EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Fly high over Magnetic Island in a helicopter for bird’s-eye view of this mountainous heart-shaped paradise that lies just north of Townsville. Once you take a seat and the rotors start turning, the thrills will begin in earnest. The R44 helicopter features large windows and seating for only three passengers so you will be assured of an excellent view of the natural wonders below. As you soar over the island – known locally as Maggie – you will see massive boulders lining beach-rimmed shores and an interior that eucalyptus woodlands and dense rainforest blanket. More than half of the volcanically formed island is national park with Mount Cook rising above its center. British explorer Captain James Cook named Magnetic Island in 1770 for its reputed effect on his ship’s compass. As you fly along the island’s southern shore, you will see the shipwrecked City of Adelaide, part of which rises above Cockle Bay.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fly in a helicopter over Magnetic Island, the majority of which is national parkland.
• Gaze down on the island’s densely forested interior with Mount Cook at its center.
• Soar over the shipwrecked City of Adelaide, which ran aground in 1916.
• Look for marine life such as dugongs and dolphins in the clear shallow waters.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Meet the indigenous Nywaigi Aboriginal people who run Mungalla cattle station and learn of their cultural history and passion for restoring the integrity of the land. It’s about a two-hour drive north of Townsville, with ample coastal scenery to keep your eyes occupied along the way. At the other end of the ride, 2,500-acre Mungalla Station sits is a gorgeous area where the Nywaigi have lived in harmony with their environment for 45,000 years – even after European settlers disrupted their natural lifestyle in other parts of North Queensland. You will learn the fascinating story of how Irish pioneer James Cassady forged a protective relationship with the local Nywaigi when he established the station in 1901, and how the ownership of these lands has been returned to them. Over the years since, the wetlands have been restored, indigenous wildlife is flourishing once again, and the Nywaigi have grown more willing to share their cultural heritage with visitors. While here, you’ll encounter many aspects of their lifestyle and try your hand at boomerang-tossing before being served lunch

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel north by coach to Mungalla Station and be immersed in the Nywaigi Aboriginal culture.
• Tour the property where wetlands and wildlife flourish, and the Nywaigi live in harmony with nature.
• Learn the heartening story of how this indigenous group regained ownership of land their ancestors occupied for tens of thousands of years.
• Shop for authentic Aboriginal arts and crafts and throw a boomerang, maybe even getting it to return.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes with a closed toe are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a short ferry ride to heavily forested and wonderfully scenic Magnetic Island, where you will see iconic Australian animals such as koalas. This natural paradise has been known as Magnetic Island since 1770, when Captain James Cook named it for its supposed effect on his ship’s compass. It is still immensely attractive as the majority of Magnetic Island is protected national parkland. During the panoramic drive through the mountainous terrain, you will pass through dense rainforests that provide a safe habitat for wildlife, especially birds such as kookaburras and bush-stone curlews, an ungainly looking ground-dwelling avian species. Following a beachside lunch on Horseshoe Bay, you will be treated to a close-up look at the abundant wildlife at The Koala Park. You can expect to see koalas sleeping in gum trees, brightly colored parrots and all sorts of reptiles and amphibians. You might even get up close to a koala or maybe a wombat.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take the ferry to and from Magnetic Island, most of which is national parkland.
• Enjoy a panoramic drive through the rainforest and along the boulder-strewn coast.
• Encounter iconic Australian animals at The Koala Park.
• Dine on a hearty buffet lunch at the beach that rims Horseshoe Bay.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Take a ranger-led tour of a wildlife sanctuary where Australia’s mots iconic animals can be seen, then catch the sights of cosmopolitan Townsville. Billabong Sanctuary is something of a Noah’s Ark of Down Under – Set amongst lush rainforest, wetlands, and eucalyptus trees about 10 miles south of urban Townsville. Its an ideal environment for wildlife, and at the same time allows for close-up viewing of its residents. While here, you’ll enjoy both a personalized tour from a ranger with expert insights into Australia’s fascinating fauna and free time to wander the sanctuary’s habitats at your own pace. The pathways lead to all sorts of discoveries, including kookaburras, dingoes, Australian black swans, cassowaries, cockatoos, and more. Once back in Townsville, you’ll be treated to a brief driving tour of some of its top landmarks such as: the palm-lined Strand beachfront esplanade, grand 19thcentury building along Flinders Street, the modern museum and panoramic views from Kissing Point Fortification.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the Billabong Sanctuary for an immersion in iconic Aussie wildlife.
• Enjoy a guided walk with a ranger and free time to explore the habitats on your own.
• See birds of prey, kookaburras, dingoes, Australian black swans, cassowaries, cockatoos, and more.
