Walk Carnarvon Gorge
5 Day Pack-Free walk
This special hike explores stunning Carnarvon Gorge, one of Queensland’s most spectacular natural features. Walk along deep water-carved gorges, up spectacular sandstone escarpments, through cloistered dry rainforest orchestrated by hundreds of species of birds, between the fronds of the world’s largest ferns, and into ancient art galleries of immense ceremonial and spiritual significance. Situated 750 kilometres from Brisbane, when you are there, you get that magic double feeling of adventure and peace that only comes from being somewhere truly, truly remote.
Each night you will stay beside the gorge in Takarakka’s Kookaburra Studios, sitting back under the scintillating stars With everything completely taken care of, you will have nothing to worry about except finding your own inner peace and tranquillity in the haven of the vast Queensland Outback that is Carnarvon Gorge.
Pack-Free Walking Experience
Carry only your water and lunch
No need to carry heavy overnight packs with your clothes and gear, this walk has been designed for those looking for an affordable multi-day walking experience with all the creature comforts. Your overnight bags will be transported each day so all you need is a small day pack for your lunch and water.
Our Carnarvon Gorge 4 Day Pack-Free walking experience has been custom-made for you to see the best Carnarvon Gorge has to offer, without you having to lug a heavy backpack around with you day-in, day-out. Designed with the adventurer in mind who wants to carry no more than their day pack
Helicopter flight over Carnarvon Gorge
A spectacular Wow factor
To truly appreciate the grandeur and carnarvon-gorge we include a helicopter over to get a bird’s eye view of this gorge which runs for 35km in the heart of the 302,000 hectare Carnarvon National Park.
Takarakka Lodge
Nestled within Carnarvon National Park and right beside Carnarvon Gorge.
Stay in the best accommodation available in Carnarvon National Park Idyllically perched against Carnarvon Creek, you will be able to kick your feet up on your private balcony, enjoying the serenity and watching all the local wildlife that frequents the water’s edge. With air conditioning, your own bar fridge, and ensuite bathroom inside, and private al fresco kitchen and exclusive fire pit outside, you will have all you need and everything you want to make yourself at home for the coming days. Takarakka Lodge also has an outdoor Bush Bar and General Store for any necessities you may need as you unwind after each day’s edifying hike.
Overlander Homestead
in outback Roma
Spend 1 night in the Overlander Homestead in Roma. This property features horse stables, pool and the charming Carriages Restaurant.
Local produce
served with Queensland wines
Mealtime is a special time on tour. Not only does it provide the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers in a relaxed environment, but it also allows you to sample regional specialities. In Roma we dine at the Carriages Restaurant who boast the best steaks in Australia, as well a range of other delicious choices. Whilst at Carnarvon Gorge enjoy hearty meals featuring fresh local flavours. All evening meals are served with Queensland wines.
Our CEO Guides
Chief Experience Officers
Our guides are truly exceptional at what they do. We call them our CEOs – Chief Experience Officers and it’s their job to ensure your tour exceeds your expectations. Our guide’s caring attitude and wonderful outgoing nature ensure your tour is relaxing, fun and informative. They will take into account the weather each day and plan the day’s adventure to suit you and the conditions.
Personalised Tours
Small and intimate groups
Our group sizes are small and intimate with a maximum of 12 people, we find this delivers more personalised service, a great social environment and has less impact on the environment.
Genuinely all-inclusive
No more to pay
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive. From cruises to wine with dinner there are no hidden extras. You won’t even pay for credit card fees.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
What Life’s An Adventure is renowned for?
Tour Itinerary
This is an all-inclusive tour with no hidden extras:
- Spectacular helicopter flight over Carnarvon Gorge
- 1 night in The Overlander Homestead
- 3 nights in Takarakka Lodge
- 3 x delicious 2-course restaurant dinners featuring beautiful local produce
- 3 x breakfasts
- 4 x lunches
- Return transfers from Roma to Carnarvon Gorge
- Professionally guided – Our CEO’s – Chief Experience Officers are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information
Day 1: Transfer from Roma to Carnarvon Gorge. Mickey Creek and Warrumbah Gorge Walk.
