Day 1- Melbourne to Sydney

Make your own way to Melbourne airport this morning to join your flight to Sydney. On arrival, you will be transported to your airport hotel for your night’s accommodation.

Day 2- Sydney to Narrabri

We depart Sydney this morning, heading north-west along the M1 before joining the New England Highway as the city gives way to open countryside. As we travel through the rolling landscapes of the Upper Hunter, the scenery becomes increasingly peaceful and picturesque. By midday, we arrive in Muswellbrook, where we pause for lunch and a relaxing break. After lunch, we continue north through small rural towns and wide stretches of farmland before joining the Kamilaroi Highway as we make our way towards the north-west. As the afternoon light settles across the fields and surrounding ranges, we arrive in Narrabri and check in to the Southern Cross Narrabri (Ph: 02 6792 3838). Settle in and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this country town. (L,D)

Day 3- Narrabri to Mitchell 

Leaving Narrabri this morning, we travel west along the Kamilaroi Highway, leaving the town behind as we journey through peaceful farmland and open countryside. The road takes us through a succession of small rural communities before we cross the border into Queensland, where the landscape gradually opens into vast plains and long, straight stretches of highway. By midday, we arrive in St George, a welcoming riverside town situated on the banks of the Balonne River, where we enjoy lunch and a relaxing break. We continue our journey north-west towards Mitchell, with the scenery becoming increasingly characteristic of the Queensland outback. We arrive in Mitchell and check in to the Cambridge Motel (Ph: 07 3810 2170), our accommodation for the evening. You can choose to relax and unwind at the hotel or enjoy a soothing soak at the Great Artesian Spa, making the most of Mitchell’s famous artesian waters. (B,L,D)

Day 4- Mitchell to Longreach

Today we continue our journey into the heart of Queensland’s Outback. Our first stop is Tambo Teddies, where we discover the heartwarming story behind these much-loved Australian teddy bears. Created by three local women in response to drought and falling wool prices, the teddy bears have become a wonderful symbol of ingenuity and resilience. Enjoy a tour of the workshop and discover how these unique bears are made, followed by lunch. Continuing west, we arrive in Ilfracombe, where we have time to “wet the whistle” at the famous Wellshot Hotel, a wonderful example of an authentic Queensland country pub. From here, we continue to Longreach, a town rich in the history and heritage of Central Queensland and Outback Australia. On arrival, we check in to the Longreach Motor Inn (Ph: 07 4658 2322), where we will unpack and settle in for the next 4 nights. (B,L,D)

 Day 5 – Longreach Legendary Attractions

Today we discover some of Longreach’s most celebrated attractions. Our adventure begins at the Qantas Founders Outback Museum, where fascinating photographs, historic aircraft, memorabilia and multimedia displays bring the remarkable story of Australia’s pioneering airline to life. We then visit the iconic Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, where we experience the entertaining Outback Stockman’s Show. Combining traditional skills with stories of life in the Australian bush, the show provides an entertaining insight into the courage, humour and resilience of generations of Australian stockmen and women. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore Longreach at your own pace, browse the local shops or simply relax at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 6 – Nogo Station & Starlight Cruise

Today we travel to Nogo Station, a working sheep and cattle property just outside Longreach, for an authentic taste of life in the Queensland outback. Hear fascinating stories of pioneering station life, visit the historic shearing sheds and discover the story of the Merino sheep. Explore the station by open-top bus, keeping an eye out for native and outback wildlife, before enjoying a traditional saddlebag lunch beneath the coolibah trees. Returning to Longreach, we step back in time at Kinnon & Co’s Station Store in the heart of town. Browse the impressive range of traditionally made leather goods and discover a treasure trove of historic memorabilia and Outback nostalgia. This afternoon, we join Outback Pioneers for their renowned sunset cruise along the Thomson River. Step aboard the historic Thomson Belle paddlewheeler or Thomson Princess riverboat and relax as the vessel glides gently along the river. As the sun begins to set, enjoy the tranquil beauty of the Thomson River before stepping ashore for an unforgettable evening of traditional riverbank entertainment. Gather around the campfire for bush poetry, stories and live entertainment before enjoying a hearty stockmen’s dinner under the stars. The evening culminates with Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture Show, featuring the fascinating story of legendary cattle duffer Captain Starlight, (aka Harry Redford). It is a memorable evening celebrating the characters, stories and traditions of Outback Queensland. (B,L,D)

