Wow, we’re all set and hopefully haven’t left anything behind. The sales van is packed to the roof with bits and pieces in preparation for the biggest weekend of the year, Opera in the Outback.

With all the preparation it’s almost the calm before the storm. Thinking of which it’s time to check the forecast and with a sigh that is almost audible in Townsville it looks like Mother Nature will smile upon us. And even the moon is going to be up and bright for the evening finales!

So we head out of Cairns tomorrow morning stopping at Coffee Works on the way to pick up some of those chocolate covered coffee beans everyone is raving about  to serve up during the wine tasting in the afternoon. Together with the complimentary cheese platter its going to make for a great warm up for the singing.

But there’s plenty to be done before then, get everyone out to the Lodge, set up the AV equipment, meet the Sopranos, the list is long.

Stay tuned for my live blog update as the weekend progresses.

Did you manage to get in front of the box on Tuesday night? Two Men in the Top End a.k.a. Tim Flannery and John Doyle, dropped by Undara on their way across the country. This was a part of their documentary series investigating both the natural and human landscape across the Savannah. While in our neck of the woods, the boys enjoyed a personal tour of The Archway with two generations of the Collins Family: Gerry and Bram, and finished off the episode at our very own Wildlife at Sunset viewing spot.

The series runs until November so be sure to follow their progress as the rains chase them west.

Head to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/interactive/twointhetopend/ep1/ to download or watch Episode 1.

Thanks Tim Flannery and John Doyle for dropping by!

The Savannah Way is the name given to the journey between Cairns on the East coast of Australia, and Broome on the West coast. For the next week, I will be travelling from Cairns, through the Tablelands and then into the Savannah country to the Gulf of Carpentaria and on to Mt Isa. I am looking forward to the amazing diversity in the landscape, and the characters I’ll meet on the way.

Stay with me, its gets interesting.

Driving from Cairns up the Gilles Range was like a stairway to heaven, with rows of waterfalls streaming down the cliff faces and disappearing under the road. On the way I have counted 3 Wicked Vans (rental campervans), meaning the backpackers are still keen to defy the norm and see the country as it should be seen, GREEN AND ALIVE !!

I have also come across a motorhome, called “Trojan Snail”, which is being true to its name as it slows me down between Yungaburra and Atherton.

Once at Undara Experience, time for a beer and then I’m on a nocturnal bush walk with Levi, our Savannah Guide. Because of the rainfall, the 100 Mile Swamp is full of water and life. Sounds emanating from all corners and Levi put us right onto a Wolf Spider, as well as a venomous Black Strip snake, which poses it up right on the track in front of us.

What an amazing start to my Savannah Way adventure.

For more information and Maps so you can follow my journey, go to our Savannah Way page.

There was a great article in the Melbourne Age in late August about the Savannah Way. In an Adventure Holidays feature, some famous Aussies were interviewed about their most memorable active escapes

We loved Ernie Dingo’s memory, which was about driving the Savannah Way from Queensland to Western Australia.

He did the 3,500km trip while filming for The Great Outdoors. Slowly. In his words “It’s the best way to see it”. Couldn’t agree more.

Here are some of the points Ernie made that I really liked:

• “stop or take a detour every 50 to 60 kilometres. Try not to belt through like you are in the city.”
• “Cairns … is a pretty exciting place to start .. straight away you get into the great scenery, the colours change, there’s the unbelievable soil.” You drive past the farms, with all the stock, then there’s just nothing as far as buildings are concerned.”
• “Spring is the best time to go across the top and make sure you get to Broome before the rains in mid-December”

And of course, follow Ernie’s and the Age’s advice as to what to do in the area:

• Snorkel or scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system.
• Revitalise at Elsey National Park’s thermal pool and spring.
• Join a tour of Undara Lava Tubes, near Mount Surprise.
• Camp at Lake Argyle, a spectacular artificial desert lake.

To get some idea of the journey, you should head over to the Savannah Way website, and make your own plans. Their is an incredible map facility that makes it a lot easier to see it all.

Here is a link to the full article in The Age.