Visitors inside a lava tube

Undara
The Undara Lava Tubes are reputedly the largest lava tubes in the world
One of the wonders of Australia, the Undara Lava Tubes are reputedly the largest lava tubes in the world. Located in bushland south-west of Cairns, they can be inspected only by taking conducted tours which are organised by an eco-tourism organisation known as the Undara Experience.The tour offers a unique insight into the flora and fauna of the Australian tropics as well as allowing visitors to enter the Lava Tubes.

The tubes were formed about 190 000 years ago when 23 cubic kilometres of lava from a volcano spilled out over the land and travelled along a river bed. It is estimated that the whole process took between 2-3 weeks with the lava flowing at a rate of around 500 metres per hour. The water in the river ensured that the lava formed a vast cylindrical tunnel. It is believed that 'The Wall', the name of a section of the lava tube near Mount Surprise, is similar to the lunar ridges on the moon.

There are two branches to the Undara Lava Tubes - one runs for 16 km and the other for possibly as much as 28 km. At various points the tubes have collapsed and these can be seen from the air as dark depressions which have become heavily vegetated.

The caves are vast with maximum widths of 21.2 metres and heights of up to 10 metres. They tend to be relatively straight and only terminate where the roof has caved in.

Nearby is the Undara Crater which is 340 metres across and 48 metres deep with steep inner slopes. However, it is inaccessible by vehicle and involves a considerable walk.

The tours depart from the Undara Lava Lodge. It is absolutely essential to book a trip before travelling to the site. People are turned away if a tour is full and it is silly to drive hundreds of kilometres to see nothing more than a camping site, a restaurant and cabins made from old Queensland Railways rolling stock in the middle of the bush. There is no vantage points near the Lava Lodge where you can see the tubes. Contact 1800 990 992 for bookings.

The railway carriage accommodation at Undara

It is worth booking accommodation at the Lava Lodge as the meals are typically Aussie bush tucker and the breakfast - held around a campfire in the bush - is a real experience. People say that it's the best bacon they've ever eaten. But then few of us eat bacon cooked over an open fire.

Things to see:  

Tours of the Lava Tubes
There are a number of tours available, with the half-day and one-day treks being the most popular. They visit a number of the breaks (or caves) in the lava tubes and actually allow participants to climb down into the tubes.

The half-day tour travels through the bush past the Hundred Mile Swamp until it reaches a rocky outcrop. Visitors climb to the top of the outcrop where they can see the remnants of the volcanoes which produced the lava flows. The guide gives a detailed description of how the lava tubes were formed and points out the main features of the area. There are also warnings about the number of snakes and interesting comments about both the flora and fauna.

The journey then continues to the first of the lava caves. The guide speaks of the geological features and the ecosystem of the cavern. There is a wide variety of fauna, particularly spiders and colonies of the eastern horseshoe bat. The tour then stops for morning or afternoon tea in the bush. After tea another lava cave is explored. If it is the afternoon the animals are starting to come out and it is common to see kangaroos grazing beside the road and rock wallabies sitting quietly in the bush at the top of the cave entrance.

The tubes themselves are huge. The surrounding area is typical tropical bush country with pandanus, ironbarks, white-barked gums and cabbage gums as well as remnant rainforest - known as semi-evergreen vine thicket - in the mouths of the caves. The guides are highly qualified and their talks are interesting.

If you are disappointed that you are not making your own way around the lava tubes just remember that a bus with 20 people is much more environmentally friendly than 10 4WD vehicles with 2 people in each one. This is eco-tourism which is committed to protecting the surrounding environment. For reservations at the Lave Lodge ring 1800 990 992 or email res@undara.com.au (see www.undara.com.au)

	Lodges & Chalets
	Undara Lava Lodge & Camping Ground Gulf Development Rd Undara QLD 4871 Telephone: (07) 4097 1411 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Undara Experience Resort Gulf Development Rd Undara QLD 4871 Telephone: (07) 4097 1411