Tropical North Queensland - Best Adventure Experience - Day 5 - Cobbold Gorge & Undara

My second ride with Skysafari took me from Cairns to the Outback, but it was more like travelling to another world. As Cairns disappeared I found myself flying over mountainous rainforest and then the landscape transformed into farmland. Brad the pilot helped us get better angles for picture-taking; once we reached the Outback we even flew alongside wild horses as they ran through the bush. We also hovered several meters above some freshwater crocs.

Arriving at Cobbold Gorge Tours in Forsayth, North Queensland, we headed to the gorge straight away. The walking tour brought us to the gorge’s ridge and some beautiful views. On the boat tour I was treated to amazing views below the water. It was a very calm ride and there was something about the stillness that brought a hush over everyone; the only sounds were camera clicks. That is, until the eerie silence was broken by a hissing freshwater croc as we drifted by a couple meters away.

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Departing from Cobbold Gorge with Skysafari again we got to see it from above. Flying over a huge crack in the earth, knowing it’s the same gorge you explored just an hour before really gives some perspective. From there we headed to the Undara Experience and I was glad Brad had a map and GPS. Surveying the horizon of the Outback you’ll see only a few landmarks. The flat, sparsely-vegetated land seems to extend infinitely in every direction. We only saw one road and just a couple of homesteads.

Undara is definitely an experience! I’m a good old farm boy turned city boy and arriving at Undara felt like coming home. Fifth generation owner Bram Collins runs the show; he’s very much a part of the land and loves sharing it with others. Bram’s laid back nature and genuine hospitality seems to have infected all ‘get away from it all’ like you can at Undara. From the refurbished railcar rooms and dining area to the swag tents and campsites this is just how the Outback should feel.

Near sunset I found myself in a van alongside a group of kangaroos lazily eating grass in the bush. Before long I was sipping champagne, eating cheese, and watching the sun set over 500 square miles of Outback. It was rugged, raw beauty with a touch of luxury.

Dinner was the chef’s specialty of kangaroo, croc, emu, steak, chicken, and sausage. Don’t worry; there was soup, salad, and dessert as well. No one goes hungry out here it seems! The evening’s entertainment — a guitar and songs around the campfire. If you come in October you can experience Opera in the Outback.

This is the real Outback, full of genuine hospitality and great food, fresh air and wide open spaces.

Having spent the previous night at Shangri-La I didn’t know how my Outback cot would compare, but no worries there — I couldn’t find a better night’s rest for hundreds of miles. Granted, there’s not much around for a hundred miles, but you get my point.

Day 6 - Undara to Dunk Island

Cobbald Gorge (with crocodile).