If for whatever reason you are only planning a couple of stops on the Savannah Way make sure that Mount Surprise is on your list; it was one of the best stops we made on our way to the coast.
There are 2 parks in Mount Surprise, one of these is behind the service station but the one of choice is Bedrock Village on the left hand side on your way out of town heading west to east.
If your like me I thought it was named from the cartoon “The Flintstones” but not so; the whole of Mount Surprise and surrounds sits on Basalt rock hence it was built on a bed of rock.
The park is really good, kept very tidy and most sites you can drive through then unhook. The amenities are first class with huge showers that are spotless; the staff and owners are terrific. The park has a pool which is somewhat of a godsend out west. Pricing during our stay was $27 per night or stay for seven & pay for 6; we were here for 8 nights and enjoyed every day of it.
Our site above; plenty of room to move and quite private; no slabs but the area under your awning is quite good, a rubber mat helps if you have one.
Wood fired pizza oven (I'm in heaven).
The park has its own bakery producing bread rolls, coffee scrolls and some other yummy things; the park also has a menu up each day and you can put your name down for the evening meal if you wish (the food is fantastic). On some of the days they put up a pizza menu to choose from, again you must order in the morning and nominate a time slot, everyone gets together in the outdoor eating area and the atmosphere is sensational.
Linda had a vegetarian pizza and I had a supreme; I had to take a picture of Linda's as by the time the camera came out I had scoffed half of mine. What you don't eat you take home for the next day (not me – non left).
On one of the days we drove down to Einasleigh which is where Copperfield Gorge is; we mainly went to see the pub that houses one of the biggest collections of miniature cars, dolls houses and furniture, entry is by donation and it is well worth the trip.
Getting to Einasleigh can be either from Georgetown (better road longer distance) or from Mount surprise (20km bitumen, 45km of pretty shitty dirt). We took the short shitty way and I am still trying to find one of my fillings.
Einasleigh Pub; quite well patronised when the Savannahlander train brings the tourists in, yes if you want to do the train trip from Mount Surprise you can; it covers the pub, Copperfield Gorge and includes “smoko”, the cost at the time was $84 p/p.
The rail bridge just out of Einasleigh; as you can see by the tree jammed halfway up the supports it can flood down here.
One of the crossings which when in flood is not passable.
Mount Surprise has a free car wash (I towed the van through on one occasion); they encourage you to wash the dust off you vehicle whilst in town; nice gesture and I had 3 or 4 goes during our stay, it was great after you had been out to some of the sites on dusty roads. Mount Surprise is a gem fossicking area and you can hire equipment and a map from one of the local businesses in town.
Hard to see them in the photo but Mount Surprise is well known for the black cockatoos that are abundant in the area.
Linda & I went on the Undara Lava Tube tour and this was a highlight for us; it would take ages for me to explain but if you are interested it is worth using Google to get some information.
In brief the tubes were formed by hot lava running some 160km; as the outer lava cooled from the external air the internal continued to flow leaving these massive tubes of lava.
Some of the access points are quite steep and good footwear is essential; above is Linda heading down one of the rock formations, hanging on to the rope rail is needed to keep upright.
The photo of us was take in pitch black darkness; when the flash goes off it brings all the colours of the lava tube to life. Cost for the morning tour was at the time $74 p/p including morning tea; you can do an all day tour but be warned it is quite exhausting, it runs from 8.00am to about 5.30pm and includes lunch ($120 p/p).
Photo above of the Savannahlander train stopped at Mount Surprise station; this train on certain tours starts in Cairns and includes overnight stops at some of the tourist spots on the way to Einasleigh.
Mount Surprise railway station; not very big but it does not have to be.
This is a great place to stop for a day or so or a week; if you are travelling east from Normanton or west from Ravenshoe put this on your “must do list”, we would certainly go back again (unless they have got rid the pizza oven).
Hope you enjoy the read and as always we wish you all well and safe travelling; we look forward to catching up with all of you at some stage.
Warm regards – David & Lind – The DavLin Rig
