DAY 1 GYMPIE TO MILES
Monday 23 July, 2012
Welcome to our 16 day tour of the Queensland and South Australian Outback. This morning we depart home and make our way west via Kingaroy and Chinchilla, stopping en-route at Dalby for lunch. This afternoon we arrive at our overnight destination of Miles. (L D)
Stay: Starline Motor Inn, Miles
DAY 2 MILES TO CARNARVON GORGE
Tuesday 24 July, 2012
Continuing our journey west to Roma we visit the Big Rig Complex, a memorial to the pioneers of Australia's oil and gas exploration industry. We can purchase some lunch at the Riggers Café (own expense) before departing. Next we head north to the Carnarvon National Park, our stop for the next two nights, and located in the middle of the Great Dividing Range. The area features dramatic gorge scenery as well as many aboriginal rock carvings and paintings. (B D)
2 Night Stay: Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge
DAY 3 CARNARVON GORGE
Wednesday 25 July, 2012
We have the whole day to enjoy the park today. There are a series of walks and impressive landscapes including cliff walls up to 200 metres high, to be enjoyed. Either meander to Balloon Cave, a mere 500 metre stroll or have a more energetic walk! Lunch will be served during the day and the afternoon can be spent simply relaxing and admiring the beauty from the lodge. (B L D)
DAY 4 CARNARVON GORGE TO LONGREACH
Thursday 26 July 2012
Our first stop today is in Barcaldine where we stop en-route to enjoy our picnic lunches. Whilst here we'll take a look at the new memorial at the Tree of Knowledge. From here we travel on to Longreach, making an afternoon stop at Ilfracombe to take in the display of antique machinery lining the roadside.
(B L D )
2 Night Stay: Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach
DAY 5 LONGREACH
Friday 27 July, 2012
Our first visit this morning is to the School of Distance Education where we take a guided tour. We will then collect our local tour guide and take in the sights of the older part of Longreach. Our next visit is to the Kinnon & Co Station Store which has been recreated as a traditional Cobb & Co Changing Station. After some free time in town for lunch we will drop in at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, a fascinating tribute to the pioneering men and women of Outback Australia. Tonight we experience a sunset cruise on the MV Longreach Explorer, followed by special Drovers Dinner featuring country music and poetry entertainment. (B HD)
DAY 6 LONGREACH TO BOULIA
Saturday 28 July, 2012
After breakfast we travel north-west to Winton, home of the Waltzing Matilda Centre. Here we can listen to the swaggie tell his own version of Australia's greatest legend, trace the history of Waltzing Matilda as it chronicles the growth of a nation and enjoy a unique light and sound show. After an early lunch here we continue to Boulia, with a break along the way at the Cawnpore Lookout to admire the mesas. Tonight we enjoy dinner at the local hotel. (B L D)
Stay: Desert Sands Motel / Australian Hotel, Boulia
DAY 7 BOULIA TO BIRDSVILLE
Sunday 29 July, 2012
Our destination today is Birdsville, so we travel south through Bedourie enjoying our picnic lunches along the way. We arrive mid afternoon in time for a town tour and a visit to the Working Museum. (B L D)
Stay: Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville
DAY 8 BIRDSVILLE TO MARREE
Monday 30 July, 2012
Today sees us travel south along the notorious "Birdsville Track". It is desolate but beautiful country with the Sturt Stony Desert on our left and the great expanse of the Simpson Desert on our right. For some of the way we will pass through the sandhill country that is the meeting point of the Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts and the lead in point to the Cooper Creek flood plain. (B L D)
Stay: Marree Hotel Motel, Marree
DAY 9 MARREE
Tuesday 31 July, 2012
Marree is where the Birdsville Track meets the Oodnadatta Track and is now a small service town for the vast properties of the area. This morning we have time for some optional touring with scenic flights (own expense) over Lake Eyre. This afternoon we re-board the coach and head out on the Oodnadatta Track to visit Lake Eyre South, then return to Marree for dinner. (B D)
Stay: Marree Hotel Motel, Marree
DAY 10 MARREE TO ARKAROOLA
Wednesday 1 August, 2012
Our morning stop is at the ghost town of Farina where we have some time to explore the stone ruins. We continue to Lyndhurst where we'll drop in briefly at the 'Talc Alf Gallery' - an eccentric local who carves creations out of Talcum Stone. After lunch at Leigh Creek we drive to Arkaroola. We have free time for a self-guided walk before dinner, and afterwards a chance to visit the Astronomical Observatory (optional). “Touring the universe” from the new Star Chairs is quite extraordinary and provide an experience for the traveller that is normally only available to scientists and astronomers. (B L D)
2 Night Stay: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary
DAY 11 ARKAROOLA
Thursday 2 August, 2012
This morning we take the incredible 4WD 'Ridge Top Tour' driving along mine tracks winding through some of Australia's most rugged mountains. Visit 'Crystal Candy Mountain', Mt Painter, Yundnamutana Gorge and Sillers Lookout with awe inspiring views extending more than 80 kms over Lake Frome (with the opportunity to take optional scenic flights). Don’t forget your camera! We return to Arkaroola for lunch and then the afternoon is free to enjoy the area. (B L D)
DAY 12 ARKAROOLA TO INNAMINCKA
Friday 3 August, 2012
We farewell Arkaroola and take the Strzelecki Track north via the Moomba Oil and Gas Fields to Innamincka. The region is best known historically because of its association with the tragedy of Burke and Wills expedition but more recently it has become identified as a gas and oil area. (B L D)
Stay: Innamincka Hotel Motel
DAY 13 INNAMINCKA TO THARGOMINDAH
Saturday 4 August, 2012
Following breakfast we head east to the famous Dig Tree near Nappa Merrie Station - the site of the cache of food left for the starving members of the South-North transcontinental expedition. Continuing on the Bulloo Developmental Road we make our way through to Thargomindah. (B L D)
Stay: Oasis Motel, Thargomindah
DAY 14 THARGOMINDAH TO ST GEORGE
Sunday 5 August, 2012
We have a travel day today as we begin our journey home. Our morning break is at the Palm Grove Date Farm in Eulo. Fresh and chewy dates and by-products are their specialty so we'll enjoy a talk and a tasting by the owners before continuing onto Cunumulla. Following a delicious lunch at the Cunnamulla hotel we stop to see the Cunnamulla Fella, an iconic Australian bush character. The town has erected a statue, a tribute to honour the 'ringers' of the bush, and is an amazing double life-size bronze statue. It was created by sculptor Archie Sinclair from a drawing and is located in front of the Paroo Shire Hall gazing across the centre of town. From here we join the Adventure Way and drive to St George for dinner and our final overnight stay. (B L D)
Stay: Merino Motor Inn, St George
DAY 15 ST GEORGE TO GYMPIE
Monday 6 August, 2012
Today we’re homeward bound. We make our way through Dalby and on through the South Burnett region towards Gympie. We arrive home later today to complete a fabulous holiday away with our new travelling friends. (B L)
