Tour Highlights & Inclusions

• 4 fabulous outback rail journeys
• Spirit of the Outback rail journey from Brisbane to Blackwater
• Blackwater Coal Centre & on-site coal mine tour
• 2 nights at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge & guided gorge walks
• Lake Maraboon, Barcaldine, Tree of Knowledge Monument
• 2 nights Longreach, Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame
• QANTAS Founders Outback Museum, Drovers Themed outback dinner
• Waltzing Matilda Centre, Progressive Dinner & Royal Mail open Air Theatre
• Overnight Winton & Cloncurry, The Gulflander Rail Journey
• 2 nights Karumba, Barramundi Discovery Centre
• Croc & Crab Boat Cruise, Seafood at Sunset
• Big Croc & Purple Pub at Normanton
• Croydon’s Gold Mining Heritage Tour
• 2 nights Cobbold Gorge, Georgetown, Terrestrial Centre
• Elliott Mineral Collection, Newcastle Range
• 2 nights Bedrock Village Mt Surprise
• Undara Lava Tubes, Rocky Springs Cattle Station
• Savannahlander Rail Journey, Einasleigh
• Atherton Tableland, Kuranda Scenic Rail or Skyrail
• 2 nights Rydges Tradewinds Cairns
• Port Douglas, Wildlife Habitat Tour
• Lunch with the Lorikeets
• Luxury Dinner Cruise with Ocean Spirit
• Flights Ex Cairns to SYD, BNE & MELB
• All meals, fabulous outback scenery & characters

 

Day 1. Tues: Spirit of the Outback

Board the ‘Spirit of the Outback’ and check-in to your Sleeper for your journey through the Central West. Enjoy cosy dining in the themed Tuckerbox Restaurant, and a quiet drink and chat with your fellow travellers in the club and lounge cars. Overnight: Spirit of the Outback (D)

Day 2. Wed: Blackwater & Carnarvon Gorge

Arrive into the coal mining town of Blackwater just after breakfast for a friendly welcome to the Central Highlands. Be amazed at the enormity of the coal mining industry with an on-site mine tour and a visit to the International Coal Centre. We depart Blackwater and travel through the productive Brigalow cattle country, and onto what is known as the roof of Queensland, the Carnarvon Ranges, and part of the great Central Queensland Sandstone Belt.  Arrive and check into Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge for a 2 night stay.  The unique timber and canvas Safari Cabins have their own outback charm and blend unobtrusively into the natural bushland.  A wide shady veranda allows you to sit back in your squatters chair and listen to the sounds of the bush and watch the variety of wildlife roaming quietly nearby. Overnight: Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge (BLD)

Day 3. Thu: Carnarvon Gorge

This morning wake up to the incredible sounds of the bush, before we take a range of walking tours with different fitness levels. Take in the natural wonders of Carnarvon Gorge. offering an oasis feel the Gorges, springs and creeks are surrounded by pockets of lush rainforest, ancient rock art galleries & abundant wildlife of birds, platypus and kangaroos. Overnight: Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge. (BLD)

Day 4. Fri: Alpha, Barcaldine & Longreach

Depart Carnarvon Gorge and travel via Rolleston and Springsure on to Lake Maraboon for picnic lunch. Travel on to Alpha for a break amongst the famous murals before moving on to Barcaldine, where we view the newly opened Tree of Knowledge Monument, then on to Longreach for a two night stay at the Longreach Motor Inn. Overnight: Longreach. (BLD)

Day 5. Sat: Longreach

Our day starts at the famous Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, followed by an afternoon exploring the QANTAS Founders Outback Museum, and returning to our accommodation for a short break. Tonight enjoy a night out having dinner with a drover’s theme. Sit back and be charmed by our outback entertainers and savour the traditional and exotic flavours of our outback cuisine. Overnight: Longreach Motor Inn (BLD)

Day 6. Sun: Winton

This morning learn of the legend at the Waltzing Matilda Centre, the only museum in the world to be dedicated to a song.  Explore downtown’s Opal Walk and many other unforgettable features that make a very unique Winton experience. We check into our accommodation before our night out on “The Ultimate Progressive Dinner & Winton Welcome.”  Experience Winton’s natural heritage journey, as the sun sets with happy hour nibbles followed by a BBQ main course, then progress onto the Royal Mail Open Air Theatre. Enjoy  ice-cream or Jaffas for dessert, sit back in the canvas with an open sky above as we are entertained by a screening of the nostalgia reels of yesteryear. Overnight: Boulder Opal Motor Inn, Winton (BLD)

Day 7. Mon: Cloncurry

Depart Winton for Cloncurry via the famous watering holes of the Blue Heeler and Walkabout Creek Hotels. Arriving into Cloncurry we explore the John Flynn Memorial (the birth of the flying doctor). Overnight: Gidgee Inn, Cloncurry (BLD)

Day 8. Tue: Gulflander, Karumba

We travel north to the Burke & Will’s Roadhouse for a break, and continue on crossing the Flinders’ River to rendezvous with the famous Gulflander. We board The Gulflander at Critters Camp for a journey through the Gulf Savannah Bushland, stopping at Norman River for picnic lunch.  We continue on to Normanton Railway Station, explore the museum and finish our day at Karumba. Enjoy dinner at Karumba Point’s Sunset Tavern, overlooking the mouth of the Gulf of Carpentaria, at sunset. Arrive and check in to The End of the Road Motel, Karumba for a 2 night stay. (BLD)