Day 7 – Winton

Today we venture to Winton, travelling through some of the dramatic and ever-changing landscapes of Queensland’s Outback. Once home to dinosaurs, the region has become renowned for its remarkable fossil discoveries and ongoing archaeological research. We visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, home to one of the world’s most significant collections of Australian dinosaur fossils. Enjoy morning tea before exploring the centre and learning about the incredible prehistoric creatures that once roamed this ancient landscape. We then continue into the township of Winton, famous for its connection to Australia’s much-loved song, Waltzing Matilda. It was here that Banjo Paterson is said to have written the famous poem about the swagman and the jolly jumbuck. We visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre, the only museum in the world dedicated to the iconic Australian song. Enjoy lunch before some free time to explore Winton, followed by our return journey to Longreach. (B,L,D)

Day 8 – Longreach to Emerald

Leaving Longreach this morning, we retrace our journey east towards Barcaldine, a town steeped in Australian history. Barcaldine played an important role in the struggles of the early shearers and the development of the Australian labour movement. We visit the famous Tree of Knowledge, a significant local landmark located beside the historic railway station. Continuing east, we travel to Alpha, known as the “Gateway to the West”, where we stop for lunch. The town features an interesting mix of historic and modern buildings and has evolved through the effects of fire, flood and progress since its establishment in 1884. After lunch, we continue towards Emerald, stopping at Pat’s Gems Tourist Fossicking Park in the heart of Queensland’s famous Gemfields. Browse the jewellery and gem shop before we continuing on to Route 66 Motor Inn (Ph:07 4987 7755), our accommodation for the evening. (B,L,D)

Day 9 – Emerald to Roma

Today we leave Emerald and travel south towards Roma, journeying through the changing landscapes of Central Queensland. We stop for morning tea at Beazley Park before visiting Heroes Avenue, where 93 bottle trees were planted as a living memorial to local men who lost their lives during the First World War. Each tree originally carried a brass plaque bearing the name of a fallen soldier, with the last remaining plaque now preserved on a cairn outside the post office. We continue south to Injune, where we stop for lunch before travelling onwards to Roma. After checking in to the Explorers Inn Roma (Ph: 07 4620 1400), we head out this evening to experience the Roma’s Big Rig Night Show Sunset Experience. Set beneath the Outback sky, this entertaining outdoor show combines cinema, storytelling and interactive displays to bring the history of Roma’s oil and gas industry to life. Discover how the discovery of oil transformed the region and played an important role in the development of Australia’s petroleum industry. Following the show, we return to our hotel for dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 10 – Roma to Narrabri

Departing Roma this morning, we begin our journey south-east through the vast pastoral landscapes of western Queensland. As we leave the Maranoa region behind, the scenery opens into expansive cattle country and productive agricultural land, with fields of sorghum, wheat and barley stretching across the plains. We continue towards St George, where we stop for morning tea. Situated on the banks of the Balonne River, St George is renowned for its cotton farms, vineyards and relaxed country atmosphere. Our journey continues south towards Hebel, a small and character-filled border town with a colourful history and a famous country pub. We then cross the Queensland–New South Wales border and enter the Moree Plains region, where the landscape changes once again to fertile agricultural country. After a comfort stop in Moore, we continue on to Narrabri and check in to the Southern Cross Narrabri for our final evening of the tour. (B,L,D)

Day 11 – Narrabri to Sydney

All good things must come to an end as we begin our journey home to Sydney. Travelling south-east, we enjoy a morning tea stop before continuing through the rural landscapes of the New England region. We pause in Aberdeen for lunch before continuing our journey south, with a final break along the way before we encounter the traffic of Sydney. As our Queensland Outback adventure comes to a close, we hope you have enjoyed discovering the fascinating history, characters, landscapes and stories that make this region so unique. Thank you for travelling with us, and we look forward to welcoming you on another journey soon. (B,L)