- Overnight 5 star glamping stay with ensuite facilities
- Mitchell Grass Retreat BBQ Dinner
- Longreach Cemetery visit
- Historic Wellshot Hotel
- Ilfracombe Tour
- Camden Park Sunset Tour and Dinner
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Tour including Dinosaur Canyon
- Waltzing Matilda Centre
- Arno’s Wall
- Longreach School of Distance
- Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame Stockman’s experience
- Rosebank Station Morning Tea
- Qantas Founders Museum including the guided Airpark tour
- Drover's Sunset Cruise including Smithy's Outback Dinner & Show
- Luminescent Longreach Light & Sound Show
- Overnight rail journey; first class sleeper berth Spirit of the Outback Train Longreach to Brisbane
DAY 1
Arrive Longreach. 5 Star Luxury Glamping.
Your exciting outback discovery begins! Arriving to Longreach, there is a group transfer from Longreach airport where you will be met by our local representative. There will be time in town for lunch before heading to your camping spot under the Milky Way. Tonight, experience the highlight of sleeping under the stars with a 5 star overnight glamping stay.
Inside your luxury tent, Mitchell Grass Retreat
Enjoy the afternoon relaxing by the pool and appreciate the impressive sunset from your glamping tent deck. Tonight, the group enjoys a relaxed BBQ dinner followed by stories and toasting marshmallows around the fire pit.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Arrival group airport transfer
- Lunch in town
- 5 star glamping
- BBQ dinner under the stars
DAY 2
Longreach & Ilfracombe Touring
Enjoy a gourmet breakfast delivered to your tent, before embarking on a Longreach town tour. Founded in 1891, Ilfracombe was a transport hub for Wellshot Station, which at the time held the largest number of sheep on any station in the world. Travel the short distance to Ilfracombe for a town visit and lunch at the historic Wellshot Hotel. After lunch, there's the option for a self-guided tour of the Longreach Cemetery in the afternoon or take time out to relax at leisure.
Later in the afternoon experience the warm hospitality of local graziers, with a visit to Camden Park Station followed by sunset drinks then a relaxed station dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Gourmet breakfast
- Ilfracombe town tour and lunch including historic Wellshot Hotel
- Wellshot Hotel lunch
- Camden Park Station visit including sunset drinks and dinner
DAY 3
Longreach – Winton - Longreach
Today we head west to the land of the dinosaurs to visit Winton, the central area of Queensland and abounds with early Australian folklore and history. It was in this area that Banjo Paterson wrote his famous poem about the swagman and the jolly jumbuck and “Waltzing Matilda” was first heard in a pub in Winton.
Exploring Winton starts with The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Musuem of Natural History, home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, including some of the most famous such as Australovenator (Banjo) and Diamantinasaurus (Matilda). Not surprisingly, it is also the site of Australia’s largest fossil preparation laboratory. Join a guided interpretive tour of the laboratory, collection room and Dinosaur Canyon.
Winton is also home to the Waltzing Matilda Centre, and we make a visit to learn the story behind Australia’s unofficial national anthem; the only museum dedicated to a song. Enjoy lunch and afterwards discover the quirky Arno’s Wall and play a tune on what is believed to be the world’s only musical fence. Tonight, the group is escorted to dine out in town at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Musuem of Natural History visit and guided tour
- Waltzing Matilda Centre
- Arnos Wall
- Lunch in Winton
- Dinner back in Longreach
DAY 4
Longreach Touring
Witness a totally different way of schooling at Longreach School of Distance Education. Tour one of the largest classrooms in the world! “Imagine a classroom more than twice the size of Victoria, where the playground is as vast as the outback and the partnership between home and school is legendary."
Following this we venture to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, explore the newly renovated 5 themed Galleries. A journey for all your senses featuring the birth of a nation through the eyes of the Australian stockman. A fully immersive cinematic experience showcasing virtual and real footage across a 16m screen, get in touch with the essence of the Australian Stockman. Bring your stockman’s experience to life at the Stockman’s Life LIVE Show. See the stories and skills that define what it means to be a stockman. Late afternoon we unwind on the Drover’s Sunset Cruise with tasty on-board nibbles followed by a two-course table service dinner under the stars at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Longreach School of Distance Education
- Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame
- Drover’s Sunset Cruise
- Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show
DAY 5 MONDAY
Longreach Touring including QANTAS Founders Museum
After breakfast we travel to the Historic Rosebank Station for a picturesque morning tea and stories of yesteryear. Originally settled as a sheep and cattle station some 100 years ago, Rosebank was famously visited in 1959 by Princess Alexandra and Princess Alice. The Princesses stayed in a specially built wing, fittingly named the ‘Princess Wing.’
Today enjoy the world-class QANTAS Founders Museum, eloquently telling the story of the founding of Qantas. View marvellous interpretive and interactive exhibits then join a guided Airpark Tour. We uncover some national treasures, such as the historic 1922 QANTAS hangar. The historic photographs, memorabilia and multimedia displays bring alive the inspirational stories of one of the world’s pioneering airlines.
This afternoon there is some free time in downtown Longreach before a group dinner in town. After dinner we visit Qantas Founders newest attraction, the incredible Luminescent Longreach Sound & Light Show. At the end of a marvellous day of discoveries, settle in for the evening at your accommodation before you farewell Longreach tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Historic Rosebank Station
- QANTAS Founders Museum
- Luminescent Longreach Sound & Light Show
DAY 6
Longreach: Board Spirit of the Outback Overnight Sleeper Rail Journey
Your outback adventure finale - journey on the Spirit of the Outback from Longreach to Brisbane . This fascinating 26 hour, 1300 km trip offers a unique insight into the history and culture of early Australia, combined with interesting commentary, a social atmosphere and an authentic dining experience. This morning there is a group transfer from our Longreach accommodation to Longreach train station with the train departing 10am. The daylight journey Longreach allows you to see the magical colours and landscape of Outback Queensland.
COMFORT OF A FIRST CLASS SLEEPER BERTH
Your journey includes an overnight sleeper berth in First Class. Passengers will wonder at the ever-changing landscape as the train moves from the coast through the heart of the Outback with its rugged mountains, wide-open plains and historic towns. Onboard dining is an experience in itself with the restaurant car serving hearty Aussie meals, while the club and lounge cars are ideal for a relaxed drink and chinwag with fellow passengers.
First class single berth, Spirit of the Outback train
ABOUT THE TRAIN
The Spirit of the Outback is a unique train that offers us a memorable journey into the Outback. On board, the themed carriages reflect the images of the outback. “The Spirit” is the only train of its kind that speaks the language of the Outback and interprets the rich folklore that has developed over time on the dry inland plains of Australia. There is a well-appointed dining car, First Class sleeping berths, bar and onboard entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer to the train station
- First class sleeper berth onboard, Spirit of the Outback
- Onboard train dining
DAY 7
Spirit of the Outback – Brisbane
This morning as you wake, the train will be travelling along the coast. Breakfast on board and travel to Brisbane, arriving to Roma Street Station midday.
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
