Birdsville Outback Adventure

Day 1

Brisbane - Roma
Sit back and relax as we set out on this adventure and let outback Queensland come alive. Travel via Toowoomba before arriving at the Historical Village in Miles where lunch will be waiting for you. Memories of yesteryear are sure to flood back as you stroll around the grounds of this very well kept complex. Resume your journey on to Roma where we will stay overnight.

Day 2

Roma - Quilpie
Visit Roma's clay Bicentennial Mural depicting the famous Harry Redford Cattle Duffing. Pass through Mitchell - the gateway to the outback, Charleville and Cooladdi before arriving into boulder opal country, for our overnight stay in Quilpie.

Day 3

Quilpie - Birdsville
Travel to Windorah, located in the heart of the Channel Country, before joining the Birdsville Developmental Road. This afternoon, arrive in Birdsville, situated on the banks of the Diamantina River. The Birdsville Hotel is an Australian icon, built in 1884 and rich in history. Enjoy a drink in this famous pub, a true destination in itself, before checking into your airconditioned, ensuited room.

Day 4

Birdsville - Big Red
Today we will spend time exploring Birdsville. See the iconic Birdsville Race Track as well as the Power Station and Birdsville Cemetery. Enjoy lunch at the Birdsville Hotel before taking time to wander this small outback town at your leisure. Conditions permitting, we will also visit 'Big Red' this afternoon.

Day 5

Birdsville - Quilpie
Departing Birdsville we will continue our journey traveling back through Windorah to Quilpie. This afternoon we will check into our accommodation before venturing back out for the Quilpeta Night Show. Watch the super-sized outdoor screen, where your digital host Q, the Stone Curlew, will guide you through an interactive story of Quilpie starting some 95 million years ago. You will meet the giant Titanosaur and learn about the local First Nations peoples. Another highlight will be the colourful local Boulder Opal story. We will then return to our motel for a later dinner.

Day 6

Quilpie - Charleville - Augathella - Tambo
After breakfast, we will visit the local Catholic Church to see St Finbarr's Opal Altar - one of Quilpie's most iconic attractions. We then continue on to Charleville, stopping along the way for morning tea. Many outback towns now have painted silo's, murals, water towers or tanks, in the hope that tourism will bring much needed money into their towns. Today we will see the Charleville Painted Water Tower prior to enjoying a picnic lunch. Next stop in Augathella to see the painted Water Tower and the other town art on Main Street. This afternoon, we will arrive in Tambo, where a visit to Tambo Teddies is a must. This unique business uses woollen pelts and wool in the construction of their World-renowned Teddies. Settle into our accommodation before dining at a local venue tonight.

Day 7

Tambo - Blackall - Longreach
This morning we travel to Blackall for a guided tour at the Historic Blackall Woolscour. The Scour (or wool wash) is an important part of our National Heritage, being the only steam driven scour incorporating a shearing shed. Throughout the history of the Wool Industry, our pioneers have used various methods to clean wool, including hand washing in tubs, fell mongering or scouring. Our journey continues on to Barcaldine and then to Longreach where we will settle in for the next two nights. Late afternoon, sit back and relax on a Sunset Cruise along the Thomson River.

Day 8

Longreach - Stockman's Hall of Fame - Qantas Museum
A slower start today and following breakfast we will visit the Longreach School of Distance Education with one of the largest classrooms in the world. Observe the school in action and see technology has changed the way students learn. Learn the story of Australian's National Airline at the Qantas Founders Museum. At the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre there are five themed galleries each one depicting an important aspect of our pioneering history. Purchase your own morning tea and Lunch today as you discover some of our unique history. This afternoon there will be some time for a little retail therapy with some interesting stores offering a range of gift wares, Emporiums of treasures from clothes, shoes, Leather ware amung others. Return to your motel for some free time before dinner.

Day 9

Longreach - Blackwater
This morning will be spent in Barcaldine which has earned the title of "Garden City of the West". Visit the Tree of Knowledge and The Australian Workers Heritage Centre, a tribute to all Australian workingmen and women. Pause for lunch in Alpha, the "Town of Murals", where the colourful murals were painted after the devastating flood in the 1990's. Continue onto Blackwater for your overnight stay.

Day 10

Blackwater - Mundubbera
This morning we will traverse the Capricorn Highway before joining the Leichardt Highway. Our journey today will travel through some highly productive coal mining areas of Queensland's Central Highlands. Enjoy a catered lunch in Biloela, before continuing on to Monto to view the Water Tank, Street Art and Silo Art that has brought many tourists into the area. This afternoon, arrive in Mundubbera for our overnight stay.

Day 11

Mundubbera - Brisbane
After a hearty breakfast, we farewell our hosts and travel to Gayndah, stopping for morning tea. Continue on to Gympie for lunch before arriving back into Brisbane where your transfers will be arranged.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner