Travel with us through areas containing the largest concentrations of Australian and US forces in the country during the Second World War. You'll see bunkers, airfields, artillery sites, camps, relics and some of the finest military museums in Northern Australia.

This area oozes urban legends along with military history, so join us as we examine evidence that may surprise you. Areas visited include Townsville, Sellheim, Breddan, Charters Towers, Mt Surprise, Mt Garnet, Ravenshoe, Herberton, Historic Irvinebank, Atherton, Tolga, Mareeba, Kuranda, Port Douglas, Mossman, Cairns.

This tour is fully accommodated.

Day 1: Cairns, Innisfail, Townsville (BLD)

We depart Cairns in the morning for our journey to Townsville. Along the way we visit Innisfail, the site of a controversial chemical weapons test facility during WWII and Cowley Beach near Mourilyan. In the afternoon, we arrive in Townsville. Tonight after dinner, we are briefed on the sites we will see whilst in the area. Townsville saw some of the largest concentrations of military personnel in Australia during the Second World War.

Day 2: Townsville, Charters Towers (BLD)

After an early breakfast and departure, we set out on our exploration of Townsville. Today we will see many of the sites our fathers and grandfathers staged through as well as visit three of the best military museums this garrison city has to offer. Sites visited include: RAAF Museum at RAAF Garbutt, Kissing Point Museum, Castle Hill, Mount St John bunkers, Lavarack Barracks Museum, and much more...

Former US Command Post Bunker, Townsville

40mm Bofors Gun, RAAF Townsville Museum

We visit the US and Australian military bunkers and ruins in Stuart before we cast out towards Charters Towers. Along the way we will visit the former Army base at Sellheim and examine the ruins of the Breddan RAAF base, an area filled with vivid reminders of its wartime past. In the late afternoon, explore the wartime heritage of the former USAAF Bomber base at Charters Towers before continuing to our accommodation.

Day 3: Charters Towers, Mt Surprise (BLD)

After a leisurely breakfast, we continue our "Base Section Two" odyssey with an up-close-and-personal exploration of the ammunition storage bunkers at the former RAAF Replenishing Centre site on the outskirts of Charters Towers. A quick lunch sees us head out to Greenvale, a mining ghost town dating from the gold rush days, a time when Charters Towers was known as "The World". Then it's back onto the "Oz Personnel Carrier" for the journey to Mt Surprise, our accommodation for the night, and of course, a hearty dinner.

Ammunition Storage Bunker, Charters Towers

US B-25C Mitchell Crash Landed At Charter Towers

Day 4: Mt Surprise, Ravenshoe (BLD)

Even sleepy Mt Surprise played a vital role in defending Australia during WWII. First Stop is the former RAAF radar station, one of the most intact and accessible of such sites left in the country. Then it's onto Mt Garnet and lunch. The trip from Mt Garnet to Ravenshoe flies by and soon we are being guided through several of the former military sites here on the edge of the massive WWII Atherton Tablelands Military Complex. After arriving at our accommodation for the night we partake of Ravenshoe's famous country hospitality.

Day 5: Ravenshoe, Herberton, Atherton, Tolga (BLD)

We say goodbye to historic Ravenshoe and spend the morning exploring the Herberton military area. After lunch we follow the old military roads to Atherton where we are introduced to the military architecture and relics still in situ. Next stop is the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park, once home to a massive military hospital, this fascinating park has been developed as a memorial to all units who operated in the Atherton Tableland during WWII. Then it's on to Tolga, site of the largest logistics base in the Atherton Tablelands Military Complex, and our accommodation for the night.

Day 6: Tolga, Mareeba, Kuranda (BLD)

After breakfast we have a very special visit to the workshops of one of Far North Queensland's most famous vehicle restorers. Here we will see Bren Gun Carriers, Dodge Weapon Carriers, Jeeps, 2.5 Ton GMC trucks and artillery pieces under restoration and on display. Then it's onto Mareeba, home of one of the largest USAAF bomber bases in Far North Queensland during WWII. Reminders of Mareeba's wartime role are everywhere, from bunkers and AA sites to reclaimed bitumen taxiways and airstrips as well as the airport itself.

Sid Beck's "Cape York P-39", Mareeba

WWII "Army Duck", Rainforestation, Kuranda

At the airport we visit the Mareeba Warbirds Museum, an outstanding collection of Atherton Tableland Military relics as well as an active P-40 Kittyhawk restoration and flying T6 Harvard and CAC Winjeel trainer aircraft. Just down the road is the Sid Beck Collection. Housed in a fully restored WWII arch hangar, the collection includes aircraft and vehicles that Sid has restored and displayed for many years. We say goodbye to Mareeba and head towards Kuranda, our accommodation for the night.

Day 7: Kuranda, Port Douglas, Mossman, Cairns (BL)

First stop is Kuranda's world famous Rainforestation Wildlife Park, but we are not here for the crocs and cassowaries. Rainforestation has a fleet of WWII vintage 6-wheel drive DUKW amphibious vehicles, the famous "Army Ducks". Here we are treated to a special presentation on the capabilities and history of these amazing vehicles, as well as the opportunity to examine up close, the "Baby Duck", a WWII Ford GPA amphibious Jeep. Now it's through to Port Douglas for lunch. Heading south we see the site the Japanese bombed during the Second World War on the outskirts of beautiful Mossman. We follow the magnificent ocean road back to Cairns where we examine several more militarily significant sites before the end of the tour.