SearchAdvanced Search
Search
JOBSEEKERS
Job Search Advanced Jobseeker Tips Working Holiday Visas
EMPLOYERS
Login Register Employer Info
TRAVEL GUIDES
Cairns Port Douglas Daintree & Cape Tribulation Great Barrier Reef Atherton Tableland Palm Cove Cape York Peninsula Cooktown Great Greenway Outback and Gulf Savannah Reef and Islands

Mount Surprise

Gulf Savannah enthralls visitors by its numerous scenic sights. The Gulf never fails to make its visitors amazed by its exceptional lava tubes, hidden gorges, cascading hot springs, remote fishing and abundant wildlife. However, there's one spot in the Gulf Savannah that never fails to astound all who stumble upon it. This spot is none other than the majestic Mount Surprise.

Mount Surprise is a little township that can be found more than 300 kilometers southwest of Cairns and roughly 400 kilometers east of Normanton. Mount Suprise lies on the border of the giant Undara lava field, which was caused by a volcanic eruption in the place called Mc Bride Volcanic Province. This happened more than 100,000 years ago, and the neighboring lands now are filled by grasslands and isolated hills.This small village of Mount Surprise, which is only composed of a pub, a service station, a railway station, and two cafes, is known for its tin mining, gemstones and cattle industries and the town's few worthwhile tourist destinations.

Attractions

The first location that can be a good site for a traveler to visit is the Forty Mile Scrub National Park. This impressive park is an old rainforest relic that has remained virgin for millions of years now. The park also has served as an area that supports the famous continental drift theory. This rich rainforest also has some parallels that resemble the rainforests of Burma and India, which suggests that at some point, the Asian and Australian continents were connected before slowly drifting apart over millions of years.

In addition to the Forty Mile Scrub National Park, the Undara Lava Tubes are also a must-see site in Mount Surprise. These wonders of Australia are hailed as the biggest lava tubes in the whole world. They are situated in bushland that are in the southwest part of Cairns. The flow that occurred ages ago in this place, is the globe's longest lava course coming from a volcanic crater. The lava traveled over 160 kilometers in big basalt tunnels that are now refered to  as the lava tubes. The lava was from the Undara Volcano, which is among the huge 164 craters on the great Mc Bride Plateau. Visitors inspect the amazing lava tubes through an educational tour conducted by the Undara experience, an eco-tourism group.

Another most-visited area in Mount Surprise is the Tallaroo Station Hot Springs. The fascinating springs were discovered in the 1870's, 45 kilometers west of the Mount Surprise. People can go to this relaxing spot everyday to unwind and to release the pressures caused by their busy schedules in the city. Likewise, tourists who visit Mount Surprise never miss the experience to ride the Savannahlander, a classic 1960's Railmotor that runs every week. This train takes people on a five-hour trip from Cairns to Forsayth's old mining community.

Mount Surprise also has the O’Briens Creek Gem Fields, which was created as a fossicking location in 1995. Gemstones like Topaz are discovered in two-meter deep earthly gravels. In addition to this, there is also a place called Agate Creek Gemfields that is located at Forsayth. The fields can be reached riding a car, however, the routes are hard to take during dry season. Last but definitely not the least place to tour in Mount Surprise is the Cobbold Gorge. This is a pretty fascinating swimming hole surrounded by huge cliffs where numerous animals often stay to find food.

Mount Surprise offers astounding scenery and numerous activities for people who are looking for a nice break away from the city.