Tour Overview

Billy Tea Safaris offers the only Full Day Outback Tour from Cairns!

Explore the Chillagoe Caves, Granite Gorge and other highlights of Tropical North Queensland on this full-day tour from Cairns.

Your day begins with a pick up by your friendly accredited guide in a custom-built air-conditioned 4WD vehicle. After introductions and getting to know your fellow passengers for the day, we’ll ascend the McAllister Ranges looking for many different species of bush birds, including emus, wedge-tail eagles, squatter pigeons, kangaroos and frilled neck lizards along the way to your first stop at Skybury Coffee Plantation in Mareeba for morning tea.

Travel out to Chillagoe while listening to the informative commentary by your guide who will share information about the region's wildlife, history, and aboriginal culture. Explore the Chillagoe-Mungaga Caves National Park with an expert local guide, travel through historic mining towns and small outback communities, see the Chillagoe Smelter Ruins, visit Balancing Rock for an amazing photo opportunity, see and learn about aboriginal rock art and visit Granite Gorge to see the wallabies. You'll also be treated to lunch at a 100-year-old Aussie Outback pub.

Highlights of your day tour in the Outback

Prices

Billy Tea Safaris will provide Baby Seats or Booster Seat please advise upon booking, all children up to the age of 7 years.
Please be aware there is a 24-hour cancellation policy of 100% cancellation fee. No exceptions.
If you fail to load there is also a 100% cancellation fee applies. No exceptions.
Please check our Terms and Conditions for Cancellation Fees.

PRIVATE CHARTER RATES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

Prices valid from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Itinerary

Your 4WD experience through the Aussie Outback from Cairns!

Courtesy pick up and drop off (note Port Douglas is an additional cost). Board the custom-built 4WD vehicle and travel spotting wallabies, emus, and other wildlife and then along the agricultural paddocks of this fertile area, where you will have a chance to see, Paw Paw, Lychee, Longen, Mangoes, just to name a few eventually crossing over the Great Divide and into the Western watershed, we are now in the Australian Outback.

Stop 1: Skybury Coffee Plantation for Morning Tea - enjoy a coffee or tea and a morning snack (such as scones, jam and cream, and tropical fruit) while enjoying the balcony views.

Stop 2: Private local ranger-guided Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park Tour - take a step back in time and be inspired by the knowledge of your guide as he explains about the fossilized remains of the ancient coral reefs some 400 - 420 million years old, with hidden limestone labyrinths give a portal to a lost world just like our own Great Barrier Reef. This was once the inland sea. Millions of years in the making, the limestone formations and Chillagoe-Munagana Caves are nothing short of spectacular.

Stop 3: Chillagoe Smelter Ruins - here we delve into the history of the Chillagoe copper smelters, whose old chimneys dominate the western horizon. We visit the remains of the once-mighty smelters to ponder what it was like working there.

Stop 4: Aussie lunch at Chillagoe's 100-year-old pub - a true Australian Outback Pub built back at the turn of the century! There is time to visit the unique gift shop in Chillagoe specialising in Chillagoe marble and local Aboriginal art.

Stop 5: Visit Balancing Rock for an iconic photo opportunity!

Stop 6: See Aboriginal Rock Art and learn about some Dreamtime stories.

Stop 7: Visit Granite Gorge to see the wallabies - get up close and personal with these local rock wallabies at Granite Gorge National Park and have time to explore this National Park before making your way home.

Please note: itineraries may be changed, operate in a different order or some destinations may not be reached at the discretion of Billy Tea Safaris guide on the day due to weather, possible road closures and for the safety of all passengers.

Gallery

FAQs

Operating days:

Our days will vary throughout the year. Please click here to view our availability.

What time does the tour start and end?

• Southside accommodation: pick up 6.40am, return 6.30pm - 7pm
• Cairns City accommodation: pick up between 6.45am – 7am, return 6.30pm - 7pm
• Northern Beaches accommodation: International Coaches will pick you up approximately 6.45am and transfer you to Canopys Edge Bus Stop in Smithfield where you will be picked up by your Billy Tea guide. This is included in your ticket. You will be returned to Canopys Edge Bus Stop in Smithfield approximately 6.30pm where you will be picked up by International Coaches for your return back to the Northern Beaches.
• Port Douglas accommodation: this is an additional cost of $82 per person (minimum of 2 people). International Coaches will pick you up between 6am - 6.15am and transfer you to the bottom of the Kuranda range where you will be picked up by your Billy Tea guide. Returns between 7pm - 7.30pm.

Please ensure you are on time for your hotel pickup! If you are not on time, you may miss your pickup which will incur a 100% cancellation fee. Please note all times are approximate.

Cancellation Policy:
Customers can cancel their trip up to 18 hours before travel for a full refund (2 pm the day prior to travel). If you cancel within the 18-hour period before travel, no refund will be issued. Rebooking fees of $50 also apply.

