Overview
15 Days
Brisbane
Cairns
4WD Adventure
Mixed
Premium
18-99 Years
26
Fully Guided
LOQS
Itinerary
Toowoomba is Queensland's Garden City, a vibrant blend of natural beauty and heritage charm. It is also 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 beautiful regional city, including a visit to the Cobb & Co Museum followed by a visit to Queens Park Gardens.
A morning tour of the city, including Empire Theatre, sets the scene for the day. Leaving Toowoomba, we cross the rich and fertile plains of the Darling Downs before visiting Dalby. Passing through Chinchilla and Miles, we arrive into Roma with time to take in a tour at the Big Rig Oil Patch, a journey through the early days of Australia's oil and gas industries.
We continue north into the Carnarvon National Park. There are numerous guided walks available in the park, depending on your level of fitness. 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.
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 there is ample free time before a leisurely dinner.
Our day begins with a tour of the Qantas Founders Museum, which houses a Boeing 747 and the airline's first 707. Walk through the aircraft and wander around this exceptional museum.
Later, we experience the iconic Stockman's Hall of Fame before visiting the School of Distance Education.
This afternoon, cruise along the Thomson River followed by dinner on the riverbank, accompanied by a talented musical entertainer performing live on Smithy's River Stage.
Setting out, we depart Longreach, stopping at the fascinating Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. Dedicated to preserving Australia's fossil heritage for future generations, the museum features the most productive fossil preparation laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. We then continue to Winton for our overnight stay.
We then continue northwest to Cloncurry, passing by the Walkabout Creek Hotel at McKinlay, which featured in the legendary film ‘Crocodile Dundee'. Travelling on to Gulf Country, Mt. Isa, is tonight's destination.
Later, we'll visit the Underground Hospital and Museum, before enjoying the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.
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.
The Cloncurry River was named by the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke after his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Cloncurry from County Galway in Ireland, and when the town was surveyed it took the name of the river. Travelling along the Burke Development Road towards Normanton with morning tea at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse. We learn of the expedition in 1860-1861 before heading onto Normanton and into Karumba.
Tonight, we enjoy a special Sand Island sunset dinner cruise in the Gulf. We'll dine on local seafood while watching a sensational gulf sunset.
Please Note: Gulflander journey may change subject to operating hours.
As we travel through remote cattle country, the landscape gradually shifts to rugged sandstone escarpments and ancient riverbeds, signaling our approach to the spectacular Cobbold Gorge region. This hidden gem, carved over millennia, awaits with its striking narrow chasms and tranquil waterways - a dramatic contrast to the open plains we've just crossed.
After lunch on a guided station tour, experience a working cattle station and enjoy ‘smoko' along the way. We then return to our accommodation for our last night at Cobbold Village.
Departing Cobbold Gorge, we make our way to Undara Volcanic National Park, which protects the longest lava tube cave system in the world. A local Savannah Guide will take us on a tour through part of the lava tube cave system.
Tonight, enjoy dinner in the outdoor-style restaurant as an outback sunset fades into a clear starlit night.
Tonight, enjoy our final dinner together and celebrate our adventures through Outback Queensland.
Our Outback journey concludes this morning with transfers to the airport.
Trip Inclusions
Moments of Magic
- 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.
- 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.
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 Millaa Falls
- Take a guided tour through mind-blowing Lava Tubes at Undara and overnight in unique train carriage accommodation
- Small Group Size - 26
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) included. Complimentary beverages from a selected list included at lunch and dinner (when dining at licensed venues only).
- All attraction fees, cruise fees and national park fees
- Travel aboard a 5-star All Terrain Mercedes Benz Coach
- 14 nights of 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)
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change
- Prices are for land tour only, flights not included unless specified
Operator
Enjoy an intimate and enriching touring experience with other like-minded people on an inclusive Outback Spirit small group journey. Read more
Highly professional, passionate and always willing to go the extra mile, Outback Spirit's guides provide a seamless touring experience. Read more
When you travel with Outback Spirit, you're guaranteed to travel in the comfort and safety of Mercedes Benz. Read more
Dates & Pricing
USD
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Outback Spirit. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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