Undara v's Chillagoe

Submitted: Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 10:32

ThreadID: 36884 Views:6906 Replies:9 FollowUps:3

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harry1

I have been trying to research the Undara Lava Tubes on this site and others, as I read a bad review in a caravanning magazine a while back.

What I have found is there seems to be a 'love it or hate it' type attitude towards Undara. Many say it's fantastic and well worth the trip. Others say give it a miss and go to Chillagoe Caves instead.

Rather than a repeat of that, what I'm after is something more specific to help me decide.

Why didn't people enjoy Undara? Why are the Chillagoe Caves better?etc....

I think the initial article was written from a family point of view and reported that the Undara tour was too long and boring for children. Any comments welcomed.

Also a tip on where to camp around there would be great, as the Undara campground has also received mixed reveiws.

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Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 10:56

Reply By: pmacks - Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 11:09

Reply By: GoneTroppo Member (FNQ) - Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 11:26

Reply By: Big Kidz (Andrew & Jen) - Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 11:34

Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 11:34

Hi Harry

We were there June this year, but only went on the 1pm tour for 2 hours. We had spent 2 nights at Mt Surprise ( Bedrock caravan Park...very friendly people. They run tours out there or you can drive yourself, about 40 kms to the turnoff to the tubes. Also there is a place you can go and fossick for topaz if you are into that sort of thing. We are and had the best time..kids still talk about our find as a highlight of the trip)
Went to Undara on way back towards the coast. We thought it was well worth the money,( $112 for a family), kids did not get bored, but I think any longer would have been pushing it especially for the 5 year old. The best bit was the guide! He was a very knowledgeable "Older" man and taught us heaps about the whole area. It is hard to believe that the tubes stretch more than 160km at one point, "one of the longest lava flows from a single volcano on Planet Earth in modern geological times" You would never know standing on top and looking around that there are so many tubes running underneath you.

Haven't been to the Chillagoe caves- Sorry not much help there! Hope you have fun whatever you decide to do.

Jen

AnswerID: 189646

Follow Up By: harry1 - Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 12:11

Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 12:11

Hi Jen,

We will have two three year olds, a five year old and a 9 year old.

We realise that on our trip round Aus there will be some tours that the whole family won't go on, either due to price or just not being suitable for three year olds.
Do you think this might be one of them?

We would be very keen on looking for Topaz. Do you have any further information on that?

Thanks again.

FollowupID: 447123

Follow Up By: Big Kidz (Andrew & Jen) - Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 13:36

Friday, Aug 18, 2006 at 13:36

Its is always difficult trying to assess whether a certain tour will be suitable or not...we have had many headaches over the years!!! We just say to ourselves " we'll just have to come back again when they are older!!" Not always possible I know!
My 5 year old daughter coped quite well on the tour, the first part is easy as it is on the bus to get to the tubes! Then comes the walk, it is easy, they have built boardwalks and stairs etc. Kaitlyn got tired fairly quickly and Andrew ended up piggy backing her most of the time.... you'd have fun with 2 !!! I guess only you know how your kids go with walking etc. Also there is a fair bit of listening to do to the guides and some kids may find that boring to have to be quiet for others to hear! I have a brochure here I could send you if you want? My email addy is under our rig profile if you want to send me your address.
As for the gem fossicking, well where do I start?!!! We had the BEST morning, albeit hard work and I found out I had muscles I never knew existed! ( and I didn't even really do the hard digging.. I left that to my very capable husband!) The guy that runs it has a shop called "Mt Surprise Gems & Fossicking". Website is www.mtsurprisegems.com.au
This will give you lots of info.
We had a great morning out and managed to find the most clear topaz anyone had found on a tour this year!! Peter ( the owner) was going back to the spot that afternoon to see if we had left any!! Well worth our money and a great way to spend my birthday! The kids had a ball digging and sieving, and generally getting dirty and dusty! Just the things kids love to do really. Even BigKidz!!

Hope this helps!

Jen