Experience an essential outback combining a fascinating rail journey on the Spirit of the Outback with historic landmarks, museums and galleries with rugged landscapes, moving sunsets and unique geological features.
Day 1. Independent Touring, Brisbane, Spirit of the Outback
Arrive at Brisbane’s Roma Street railway station and board the Spirit of the Outback train for a magical 24-hour rail journey. You'll travel north up the coast to Rockhampton before heading west through the vast plains of Outback Queensland towards Longreach.
Day 2. Spirit of the Outback, Longreach
Today, continue along the Tropic of Capricorn and arrive in the remote Outback town of Longreach early this evening. Meet your APT Driver/Guide and fellow travelling companions in time for dinner.
Day 3. Longreach, Qantas Founders Outback Museum, Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Winton
This morning, visit the Qantas Founders Outback Museum, the only place in the world where you can tour a fully-equipped 747 jumbo jet and Boeing 707. Learn about the history of Australian aviation and the story behind the foundation of Australia’s iconic airline. Later, visit the Stockman’s Hall of Fame to delve into Australia’s bush history. Here, galleries and exhibits tell the story of stock workers, pastoralists, Indigenous Australians, pioneers and explorers who bravely traversed the Outback opening up remote parts of the country. Continue to Winton late this afternoon, where bush poet Banjo Paterson wrote ‘Waltzing Matilda‘. Visit the new Australian Age of Dinosaurs exhibition, telling the story of local dinosaur digs, fossil preparation and preservation. It’s one of Australia’s leading authorities of Australian Natural History.
Day 4. Lark Quarry, Waltzing Matilda Centre, Royal Theatre
Travel to Lark Quarry and visit the Dinosaur Trackways exhibition to view dinosaur footprints. This is the only site in the world where fossilised tracks from a stampede can be seen (Lark Quarry is inaccessible in the wet). It’s believed a herd of small two-legged dinosaurs came to drink at a nearby lake, when they were charged by a large carnivorous dinosaur some 95 million years ago. Visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre, tour the Outback Regional Art Gallery and enjoy a movie tonight at the Royal Theatre.
Day 5. Cloncurry, Mt Isa
Visit Combo Waterhole today, thought to be the billabong that inspired the famous anthem ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Today you’ll visit two iconic Outback Queensland pubs. The pub at McKinlay, better known as Walkabout Creek of ‘Crocodile Dundee‘ fame and the Blue Heeler Hotel at Kynuna, are full of unique character synonymous with Outback Australia. Later in Cloncurry visit the Royal Flying Doctor Museum and learn about one of the world’s most comprehensive aeromedical services. On arrival in Mt Isa, enjoy a surface tour of the mine.
Day 6. Riversleigh Fossil Fields, Lawn Hill National Park
With our local Gulf Savannah guide, explore the World Heritage-listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields, where fossils of Australian mammals date back 25 million years. The site includes the first documented records of living mammals such as feather-tailed possums. Head off-road into the wilderness of Lawn Hill National Park.
Day 7. Lawn Hill Gorge
Spend a full day at leisure to relax in the beautiful surrounds of Lawn Hill Gorge. Enjoy a relaxing lunch at Adels Grove and go on one of the many walks available or hire a canoe (own expense) to explore the pristine waterways of the national park while keeping an eye out for wildlife.
Day 8. Adels Grove, Karumba
This morning, head to Karumba via Leichhardt Falls and Camp 119, the most northerly camp of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition. Located at the mouth of the Norman River, surrounded by an environment of mudflats and wetlands, Karumba is the centre for the Gulf of Carpentaria’s prawning and barramundi fishing industries. It was once a refuelling and repair stop for the Empire flying boats making their way from Sydney to Great Britain. This evening, enjoy some local prawns and a glass of wine on the beach as the sun sets over the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Day 9. Karumba, Gulflander Train Journey, Georgetown
Departing Karumba this morning, travel to Normanton, a small cattle town and the main service point for the gulf. Here, board the historic Gulflander Train and step back in time as you rattle along the railway tracks to Critters Camp. The railway line was built in the late 1800s as part of a planned trans-continental railway; however, only the Normanton to Croydon line was built. Later, continue by coach to the old goldmining town of Croydon for a walking tour, before continuing to Georgetown.
Day 10. Georgetown, Undara Lava Tubes, Cairns
This morning, travel to the 190,000 year-old Undara Lava Tubes, a series of underground tunnels formed during a major volcanic eruption in the region. When the tunnels drained of lava, kilometres of underground tubes were left. On a tour through one section of the ancient tubes, a local guide will provide a fascinating insight into the history and geology of these formations. After leaving Undara, your journey continues to Cairns where your tour concludes on arrival at approximately 5.30 pm. You will then be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