Today make your way to Roma to start your experience. Roma can be reached by air (Qantas 1 hour & 15 mins), bus or train. Today is at leisure to relax and enjoy this outback Queensland town. Check in to your accommodation at the Overlander Homestead, a refurbished homage to yesteryear, with beautiful sprawling lawns and horse stables. There is an onsite pool and restaurant which prides itself on having the best steaks in Australia. Just down the road are quintessential and proud outback museums, dedicated to petroleum mining and the beat-up old cars that are synonymous with outback roads. A 20-minute walk will also bring you to the biggest bottle tree around. Roma is a roughly 70-minute flight from Brisbane and, though small, has a very colourful history for those keen to explore the town. Tonight enjoy dinner in the restaurant tonight which pride itself on having the best steaks in Australia (other choices also available).
TRAIL NOTES: 5 km, 3 hrs
TERRAIN: Lightly undulating with sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain. Some rock scrambling for the alacritious (brisk and lively) walkers.
WALK ITINERARY: After a good outback brekkie, we drive through the rugged backcountry to Carnarvon Gorge. Our walking experience today takes us to Mickey Creek and Warrumbah Gorge, two amazing walks right near the main gorge mouth. Mickey Creek is a cool, pristine pocket of serenity, providing refuge for ferns and mosses that evolved long before the scorching heat of the outback descended on Australia. Warrumbah Gorge, whilst likewise a refuge, is awe-inspiring to boot. It is a narrow cleft, dominated on either side by soaring walls, making it the quintessential slot canyon. Alacritous hikers can continue to explore up into the gorge, where the path ends and true off-trail clambering begins. At night we will have roast dinner served with wine under the stars before you bed down in your serene water’s-edge studios.
TRAIL NOTES: 14km
TERRAIN: Overall this is a clear and well defined trail, with only a few sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain. There is a steep climb but with well-formed stone steps and short ladders and its only about 300m long with about 200m in elevation gain from the gorge floor. Otherwise, the terrain is just lightly undulating.
WALKING ITINERARY: With a healthy and hearty breakfast finished and fuelling us for the day, we will set off up the gorge’s main trail, before veering right up the sandstone walls to Boolimba Bluff. A 200 metre climb will bring us to the top of the escarpment and from here we get amazing views out over the landscape. As the sun rises and the heat with it, we will descend back down into Carnarvon Gorge and continue on our trek to the amazingly cool and secluded Moss Garden. This green treasure, refreshed by waters that have taken thousands of years to percolate through the sandstone strata, is one of the most peaceful and serene grottos you are likely to see across all of outback Australia. Heading back to your creek-side accommodation, you will be able to relax in the late afternoon warmth before we regroup for dinner served with wine and a visual guided tour of the stars which shine ever so brightly in the Aussie Outback.
TRAIL NOTES: 20km, easier option available.
TERRAIN: Flat walking with some small inclines. Excellent dirt track but some sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain and many creek crossings using stepping stones and boulders.
WALK ITINERARY: Today enjoy breakfast before setting out and getting a taste of what is known as the Carnarvon Great Walk, a 90 kilometre circuit of the rugged area completed by only the hardiest of hikers. While we are not doing the full loop we will still be seeing the best that huge walk has to offer on our way to Big Bend, a large elbow carved out by millions of years of flowing water. Heading directly up the gorge, we are flanked on either side by its towering walls and will get many chances to rock hop, skip, jump, or wade over the many semi-permanent waterways that are home to and creator of the gorge. On our way up the gorge we will veer off on many gorgeous side trips, from refuges for ancient king fern gardens to daunting acoustic amphitheatres but, most importantly, a singular Aboriginal art gallery dating back almost 4000 years, a visual testament to the (at least) 20 000 years of human occupation in this area. Something not to be missed and treasured in memory. While it is a long walk, the main gorge has it all, and is the highlight of any visit to Carnarvon Gorge. Something to reflect on this night, over a delicious dinner served with Australia wines.
*Please note, easier options for walking are available on this day.
TRAIL NOTES: 4km, 1.5 hrs
TERRAIN: Flat walking. Excellent dirt track but some sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain.
