the fossilized remains of the ancient coral reefs some 400 - 420 million years old. Hidden limestone labyrinths offer a portal to a lost world just like our own Great Barrier Reef. This was once the inland sea.  Millions of years in the making, the limestone formations and caves are nothing short of spectacular.

From there you head to Granites Gorge to hand feed the rock wallabies and (if brave enough) hold local reptiles that are on display. A great way to end an amazing and unique tour before returning to Cairns.

Departure Days: Tuesday and Friday

Departs Cairns: Approx 7am

Returns Cairns: Approx 6pm

Includes:

• Naturalist guide 
• Courtesy pick-up and return bus transfers 
• Air-conditioned 4wd vehicles
• Morning tea (coffee/tea/cakes/sausage rolls) in Dimbulah
• View Aboriginal Rock Art and Balancing Rock
• Delicious Aussie lunch at a genuine outback pub
• Guided tour of Chillagoe caves 
• Chillagoe Smelters 
• Granites Gorge to hand feed the wallabies
• Opportunities to see emus and other native wildlife
• Chance to see tropical Paw Paws, Lychees, Longens or Mangoes if travelling in the right season

Please ensure that you wear closed in footwear for the cave tour. No thongs, shoes with heels or open toes on this tour.

BYO: Sunscreen, bottle of water, camera, cash for any gift shop purchases.

Children: Aged 0-14 years.

Family Rate: 2 adults and 2 children.