In the instance that your preferred date of travel is cancelled by us, we will rebook you on the next available date we are departing at no additional cost to you. For more information on booking changes and other options contact our Reservations team via email: email/info)(billytea.com.au or phone: 07 4032 0077.

COVID-19 Cancellations: In the event that you need to cancel due to COVID Government-mandated travel restrictions and you are forced to cancel your tour which is outside of your control, you can cancel and rebook at no additional cost to you. Read more about our health and safety procedures here.

If you booked through a third-party travel agent, please contact your agent directly regarding your refund or rebooking request first. Please read the agents Terms & Conditions carefully before booking with a third party! Their specific Terms and Conditions are out of our control and may differ from our Terms and Conditions.

Vaccinations:

As per the QLD State Government Health Guidelines, you do not need to be vaccinated to participate in our tours.

Can I hire a car and do this on my own?
If you're thinking of driving to Chillagoe in your hire car you need to check with your company that you can take your car on a dirt road. The road to Chillagoe is not sealed all the way... let us take care of that for you so you don't have to worry. Just sit back and relax!

How many people will be in the vehicle?
Our vehicles take 16 to 20 passengers only. We keep our numbers small, to create a more personalised experience. Note: numbers have been reduced due to COVID-19. Passengers will be spread out to adhere to current COVID restrictions.

Can we do a private charter?
Yes! We have private charters available with personalised itineraries. Price on application - get in touch with us!

What do I need to bring?
Hat, sunscreen, camera with extra batteries, water bottle, extra cash for cold drinks, souvenirs or an ice-cream.

What should I wear?
As we are in a tropical environment, wear comfortable clothes and flat closed in shoes - no thongs (flip flops) and no high heels! If you do not have closed in shoes you may not be allowed in the Caves due to safety reasons and the decision of National Parks. In winter you will need to take a light coat.

What does Billy Tea provide?

• Courtesy pick-up and drop-off (note: Port Douglas additional cost)
• Accredited driver-guide for the day
• Morning Tea at Skybury Coffee Plantation with coffee or tea and a morning tea snack
• Guided National Parks Chillagoe Cave tour
• National Park Fees covered for all sites: Chillagoe Smelter Ruins, Aboriginal Rock Art, Balancing Rock, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves
• Entry/Admission to Granite Gorge to see wallabies
• Travel in an air-conditioned custom-built 4WD vehicle
• Lunch at an Aussie pub
• Booster seats for children if required (please note at the time of booking)

Itineraries may be changed, operate in a different order or some destinations may not be reached at the discretion of Billy Tea Safaris guide on the day due to weather, possible road closures and for the safety of all passengers.

Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
All dietary requirements must be notified at the time of reservation. We can cater for vegetarians and most other requirements, within reason if they are medical. Please note you are touring to a remote location and having lunch at an outback pub, so there is not a big selection.

What level of fitness is required?
You will need to be reasonably fit as there are stairs, some uneven ground and will take an hour to walk through the cave system at a slow pace.

I do not like confined spaces, will I be ok in the caves?
There are a few confined spaces you will need to go through during the cave tour. If you do not like really confined spaces, please notify the local guide.

Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, children are welcome on this tour. Prams and strollers are not permitted into the caves, so the children will need to be able to walk or you will need to carry them. The cave tour will take at least an hour and there are stairs and uneven ground. (Please note this a 12 hour day so take this into consideration when taking children on this tour - booster seats provided)

Is the tour wheelchair / disabled friendly?
Unfortunately due to the narrow passages, steps and elevated platforms of the Chillagoe Caves, this tour is not suitable for wheelchair or walking disabilities.

Is there a Wifi connection?
No, as you are in a remote location we cannot provide wifi in our vehicles. This may also mean that mobile reception is often quite difficult due to the remoteness of the area.

Reviews

What our customers say:

"The tour is really well organised and interesting. You have the chance to see different things during the whole day (landscape, animals, etc.) We had a great tour guide, Gav. He was very knowledgeable and passionate! I recommend this tour to everyone who wants to see the Australian outback!"
- Aleksander, via TripAdvisor

"Thanks for a wonderful day in the outback. My personal highlights were the drive to Chillagoe, the diverse change in scenery and the rocky granite and limestone outcrops. A unique and amazing part of Australia. I loved it. Thanks, Gavin for being such a great and passionate guide. I learned so much. You're a top bloke!"
- Konnie, via TripAdvisor

"This is a great day out with a top guide. You travel through all aspects of the Australian bush from rainforests and into the typical inland savannah, you get to taste locally grown coffee in a fantastic setting. The actual cave tour is unbelievable and you have your own indigenous local range to show you through caves. Highly recommend"
- Morgan, via TripAdvisor