Nevertheless we turn up at the office at 0815, watch the Savannah-lander DRM (Diesel Rail Motor - remember the Citroen?) pas by on the way east. It runs from Forsayth to Cairns!!! Good story of when there was talk of stopping the service the locals at Einasleigh discover the line must stay open if there was a train on it... so they hijacked a train... and forced the Government (reps) to come to Einasleigh -agreeing to keep the line open - 23 years ago.
Anyway is is a 40 minute drive to the NP, back through the many traffic light roadworks; took 55, but seemed like no time thanks to our guide, Steve's, constant interesting instruction about the Savannah geology, flora and fauna.
There is some effort required to walk around the rim of the cone - the serious climb up the side, about a vertical 100 metres. Seems like more particularly as it is a warm morning; its in the 20's already... The path is crushed granite rather than the plains basalt and is like walking on shot or ball bearings. Once on the rim the path, is the native volcanic rock and soils, so one must watch one's step as the rocks stick out everywhere.
Once up there we are treated to great views - and a few interesting critters; the Common Walleroo (Euro) abound, birds - and haven't spotted any snakes or goannas...
Undara is visible on the horizon along with many other cones, blown over craters and ash cones, fascinating. Was a busy place until 20,000 years ago. So the local people were here for the last eruptions! The visible and surface geology ranges back 120 million years!
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| Undara Cone |
R&R over it is off to the Lava Tubes, a short one first then a longer complex called the 'Wind Tunnel'. Of the 160 km of this main tube (of which only 7KM has been surveyed) it seems about half has collapsed, making those portions visible from up high by the noticeably greener vegetation in the 'grottos' due to the moister environment. Rainforest plants live down there! None on the surface of the Savannah.
Down we go, bollards and rope over the rocks, needs care for us oldies. Steve, the guide runs up and down beside the path assisting this who need it... It is cool; I mean cool and wondrous. After a while, greatly better informed about the nature of the lava tubes, we climb back into the warmth of the day and head for the Wind Tunnel.
This is a whole different scale of things. the tube disappears in the gloom... It is (like the other one) silted up to about half way and the floor shows the signs of animals, wind and water flows... the walls and roof show the changes from rock melting and solidifying, cracking, leaking... and falling in! The colouring varies from leaching of calcium, iron etc - so varies from white to red to black...We turn the corner in the tube, where the flow has hit some harder rock (I guess) one branch drops (into the silt) another turns about 60 degrees... all of us (with our supplied torches) are marvelling at the domed tube -and looking for 'critters'. Although a bit early we find a few tiny bats hiding in cracks and a small swarm on the ceiling. Micro bats, tiny, a wingspan of a few inches... and miscellaneous spiders.
After a while we all reluctantly climb back into the real world. What a buzz. Both very pleased we finally made it. Steve promises us a relaxing (quiet) trip back... but after 5 minutes silence expounds the history of the whole Etheridge Shire and the Einasleigh - with his very pleasant voice and delivery.
Back! Honey is fine... and it is pizza night. Being stuffed, it seems like a fine idea. So a shower, a pizza a beer and a Pinot, watching the football is suddenly hard work. Goodnight!
