The next day I headed south through fog & winding roads off the tablelands, stopping briefly at a gas vent from an ancient volcano. The hot gases formed underground blew up through the surface, creating a narrow vent going down 50m to the water's surface, to depths under water which haven't been determined (they got as far as 800m apparently but didn't reach the bottom). I then continued to the Undara Lava Tubes, where I spent two nights. They were very interesting, a guided tour takes you into them, the guide giving a full explanation of the history, including the surrounding area. The Undara National Park contains many old volcanoes which have spread lava over a vast area in the past. The lava tubes are created when a lava flow cools on the outside but keeps flowing inside eventually emptying out, leaving the tube. Nearby is 100 Mile Swamp, so named as it is 100 miles from the coast (this is QLD, remember). The swamp is about 8 km long and narrow, formed at the end of a lava flow which formed a dam. A walking track along the edge is interesting, you are walking on granite ground but across the water you can see the edge of the old lava flow. Quite a bit of wildlife can be observed on the walk, from a 15mm frog, many birds, 'roo and one - luckily not wild - huge cow sitting not far off the path contentedly chewing her cud.
From here, the plan is continuing south through Charters Towers and on to Brisbane .
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