Day 9. Wed: Sunset Cruise, Karumba

Explore the port of Karumba and the Barramundi Discovery Centre and see a live breeding program. After lunch we take the ultimate Karumba experience aboard the Croc and Crab, an afternoon and sunset boat cruise. Tonight enjoy famous seafood of prawns and crab on the Gulf of Carpentaria soaking up yet another sunset over the water where the outback meets the sea. Overnight: Karumba. (BLD)

Day 10. Thu: Normanton, Croydon, Cobbold Gorge

Departing Karumba for Normanton we discover the big crocodile, the Purple Pub, and historical buildings. Travel on to Croydon to discover the amazing Gold Mining Heritage with interactive displays and original buildings that echo the stories of the heyday of the gold era. Mid afternoon we arrive at Cobbold Gorge for a two night stay. Overnight: Cobbold Gorge (BLD)

Day 11. Fri: Cobbold Gorge

This morning we take in a cruise of Cobbold Gorge, and a short walk into the escarpment for fresh water crocodile viewing. Visit Corbett’s Pioneer Grave and enjoy the true value of this special part of the Savannah landscape. Our afternoon takes us on a station tour showcasing incredible geology and operational challenges. Overnight: Cobbold Gorge. (BLD)

Day 12. Sat: Savannahlander

We travel into Forsyth to join the ‘Savannahlander’ and travel the most scenic section of this rail journey, before arriving at the quaint old copper town of Einasleigh. Explore the Copperfield Gorge with deep, cool chasms and quiet beaches before arriving at Bedrock Village, Mt Surprise, for a 2 night stay. Overnight: Mt Surprise (BLD)

Day 13. Sun: Undara Lava Tubes, Mt Surprise

Today meet some of the local characters at Rocky Springs Cattle Station. Explore the Undara Lava Tubes, one of the longest lava flows in the world. Return to Mt Surprise for leisure time to explore this quaint little town which has a pastoral and mining heritage.  Return to Bedrock Village where tonight we are treated to dinner and a campfire singalong. Overnight: Mt Surprise. (BLD)

Day 14. Mon: Kuranda, Cairns

Today travel east through the McBride volcanic province and over the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range onto the famous Atherton Tableland, boasting world heritage listed Crater lakes – Barrine & Eacham.  We travel on to Kuranda where we are given the choice to board either the Kuranda Scenic Rail Journey or the amazing Scenic Skyrail into Cairns. Check in to Rydges Tradewinds Cairns, on the Esplanade for the next 2 nights. (BLD)

Day 15. Tue: Port Douglas, Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a latish breakfast before departing mid morning for Port Douglas. Arrive at The Wildlife Habitat Park to explore Australia’s leading environmental wildlife experience on a guided tour. See rare animals such as the Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo and the endangered Cassowary. Enjoy Lunch with the Lorikeets, a delicious hot buffet served with salads, cheeses, and tropical fruits. We then head into the township of Port Douglas for some free time at your own leisure.  A perfect way to end a perfect holiday - discover the delights of evening cruising with Ocean Spirit Cruises. Enjoy dinner on a luxury catamaran while cruising the calm waters of Trinity Inlet. With a welcome cocktail in hand, stroll the decks and savour the sights of the city by night. Enjoy a sumptuous 4 course hot & cold buffet (including seafood) featuring some of the region’s best produce - mouth watering prawns, oysters, reef fish & exotic platters of fruit - all freshly prepared by on board chefs. Overnight: Rydges Tradewinds Cairns (BLD)

Day 16. Wed: Fly home

After breakfast we are transferred to Cairns airport for our flights home. This tour includes all the icons of these regions and is all inclusive. (B)

It is recommended you book minimum 90 days in advance for this tour due to rail restrictions

B = Hot Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

Prices and Dates

• Additional rail cost is for the Spirit of the Outback Journey only. Ask us for prices
• Deposit Required to secure booking $600pp  
• In the remote areas, some accommodation is split over multiple accommodation venues
• Luggage is restricted to soft baggage of 15kg per person due to specialised Coaches on tour. 
• Excellent washing facilities are available on tour with multiple 2 two night stays. 
• This tour is not suited to people with limited mobility
• Due to inclement weather conditions, road access in this isolated area, it is necessary that travel insurance be taken out to cover travel delay expenses in the event of unforeseen delays.

• Additional rail cost is for the Spirit of the Outback Journey only. Ask us for prices
• Deposit Required to secure booking $600pp  
• In the remote areas, some accommodation is split over multiple accommodation venues
• Luggage is restricted to soft baggage of 15kg per person due to specialised Coaches on tour. 
• Excellent washing facilities are available on tour with multiple 2 two night stays. 
• This tour is not suited to people with limited mobility
• Due to inclement weather conditions, road access in this isolated area, it is necessary that travel insurance be taken out to cover travel delay expenses in the event of unforeseen delays.