Lava Tubes

Undara reputedly has the best preserved lava tubes on the planet. These are the result of a significant volcanic event some 190,000 years ago. Not the kind of volcanic eruption commonly associated with cone shaped mountains as we saw on full display at Tanna Island. The Undara volcanic eruption was a massive larva spew that continued uninterrupted for many years. As multiple rivers of red-hot lava oozed their way outwards from the volcanic vent they cooled and solidified, first on the exterior, leaving leaving molten lava still flowing on the inside. This process formed hollow tubes of rock known as lava tubes.

Collapsed tube sections easily visible from BAZ

Collapsed sections of the Undara lava tubes are easily visible from the air. They provide a cooler habitat in a generally hot environment and the resulting green vegetation contrasts markedly with the the surrounding sun-burnt land. Scientists say there are many yet undiscovered lava tubes in the Undara area but what is known provides a fascinating experience for anyone visiting this National Park.

Inside a lava tube

Leaving Undara on Monday 26 September after two nights sleeping in rather quaint old railway carriages the 3 remaining Comanches headed some 1200 km further south to our next night's destination at Charleville. The vastness of Australia's outback is best appreciated from an aircraft…hour on hour the landscape hardly changes. Cruising at 9,500 feet the air temperature was still a warm 18'C and in every direction smoke haze limited visibility. 

Undara sunset

Charleville marked the final night stop for Comanche-3. From here we would split-up and individually proceed as Comanche-1 aircraft. Ian and Irene with VH-MMN had something like a non-stop 5 hour flight back to their home base at Tyabb, south of Melbourne, while Tony and Jan in VH-TSJ (Julie) had a marginally shorter flight to their home at Bendigo. After sharing 44 days and nights of adventure together we had gotten to know each other very well (warts and all) and so it was with appropriate respect to emotions that we each made our farewells.  

BAZ at Undara

We waved good-bye to the departing Comanches then convened a crew meeting in the Charleville airport cafe. The outcome decision of this meeting was to fly BAZ to Brisbane, around 2.5 hours flight to the east of Charleville, and have a couple of days sampling city life in Brisbane.  The Bazflyer's next mission is the Australian Comanche Society annual general meeting at Dubbo in two weeks time...and an opportunity for a Comanche-5 team get-together. 

On approach into Brisbane / Archerfield

Baz Copilot

Baz Captain

Meanwhile, BAZ is 'parked' under cover at Brisbane Archerfield airport (thank you Jim Peters for the hangar) and the Bazflyers have resorted to 'passenger-travel' for a couple of weeks catching-up with family back in New Zealand.