Travelling Queensland's Overlander Way

Day 1

Home - Cairns
Your tour begins with a flight to Cairns, where on arrival, you will be welcomed on board by your Coach Captain and Hostess. Visit the Flecker Botanic Gardens, with an extensive selection of tropical flora and some rare plants seldom found elsewhere in the world, including exotic species of palms, gingers and orchids just to name a few. Later settle into your accommodation for our overnight stay.

Day 2

Cairns - Mareeba
With so many iconic places to visit today, the regions beauty and varying landscape will be on display. Begin with a stop at the Curtain Fig Tree and the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour. The peaceful surrounds of Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine, Crater Lakes National Park, were created when rising basalt magma met groundwater and massive steam explosions excavated the 60m deep craters known as maars. Ground water then filled these low-rimmed craters, forming the lakes you see today. At Lake Barrine take a rainforest and wildlife cruise before lunch in the Tea House. This afternoon we will visit some of the Tablelands stunning water falls that form part of the Waterfall Circuit.

Day 3

Mareeba - Charters Towers
After a continental breakfast, it's time to farewell the Tablelands region heading south west along the Kennedy Highway through Mount Garnet. At Lynd Junction, turn onto the Gregory Developmental Road and travel via Greenvale, Clarke River and the Bluewater Springs Roadhouse. Enjoy lunch before arriving into Charters Towers late afternoon where we will settle in for the next two nights.

Day 4

Charters Towers
A town tour of Charters Towers will highlight the superb historic and gracious buildings which make this one of the most beautiful inland cities in Queensland. Built from the proceeds of gold mining, the city is now the hub of a cattle raising region. See the elegant Boer War Memorial Rotunda and the Ambulance Centre, housing a wonderful collection of vehicles, uniforms and case records. Enjoy lunch after a visit to the Venus Battery, enabling you to see behind the scenes of real-life gold rush days. This evening attend the Ghosts after Dark Tour before returning for a later dinner at the motel.

Day 5

Charters Towers - Richmond
Departing Charters Towers, travel along the Flinders Highway through Pentland, Torrens Creek and Prairie to Hughenden. Spend some time exploring Hughenden, where time will be allowed to purchase your own lunch. This afternoon, visit the Flinders Discovery Centre where you will step back in time - prehistoric time that is. Inside the museum see the exhibition of dinosaur fossils from around the world and a growing display of fossils from the local area. Meet Hughie, the 7 metre skeletal Muttaburrasaurus. Continue along the Flinders Highway before checking into our accommodation in Richmond.

Day 6

Richmond - Cloncurry
This morning we visit Richmond's Kronosaurus Korner where you will discover the story of marine creatures and great inland sea that 110 million years ago covered the Richmond landscape. Farewell Richmond and continue west to Julia Creek (originally named Scorpian Creek but renamed Julia Creek after the town founders niece). Purchase your own lunch in town today before visiting the Information Centre to meet a unique Julia Creek resident. Please note that accommodation is limited in this small town and our rooms tonight are basic with shared facilities.

Day 7

Cloncurry - Mount Isa
This morning we will start the day in Cloncurry; affectionately known by the locals as "The Curry". Hear how the town was involved with the beginnings of QANTAS, and see the original QANTAS Hangar, still in use at the aerodrome, where "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service" is still displayed above the hangar door. The Royal Flying Doctor Service was also founded here in 1928. Visit the Cloncurry Unearthed Museum and Mary Kathleen Park before visiting the John Flynn Place Museum and Art Gallery. Depart for Mount Isa, nestled deep in outback Queensland. Take a tour of the Outback at Isa Complex before settling into our accommodation.

Day 8

Mount Isa - Home
After breakfast, it's time to farewell your crew and prepare for your flight home, where on arrival, your transfers arranged.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner