MOUNT SURPRISE

SATURDAY 10.9.2011: Bedrock Village run tours to many of the sightseeing venues so we booked for a half day tour of Undara Volcanic National Park. Several days ago Sybil made a harmless statement about the need to incorporate a little more walking in the day – HA! Having only just gained an upright position after Cobbold Gorge today proved to be an even greater challenge!

JESS



KALKANI VOLCANO



Jess was our “Savannah Guide” for the day. Savannah Guides protect and conserve natural and cultural resources in the tropical savannahs of northern Australia. Compared to the Cobbold Gorge guide who did not really have an interest, Jess had a passion and knowledge for the area that made for a fantastic day from start to finish, plus an ability to ensure that all tour party members irrespective of ability levels were able to appreciate the scenery.

ENTRANCE TO THE LAVA TUBES

We were driven out to the National Park and our first stop was at the crater of Kalkani Volcano which is some 2.5 klms in circumference – we walked it, up hill and down dale! Undara means ‘long way’ in Aboriginal language. This national park is part of the McBride volcanic province with 164 volcanoes. Undara was the protagonist of the largest single volcano eruption on Earth about 190,000 years ago, when the external layer of the 1200°C lava flowing along a river bed cooled down and became a crust, while massive internal volumes kept on spreading producing  hollow tubes of about 20 metres wide and 10 metres high. The Lava Tubes - you have to feel a sense of trepidation when your guide makes the statement “it doesn’t matter how you tackle the climb, if need be just go down on your bottom!”

LAVA TUBES



The puddles again spent the day in the comfort of their own home, with Bedrock Village staff taking them for a walk and toilet break – hard life!