Longreach & Outback Queensland Spectacular 2024
Snapshot
- 14 nights / 15 days
- Brisbane to Cairns
- Multiple departures
From
$10,440*
per person twin share
Overview
Moments of Magic
Riversleigh Fossil Fields
The Riversleigh Fossil Site has provided more knowledge on mammal evolution in Australia than any other. Because of its unrivalled richness, the expanse of time covered by its record, and the quality of the fossils it yields, Riversleigh was World Heritage listed in 1994.
Explore Carnarvon Gorge
Discover a wealth of cultural and natural heritage within Carnarvon Gorge, an enormous formation of towering white sandstone cliffs and chasms filled with rainforest, caves, rock art and wildlife.
Karumba Sunset Cruise
Cruise to Karumba’s magical sunset viewing destination, a sand island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Witness a spectacular gulf sunset as you dine on delicious fresh seafood and enjoy the tranquillity that surrounds.
Past Passenger Loyalty Rewards
Travelled once: Save $250pp
Travelled 2-3 tours: Save $350pp
Travelled 4+ tours: Save $500pp
*Offer valid until 17 May 2024 and is subject to availability and change. Advertised price based on 3 September 2024 departures, correct as of 4 April 2024.
Inclusions
Outstanding Value Inclusions
- Small Group Size - 26
- All meals including all breakfasts, lunches and dinners while on tour
- All attraction fees, cruise fees and national park fees
- Travel aboard a 5-star All Terrain Mercedes Benz Coach
- 14 nights of exceptional hotel, lodge and resort accommodation
- Services of a professional 2 person crew consisting of a Tour Driver and Tour Director
- Outback Spirit Explorer Pack (for first-time travellers only)
Tour Highlights
- Discover the cultural & natural wonders of Carnarvon Gorge
- Take a magical sunset dinner cruise on the Gulf of Carpentaria
- Discover the world’s only recorded dinosaur stampede at Lark Quarry
- Visit the Stockman's Hall of Fame and Qantas Founders Museum, including Boeing 747 & 707 aircraft tours
- Cruise the Thompson River and enjoy Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show
- Visit the Riversleigh Fossil Centre with exhibits relating to the regions fossil sites
- Cruise Cobbold Gorge and ride the legendary Gulflander Train
- Travel through the picturesque Atherton Tablelands & visit Millaa Milla Falls
- Take a guided tour through mind-blowing Lava Tubes at Undara and overnight in unique train carriage accommodation
Itinerary
Itinerary & Accommodation Snapshot
Day 1 - Brisbane – Toowoomba
Today you will be greeted by our friendly and professional Tour Directors at the time and location specified above. We then depart Brisbane Airport early this afternoon en route to Toowoomba, situated on the crest of the Great Dividing Range. Toowoomba is the largest non-capital inland city in Australia with a population of approximately 150,000. It is well known for its many beautiful parks and gardens which benefit from the town’s rich volcanic soils.
This afternoon we enjoy a tour of this strong regional city before checking in to the fully refurbished Burke & Wills Hotel for our overnight stay. Meals (D)
Day 2 - Toowoomba – Roma
This morning we enjoy a wander through Queens Park and visit the Cobb & Co Museum for an informative tour. Leaving Toowoomba, we cross the rich and fertile plains of the Darling Downs before visiting Dalby, home to the largest grain receival depot in Queensland.
We pass through Chinchilla and Miles before arriving at Roma where we enjoy a tour at the Big Rig Oil Patch. Tonight, we stay at the Roma Explorers Inn. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Roma – Carnarvon National Park – Emerald
We continue north into the Carnarvon National Park. An oasis in the heart of Queensland, Carnarvon National Park is characterised by towering white sandstone cliffs and pockets of rainforest. Well known for its incredible abundance of wildlife, the park is home to over 180 species of birds, 90 reptiles, 22 frog species and six species of gliders. It's also a refuge for Australia’s two monotremes, the Platypus and Echidna.
There are numerous guided walks available in the park, depending on your level of fitness. Your guides will help you choose the walk that's right for you. Spot an elusive Platypus on a gentle nature trail or, for the more seasoned walkers, head up the gorge to Moss Garden where water seeping out of the limestone supports a lush carpet of mosses and ferns.
This afternoon we depart Carnarvon Gorge and travel to Emerald, a coal mining town, responsible for the export of over 14 million tonnes of coking and thermal coal each year and home to a number of prosperous gemfields with the industry producing world class sapphires. We overnight at the Maraboon Motor Inn. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Emerald – Longreach
This morning we depart Emerald and head further ‘outback’ towards Longreach. We pass through Alpha, the name being derived from the Alpha Pastoral Station, established in 1863. This was a very large station, dominating the area and growing to more than 1,600 square kilometres by the 1890s.
