From the freedom of the open plains, the charm and diversity of the bushland, intriguingly unique wildlife, colourful characters, big blue blue skies and those everlasting stars - handing on a personal experience and a genuine bond for the untouched spirit of Queensland's Outback. Explore 14 days of majestic desert landscapes and remote outback towns with legendary outback characters.
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Board your REX Airlines flight in Brisbane for a birds-eye view of the lush Darling Downs agricultural region before heading west to big sky country. You will be welcomed on arrival in Charleville by our Outback Aussie Tours driver guide and host. Explore Charleville on an insightful town tour before checking in to your accommodation. Early evening, visit the Cosmos Centre for the Big Sky Twilight Tour. See an amazing night sky brought into focus with the help of powerful Meade telescopes and listen to captivating stories from their experienced sky guide. Overnight: Mulga Country Motor Inn, Charleville (D)
This morning, we’ll be joined by a local guide for a tour of the United States Army Air Force top secret sites. Visit intriguing historical sites, understand the reasoning behind choosing Charleville, Queensland as a WWII base and learn about the highly classified computerised bomb aimer. Then, at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum, you’ll get a better understanding of one of the outback’s most iconic services. Step inside the famous Hotel Corones, built during Charleville’s wool industry boom. Join a guided tour with exclusive access to normally restricted areas of the hotel. Hear the rags to riches story of local character Harry Corones, followed by lunch in the hotel dining room. Visit the Charleville Bilby Experience for a tour of the nocturnal house. Learn about the incredible volunteer programme underway to protect this environmental engineering marvel. Overnight: Mulga Country Motor Inn, Charleville (B, L, D)
This morning be inspired by the farmer who turned a long term dream into reality with a tour of the Charleville Date Farm. Learn how dates grow and how reclaimed water came to be used for this environmentally friendly project. Best of all, enjoy a delicious date loaf for morning tea. Heading west we will tour The Lake. Located a short drive from downtown Quilpie, Lake Houdraman is a beautiful expanse of water set amongst shady gum trees. Learn more about the property with a guided station tour and enjoy a delicious lunch. Following lunch we take a look around the township of Quilpie on a guided tour including visiting St Finbarr’s Church and admire the stunning Opal Altar, Lectern and Font. Arriving at our accommodation we will have some time to relax before enjoying an exclusive sunset tour to nearby rolling red sandhills where the contrasting outback colours dazzle. After a big day of activities, enjoy a gourmet paddock-to-plate dinner experience. Overnight: Toogunna Plains Farmstay (B, L, D)
This morning, we are treated to an exclusive station tour of Toogunna Plains. Learn the history of this 4th generation family-owned sheep and cattle property. This afternoon, take some time to relax and enjoy the panoramic views of this vast open plain. This evening we travel to Eromanga, the furthest town from the sea and home to Australia’s largest dinosaur. Get up close to a 95-million-year-old dinosaur bone on the Australian Dinosaur Giant’s Tour at the Eromanga Natural History Museum. Wander the Interpretive Corridor and see the Multi-Media Theatre Experience before enjoying dinner at the Museum. Overnight: Toogunna Plains Farmstay (B, L, D)
This morning, we visit the historic Noccundra Hotel, then cross the border at Warri Gate into outback New South Wales. View the eastern sections of the Sturt National Park. Traverse gibber plains and spectacular ‘jump up’ country to Tibooburra. The striking granite boulders around Tibooburra are said to be remnants of a mass underground granite dome dating back around 410 million years. Explore the National Park Interpretive Centre and Court House Museum. Overnight: Tibooburra Hotel or Family Hotel, Tibooburra (B, L, D)
Travel through Sturt National Park to Cameron Corner where the boundary lines of the states of Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales meet. See the Strzelecki Desert, characterised by extensive red dune fields; home of the endangered Dusky Hopping Mouse. Pass by large cattle stations then travel through the heart of the oil and gas fields to Innamincka, on the banks of Cooper Creek. Learn the important role played by the Australian Inland Mission in providing essential medical services to remote towns. Overnight: Innamincka Hotel (B, L, D)
