Undara Lava Tubes

So we have left the Eastern Coast of Australia and are heading through the Gulf country before we head south and for home.  Having left the lushness of Atherton we passed through Queenslands highest    town in altitude, Ravenshoe, and then onto the Savannah Way.  Boy did the countryside change dramatically.  Gone where the rolling green hills, to be replaced with open, flat dry savannah country and lots of anthills.  Clever are the ants who build anthills of different colours and designs.

Must admit we where both feeling a little bit emotional reflecting on all we have seen and done and everything achieved to get the Red Elephants this far.  Thinking also of our trip home and all we will see.  Thinking of our homecoming and seeing our family and friends again.

Savannah Country, Volcano Crator in the distance

Lava Tubes

Anyways…..Who knew there was such a thing as Lava Tubes?  I certainly did not.  And who knew you could walk in the Lava Tubes, not me.

So we have just spent 2 nights at the Undara Lava Tubes.  Truth be told, one night would probably have been enough for us.  The Lava Tubes are actually on an old Cattle Station that has been handed back to National Parks.  We stayed on site and it was very dry and dusty, not real pleasant.  The temperature the last few days has been well over 30', so those who know me will know that I do not cope well in such conditions.  Luckily there was a pool and quite a bit of time was spent sitting around the pool.  The Lava Tubes themselves are amazing.  We had to clamber down a rocky path to access the tubes.  They are  big and cave like, you could drive a train through the first one we went into.  The second one started as a very big cave, almost cathedral like and then we walked through the tunnel.  The tunnel itself was still big enough to walk 5 people abreast.   As you can only see the tubes by going on a guided tour that is what we did.  Most older people seem to do several tours but for us one was enough.  James was disappointed as he was expecting to see "lava."

The two nights we where there we attended Trivia by the campfire and on the second night Poetry by the campfire.  James and Grace where the only children in attendance so the first page of trivia was directed at them.  One of the old timers said after wards the score was Kids 10 Adults 0.  All I can say about the poetry by the campfire was that it was seriously  lacking in the Poppy pizzazz.  Two of Poppies favourite poems where read ,being, Mulga Bills Bicycle and the man from Iron Bark.  We all agreed we would need a bit of Poppy Poetry when we get home.