Al_Mo

Hi

Will be in Port Douglas for a few days in november and was wondering if it would be good to drive to undara and see the tunnels? Our first time in Australia and one thing people keep reinforcing is distances - so is it worth the drive, can we drive and how long would it take?

All help appreciated....

johhj_au

Saw the lava tubes and stayed overnight on a trip from cairns to normanton and the gulf in may a year ago.

it would be a long day trip from port D.

I would suggest a trip up via the atherton tablelands,take the sunset tour of the tubes,see some wildlife and stay over in the railway carriages.Real campfire feeling over a few beers and a meal at night.

Quite remote/outback savannah feel.Maybe you could do a loop via Mission beach/Tully on the way back.

The road is bitumen all the way.

pat_woolford

Agree with John - Lava Tubes too far for day trip from Port Douglas. You can (as we did) fly in light aircraft from Cairns - they'll go with a minimum of 5 passengers. Worth seeing, lava tubes are fascinating and you'll get a taste of the outback. There's also permanent tent accommodation as well as railway carriages at Undara.

marg

Hire a car and make it a two day trip staying overnight at Undara. On the way back to Port Douglas detour slightly to visit Paronella Park, just south of Innisfail.

Al_Mo

Many thanks All! for the info. Everytime we think we've tied down the itinery, we spot another "must see" . But isn't that he beauty of travel!!!