Retrace the last days of Burke & Wills and learn the story of Innamincka, dubbed ‘the town with two lives’. Visit the heritage-listed Burke & Wills Dig Tree, an enduring reminder of our pioneering spirit on the northern bank of the Cooper Creek, it is believed to be between 200-250 years old. Tonight, we toast the glorious outback Innamincka sunset as we watch a blanket of stars rise up above the famous Outpost on Cooper Creek. Overnight: Innamincka Hotel (B, L, D)
Follow the Strzelecki Desert through flood plains, sand dunes and gibber country. Travel through large stations including Arrabury which is over 700km2 in size. En-route to Birdsville, we call into Deon’s Lookout, the famous Betoota Hotel and the Dreamtime Serpent Indigenous artwork. Tonight have a yarn with the locals and enjoy a dinner at the famous Birdsville Hotel. Overnight: Birdsville Hotel (B, L, D)
This morning, we visit the Wirrarri Centre to view work by local Indigenous artists. Next take a stroll to the Birdsville Billabong where birdlife, fish and yabbies abound. Stand on the well known Birdsville Race Track and explore the Inland Hospital and Royal Hotel ruins; poignant reminders of a pre-federation metropolis. Tonight we’ll toast the glorious outback sunset from Big Red Sand Dune, a 40-metre-high sand dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert. Overnight: Birdsville Hotel (B, L, D)
Leaving Birdsville this morning, we’ll visit the Carcory Ruins, a heritage-listed homestead built in 1877 and abandoned after years of drought. Explore the remote town of Bedourie located on a sand dune, overlooking the Eyre Creek floodplain. See the Royal Hotel in Bedourie, built in the 1880s with adobe bricks and still very much in its original condition. Witness spectacular 360-degree views from the Vaughan Johnson Lookout. In Boulia we’ll visit the Min Min Encounter, a tribute to the famed mysterious Min Min Light phenomenon. Explore the Stonehouse Museum, one of the first homes built in Western Queensland and see the impressive Marine Reptile Fossil exhibit. Overnight: Australian Hotel or Desert Sands Motel, Boulia (B, L, D)
Follow the spectacularly scenic drive between Boulia and Winton. Call in at Cawnpore Lookout to view the stark flat-topped beauty of the surrounding Lillyvale Hills. Visit the historic Middleton Hotel, built during the Cobb & Co era. It was originally a changing station where tired horses were replaced with fresh horses on the Winton to Boulia route. Uncover the story behind the song that lives in the heart of all Australians at Winton’s Waltzing Matilda Centre. This afternoon, we visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, perched high on a spectacular mesa. Join a guided interpretive tour of the laboratory, collection room, and Dinosaur Canyon. Take in the moment at our very special sunset barbecue overlooking the plains where dinosaurs once roamed! Overnight: Boulder Opal Motor Inn, Winton (B, L, D)
Departing Winton, we follow the Matilda Way east to Longreach where we can spend a relaxed morning downtown. After lunch at The Branch Café, a local favourite, we will explore the fascinating themed galleries at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and discover inspiring stories of our pioneering heroes. This evening we visit the Qantas Founders Museum for the entertaining and informative Luminescent Longreach Sound & Light Show, which brings the 100-year-story of Qantas to life followed by an exclusive dinner surrounded by aviation history. Wander through the interactive displays to discover the real Qantas story. Overnight: Longreach Motor Inn (B, L, D)
This morning we board our Heritage 2000 class Rail Motor en-route to the one pub town of Ilfracombe, with stories of nostalgia to tell your mates about for years to come. Feel the freedom of the vast open plains before disembarking in Ilfracombe to explore the unique attractions in “the Hub of the West” like the Wellshot centre, the Machinery Mile, and grab some lunch at the famous Wellshot Hotel. Late afternoon, join the Drover’s Sunset Cruise on the beautiful Thomson River. Unwind with on-board nibbles as you gaze out to a magnificent outback sunset. Enjoy live entertainment and a two-course camp oven themed dinner under the stars at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show. Overnight: Longreach Motor Inn (B, L, D)
Your Outback Queensland adventure comes to an end after breakfast with a complementary transfer to Longreach Railway Station or Longreach Airport. (B)
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