From here we continue to Jericho and Barcaldine, which played a significant role in the Australian labour movement and the birth of the Australian Labor Party. In 1891, it was one of the focal points of the 1891 Australian shearers' strike, with the Eureka Flag flying over the strike camp. The landmark Tree of Knowledge, under which the strikers met, stood outside the railway station.
We arrive at Longreach this afternoon and spend the next two nights at Saltbush Retreat, a boutique outback lodge. This evening we enjoy a cruise on the Thomson River, followed by a delicious two course meal around the campfire followed by an evening of entertainment. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Stockman's Hall of Fame - Qantas Founders Museum
Longreach is named after the 'long reach' of the Thomson River on which it is situated. Regarded as the heart of the outback, it is one of Queensland’s most prosperous agricultural regions and one of the founding centres of QANTAS.
This morning we enjoy a tour of the School of Distance Education before visiting the iconic Stockman’s Hall of Fame, opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.
Later today we experience the Qantas Founders Museum which houses a Boeing 747 and the airline’s first 707. Enjoy a tour inside both aircraft and wander through this exceptional museum. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Winton - National Heritage Listed Lark Quarry
This morning we depart Longreach and head for Winton, stopping along the way to visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. Enjoy a guided tour before arriving into Winton, a town with a rich history and links to the Great Shearer’s Strike, Qantas and Waltzing Matilda.
However in recent years the town is almost as well known for something far more ancient, the Dinosaurs! This afternoon we visit the Lark Quarry Conservation Reserve, containing the world’s only record of a dinosaur stampede.
We overnight at the Boulder Opal Motor Inn in Winton. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Winton - Mt. Isa
Before leaving town, we enjoy a visit to Winton's Waltzing Matilda Centre. Rebuilt after the devastating 2015 fire, the centre features a world class museum that tells the story of Waltzing Matilda, along with an art gallery and exhibition space. We then continue northwest to Cloncurry, passing by the Walkabout Creek Hotel at McKinlay which featured in the legendary film ‘Crocodile Dundee’.
We continue on to Mt. Isa, arriving mid-afternoon. We spend the next two nights at the Red Earth Hotel, a luxurious boutique style hotel in the centre of town. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Mt. Isa - Mine Tour
Mt. Isa began as a mining town following the discovery of substantial deposits of lead in 1923. It is now one of the world’s top 10 producers of copper, silver, lead and zinc. This morning we enjoy a town tour before visiting ‘Outback at Isa’ home to a vast array of tourism attractions. First, we'll take an underground tour of the Hard Times Mine.
Then visit the unique Riversleigh Fossil Centre which interprets the World Heritage Listed fossil sites at Riversleigh, along with an art gallery, the 'Isa Experience exhibit and a fish hatchery project.
This afternoon enjoy free time to relax at the hotel or stroll through the CBD of Mt. Isa. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 9 - Mt Isa – Cloncurry
This morning we set our sights east to the outback township of Cloncurry. The Cloncurry River was named after Lady Elizabeth Cloncurry from County Galway in Ireland. It was named by the explorer, Robert O'Hara Burke. Lady Cloncurry was his cousin. When the town was surveyed it took the name of the river.
The first-ever flight of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia took place from Cloncurry on 15 May 1928, using a de Havilland DH.50 aircraft hired from the then small airline, Qantas.
We visit the John Flynn Museum, which In 1928 Flynn established the Aerial Medical Service in Cloncurry which took his caring service to remote homesteads and communities. The display includes some interesting personal memorabilia and explanations of how the whole Flying Doctor system worked in the early days.
Flynn's story is the triumph of an unceasing commitment against huge odds. The museum also records the remarkable work of Alfred Traeger, the man who invented the push pedal radio. We continue sightseeing before checking into the Gidgee Inn Motel and enjoy some true Aussie outback hospitality. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Cloncurry – Karumba
Our journey today takes us due north along the Burke Development Road towards Normanton with lunch at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse.
For years, the Burke & Wills Roadhouse has become a strategic stop for travellers. Located on Lot 51 Burke Developmental Road Four Ways Queensland, this roadhouse is just halfway between Cloncurry and the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Due to the vast remoteness, Burke & Wills Roadhouse becomes an essential stop for locals and travellers to break up any journey or for fuel and food. We learn of the expedition in 1860/61 before heading onto Normanton and into Karumba.
Located on the banks of the Norman River, Karumba came to importance in the 1930’s when it became a stop-over point for flying boats on the run from London to Australia.
This afternoon we enjoy a special Sand Island sunset dinner cruise in the Gulf. Dine on local seafood while watching a sensational gulf sunset. (Includes wine and beer. Alternative meals are available). We overnight at the End of the Road Motel. Meals (B,L,D)
Note: Due to the closure of Adel’s Grove we will be spending the next two nights at the End of the Road Motel.
Day 11 - Karumba - Gulflander - Barramundi Centre
This morning we join one of the last great characters of rail travel - The Gulflander. This historic little train takes us on a journey from Normanton to Critters Camp.
Later, we discover the amazing secrets of the mighty barramundi at The Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre, the only hatchery in the world to breed the Southern Gulf strain of this iconic fish!
This brand new interactive and state-of-the-art Interpretive Centre provides the history, stories, lifecycle, and habits of these sought-after fish.
Later this afternoon we enjoy a special Sand Island sunset dinner cruise in the Gulf. Dine on local seafood while watching a sensational gulf sunset. (Includes wine and beer. Alternative meals are available).
On completion enjoy our second night at the End of the Road Motel. Meals (B,L,D)
Note: Gulflander journey may change subject to operating hours.
Day 12 - Normanton - Cobbold Gorge
This morning we continue on to Georgetown and then head south to Cobbold Gorge, a geological wonderland set on Robin Hood Station. We overnight at Cobbold Village in modern cabins with ensuite bathroom facilities. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 13 - Cobbold Gorge Cruise – Undara Lava Tubes
This morning we take part in a 2 hour river cruise on Cobbold Gorge. The gorge stretches for approximately 6 kilometres and consists of a series of waterholes bound by spectacular rocky cliffs. Afterwards, we'll make our way to Undara Volcanic National Park, which protects the longest lava tube cave system in the world. We arrive at Undara Experience and check in to our unique accommodation consisting of restored railway carriages and pioneer huts, all with private ensuite facilities
Today a local Savannah Guide will take us on a tour through part of the lava tube cave system. Created when the Undara Volcano erupted over 190,000 years ago, the lava that poured out was enough to fill Sydney Harbour three times over. The lava flows lasted a long time, which allowed the outer edge to cool while the interior kept flowing, creating the tubes seen today.
Tonight enjoy dinner in the outdoor style restaurant as an outback sunset fades into a clear starlit night. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 14 - Atherton Tablelands – Cairns
Departing Undara we begin the final leg of our journey to Cairns. On the way we pass through the scenic Atherton Tablelands and visit the stunning Millaa Millaa Falls. We arrive mid-afternoon and check in to The Shangri-La The Marina . Enjoy luxurious marina-view rooms in this perfectly positioned hotel along the Esplanade.
Tonight, enjoy our final dinner together in the hotel restaurant and celebrate our adventures through Outback Queensland. Meals (B,L,D)
Day 15 - Cairns
After breakfast enjoy a free morning before being transferred to the airport or your accommodation if staying on in Cairns. Meals: (B)
*Note: Itinerary is under review and subject to change. This tour also operates with a reverse itinerary. Please see departure dates below for reverse itinerary dates.
About Outback Spirit
Australia's leading experiential tourism group
Outback Spirit is part of Journey Beyond, a national business focused on bringing Australia’s most unique and iconic experiences to life. Outback Spirit was founded in 1999 and has been showcasing great Australian destinations to travellers to this day.
To learn more about Journey Beyond and our unique travel experiences, please click the link below
Committed to Conservation
As an eco-certified company, Outback Spirit regularly reviews its potential impact on natural, cultural and historical environments. We strive to be ecologically sustainable and limit our impact on the environment through good practice, innovation and financial support for Australia’s pre-eminent wildlife conservation group, AWC (Australian Wildlife Conservancy).
AWC is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of our most precious wildlife. With 3 million hectares under conservation locations such as the Kimberley, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and Lake Eyre, AWC is making a real difference in the fight against extinction. Since 2008, Outback Spirit has donated over $1 million to AWC and will continue its support well into the future.
To learn more about this fantastic organisation, head to www.australianwildlife.org
Supporting Aboriginal Communities
Outback Spirit supports remote Indigenous communities in certain locations across the Kimberley & Arnhem land by way of employment opportunities, community sponsorships and support for Indigenous owned businesses. For example, Outback Spirit sponsors over a dozen football teams in Ramingining and Maningrida, both directly and through local schools.
The company also creates jobs for local interpretive guides, which gives Outback Spirit passengers an authentic insight into the environment and local culture. It also helps to preserve Indigenous culture. Past initiatives have included the provision of teachers and tutors in small communities where no school facilities exist.
Award Winning Tour Operator
Choosing Outback Spirit means choosing an award-winning tour operator. We’re proud to have been acknowledged for consistently delivering professional and authentic adventures to remote destinations of Australia.
Some of our achievements have been recognised with the following awards:
Operation & Mechanical Bases
The outback can be a challenging environment to operate in, and professional back-up support is vital.
Outback Spirit headquarters are in the regional NSW city of Albury, however we have a dedicated team in Broome and Darwin for mechanical and operational matters. These teams are available 24 hours a day to provide immediate support, should it be required. Other smaller bases are located around the country, guaranteeing you a seamless touring experience.
* Term and conditions apply:
All pricing subject to change and availability.
Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise.
Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change.
Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies.
Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.
Destinations featured in this deal
Australia Northern Territory Queensland Tropical North Queensland