• Back in Townsville, sit back for a brief orientation spin past many of the city’s top sights.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Comfortable, rubber-soled walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, insect repellent, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the military history of Townsville, the home of Australia’s largest defense base. Begin your journey with a drive to the RAAF base, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to stop and get up close with impressive, retired military aircraft, offering a fascinating glimpse into aviation history. Next, through exhibitions at the museum within the 19th-century Kissing Point Fort, you will learn about the Australian Army in North Queensland, which volunteer rifle companies started in the early 1880s. The collection includes colonial tents, interactive World War I and II displays and historical photos of local soldiers fighting in Korea and Vietnam. After exploring the museum, walk over to the Kissing Point Fortification, originally constructed in the 1880s to defend the coastline from potential naval threats and protect the strategic port of Townsville. Positioned on a rocky headland, the fort offered commanding views of the Coral Sea, Magnetic Island, and the surrounding region. During World War II, Kissing Point played a pivotal role in coastal defense, as Townsville became a crucial military hub for the Allied forces in the Pacific. Today, remnants of the fort, including heavy artillery, bunkers, and observation posts, stand as powerful reminders of its wartime significance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the essential role that the military has played in Townsville’s development.
• Browse a collection of wartime artifacts, weapons and planes at the military museum and the RAAF base.
• Learn about the pivotal role of Kissing Point Fortification played in coastal defense when Townsville became a crucial military hub for the Allied forces in the Pacific.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Head across the mountains and into the Outback to tour a heritage gold rush town that still shines with boom-time grandeur. It all started in 1871 after three itinerant prospectors struck gold here in Charters Towers. Over the next 40 years, some 7,000,000 ounces were extracted from this dry scrubland and a suitably glistening city emerged, home to 30,000 residents at the rush’s peak. A magnificent stock exchange building went up, along with grand hotels, banks and other buildings of the era still in use today. It’s a fabulous place for getting an in-person sense of what boom time life must have been like. Aside from exploring the swank town that nuggets built, you’ll also tour a more rustic venue – the Venus Battery Mill, sole survivor of the 25 reducing mills that prospered here at the end of the 19th century. Gold is still being found in the area, but the richest veins have long been worked out. So modern, mechanized methods are required to tease it out – a far cry from the classic pick and shovel days and steam-driven ore processing of old. A casual café lunch and afternoon sightseeing round out this intriguing day.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Journey by coach to a gold-rush mecca in the Outback beyond Townsville’s western mountains.
• Experience the enduring boomtime grandeur of Charters Towers, where some 7 million ounces came out of the ground between 1871 and 1911.
• Explore the shining town landmarks, and visit the crusty old Venus Battery Mill, where a local guide will share colorful tales of the olden, golden days.
• Enjoy casual lunch at a local café and spend the afternoon soaking up more of the local atmosphere.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes with a closed toe are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Walk through the world’s oldest surviving rainforest accompanied by a naturalist who will point out plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. The Wet Tropics Rainforest of Queensland is not merely picturesque, or any ordinary forest – it’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity. It also happens to be an unforgettable place to take a nature walk. Departing by coach from the pier, you’ll settle back for a picturesque drive up the coast before turning inland. Ascending to Star Valley Lookout in Paluma Range National Park, the rainforest becomes increasingly lush, and the road twists through the rugged landscape. Upon reaching the lookout, nestled high in the mountains, you’ll be greeted by breathtaking views of the deep valleys and dramatic cliffs that stretch across the horizon. Then it’s time to hit the rainforest trails with your naturalist guide leading the way. The Wet Tropics habitat is a true wonderland, and the experience of walking within this natural cathedral is mesmerizing. More than 2,800 species of plants thrive here, including some of the world’s first flowering plants, and some very unique animals, including green possums, tree kangaroos and tooth-billed catbirds. After the walk, enjoy lunch at the scenic Hidden Valley Cabins.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a scenic coach drive along the Tropical Coast and inland to Paluma Range National Park.
• Ascend to a high lookout for an amazing overview, then enter the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics Rainforest for a trail walk.
• Accompanied by a naturalist, hike through an extraordinarily biodiverse green cathedral.
• See a rich array of plants and animals and learn about species that exist here and nowhere else.
• Relax after your walk over lunch served at an eco-friendly mountain lodge nearby.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing, including a light jacket.
• Flat, comfortable walking or hiking shoes with a closed toe are recommended.
• Bring a hat, insect repellent, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Admire Queensland’s natural beauty while exploring a pristine wetland and come away with a greater appreciation for the state’s far northern reaches. Before leaving Townsville, you will enjoy a drive through its modern downtown. Despite the urban setting, you can’t help but notice the ancient red granite monolith Castle Hill looming just on the outskirts. As you will discover while walking about the TYTO Wetlands, wildlife is its star attraction. In fact, this natural reserve is named for the Tyto genus of the Eastern Grass Owl, a magnificent predatory bird that inhabits the low-lying floodplain. Hundreds of other avian species also live there, as well as crocodiles and wallabies. TYTO is one of the state’s few wetlands that has never been cleared to plant sugarcane, which has allowed the flora and fauna to flourish. Later, in the city of Ingham, you will dine at the iconic Pub with No Beer in Lee’s Hotel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Observe the abundant wildlife, especially birds, while strolling a wetlands boardwalk.
• Admire Townsville’s architectural treasures while driving through downtown.
• Dine at the original Pub with No Beer, which fortunately doesn’t live up to its name.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.