WALK ITINERARY: After the exertions of yesterday, this morning you’ve earned a little sleep-in. Once you are rested, we’ll start the day with an easy amble along the Nature Trail, a quiet and beautiful walk where you can notice the small things and let the sounds of nature trickle over you. We’ll keep an open mind and an open eye out too for any wildlife, especially any sleek platypus returning to their water’s-edge burrows after a night of feeding. After this we’ll stroll to the Rock Pools, the only area where swimming is permissible in the gorge and we will take to the water, paddling around pondering turtles and darting fish. After this quiet morning we’ll turn it back up to 10, and send you soaring over the gorge and endless landscape beyond in a chartered helicopter flight, an exhilarating way to contextualise all the places you have hiked to over the previous days. After we head south again, to Roma, where you can relax, reflect, and prepare yourself for re-entry into that thing called ‘real life’.
Tour Availability
We run regularly scheduled tours from June to August every year. Dates are listed below however availability changes by the hour – to see real-time availability click on the monthly calendar at the bottom of the page and select the month you require. We will also consider opening up a new departure date if we have enough demand. Email us at walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
SPECIALS
Check below to see if your preferred departure has a special savings. Conditions apply see pricing page.
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PRIVATE GROUPS:
Date of your choice is available for groups of 10 -12 people. Subject to availability.
Please contact us for more details on (02) 9975 4553 or email:groups@ifesnadventure.com.au
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Tour Prices
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FIRST TIME TRAVELLER SUPER EARLYBIRD
$
3799
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Prices for those doing their first walk with us |
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DEPARTURES Super Earlybird Price*…..$XXXX * Super Earlybirds available only when you book and pay in full by 31 March 2021. Normal Price requires $300 deposit only, with final payments due 8 weeks prior. |
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PAST PASSENGER SUPER EARLYBIRD
$
XXXX
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Guests that have travelled with us before |
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DEPARTURES Super Earlybird Price*…..$XXXX * Super Earlybirds available only when you book and pay in full by 31 March 2021. Normal Price requires $300 deposit only, with final payments due 8 weeks prior. Guests that have completed at least one Life’s An Adventure walk in the past. Email us for your special promotional code. |
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Private Groups Super Earlybirds
$
XXXX
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Your own Private Group of 10-12 guests |
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PRIVATE GROUPS Departure of your choice subject to availability. * Super Earlybirds available only when you book and pay in full by 31 March 2021. Normal Price requires $300 deposit only, with final payments due 8 weeks prior. Additional Past Passenger discount not available for groups. |
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OPTIONAL
$
Xtras
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The following extras can be purchased with your tour: SOLO TRAVELLERS |
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COVID Booking Guarantee
For terms and conditions on our special COVID-19 Booking Guarantee click here.
FlexiWalk Option – Cancel for any Reason
Click here for full conditions on our FlexiWalk Option.
Discount Information:
- PAST PASSENGER DISCOUNT: Those who have travelled with Life’s An Adventure previously, receive a past passenger discount of $100. In order to receive this discount please email us for your special “promo code” to use when booking. In your email, you should outline what Life’s An Adventure tour you have done with us in the past so we can cross-check.
- EARLYBIRD, & SPOT SPECIALS: Refunds and cancellations are not permitted for Earlybird Deals or Spot Specials, however, transfers to another date are permitted 8 weeks or more prior to departure. We advise taking out travel insurance, in case unexpected circumstances prior to the trip, prevent you from joining this tour.
- Early bird or Spot Special discounts cannot be used in conjunction with another offer. To receive these special discounts, full payment must be made at the time of initial booking. Flexiwalk Add-On option not available on these tickets.
Travel Insurance
We strongly advise our clients travelling within Australia to take out Travel Insurance. We have partnered with Cover-More to provide travel insurance to our guests. To get a quote or purchase travel insurance directly with them CLICK HERE
Additional Information
- Prices are per person in Australian dollars and include GST.
- A deposit of $300 per person is required to secure your booking. (unless taking advantage of Earlybird or Spot Specials in which full payment is required at time of booking).
- Note: If you are booking within 90 days of your departure date – we will require full payment at the time of booking
- Prices are based on twin share of rooms. If you are travelling solo you may be required to share with someone of the same gender. If this is not suitable you can request to pay a single supplement, however, limited single rooms are available per trip so are on a request basis.
- Payments must be made online via our NAB (National Australia Bank) secure payment page via credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or over the phone.
- NO Credit Card fee applies.
- We advise taking our Travel Insurance to cover items such as cancellation of tour due to minimum numbers not met, or adverse weather conditions, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc.
Booking Terms and Conditions
Before you book please read our Booking Terms and Conditions. Click here.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
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