Experience a magical journey through the Gulf Savannah region from Longreach to Cairns (with optional rail from Brisbane on the Spirit of the Outbac). This tour offers a wonderful mix of rail and overland 4WD coach travel, discovering Gulf Savannah highlights.
Arrive at Longreach by Qantas flight or Spirit of the Outback train where you will be met by your Savannah Guide Operator driver-guide and transferred to your accommodation. 3 nights Longreach Motor Inn (Guests travelling by rail will depart on the Spirit of the Outback on Tuesday evening)
Explore the fascinating themed galleries at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and discover inspiring stories of our pioneering heroes. Take your seat at the exciting Stockman’s Live Show to see amazing horsemanship and the action of a live muster. Late afternoon, unwind on the Drover’s Sunset Cruise with tasty onboard nibbles followed by a two-course table service dinner under the stars at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show.
Receive a warm welcome to Longreach at historic Rosebank Station, originally settled as a sheep and cattle station some 100 years ago. Enjoy morning tea and a chat with the local Outback Aussie Tours owners. Returning to Longreach we spend a relaxed morning downtown before enjoying lunch at The Branch Café, a local favourite. This evening we board our heritage Rail Motor for the Silver-Tails Rail Sunset where we will enjoy canapes and outback sunset. Finishing off the evening we visit Qantas Founders Museum for the entertaining and informative Luminescent Longreach Sound & Light Show, which brings the 100-year story of Qantas to life followed by an exclusive dinner surrounded by aviation history.
We’ll travel north east via Muttaburra to Hughenden in the Flinders Shire. While in town we’ll visit the Flinders Discovery Centre, home to Hughie the Muttaburrasaurus. Continue along the Overlander’s Way to Richmond. Overnight Ammonite Inn, Richmond.
We start the day with a visit to Kronosaurus Korner to see the most complete marine reptile fossils in the world. These fossils are from the Cretaceous Inland Sea that covered a large section of Queensland 100 million years ago. From here we head on Overlanders Way calling in at Julia Creek, before continuing our journey through to Cloncurry. Arriving in Cloncurry, we visit the Cloncurry Unearthed and John Flynn Place Museum where we discover the great Australian story of our Royal Flying Doctor Service, one of the most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. Overnight Gidgee Inn or Oasis Caravan Park Cabins, Cloncurry.
We drive north along the Burke Developmental Road to the Burke & Wills Roadhouse. You will be travelling through mostly cattle country along this road. See the contrasting colours of this rugged landscape; the black trunks of the gidgee scrub, golden Mitchell grass, and enormous rust red termite mounds. In Normanton, take a selfie with Krys the life-size statue of the largest saltwater crocodile ever caught. See the Purple Pub and Queensland’s earliest surviving and heritage-listed Burns Philp store. Arrive in Karumba, also known as ‘outback by the sea’, in time cruise the Gulf of Carpentaria to a remote sand island where we’ll toast the sunset and feast on fresh seafood as spectacular twilight hues colour the skies. 2 nights End of the Road Motel, Karumba.
Discover the amazing secrets of the mighty barramundi at The Barramundi Discovery Centre, the only hatchery in the world to breed the Southern Gulf strain of this iconic fish. Your tour of this state of the art Interpretive Centre includes the opportunity to feed a barramundi. Enjoy free time after lunch to explore the town or to simply relax and take in this beautiful location. Late afternoon, we’ll enjoy another Karumba sunset before dinner.
This morning it’s all aboard for a nostalgic rail journey on the famous Gulflander, affectionately called the ‘Tin Hare’. Visit the historic gold mining townships of Croydon and Georgetown. See the impressive mineral collection display at the TerrEstrial Centre. Arrive at the hidden outback oasis Cobbold Gorge in time for sunset drinks overlooking the stunning infinity pool! 2 nights Cobbold Gorge Resort.
Enjoy a tour of the magnificent sandstone gorge on this privately owned cattle station. The gorge is stocked with a variety of native fish and freshwater crocodiles. On a guided cruise, you’ll glide silently between towering cliffs in a specially designed, electric-powered punt. Join an optional walk to the top of the escarpment for awesome views of the gorge below from the glass bridge!
Enjoy smoko at the Einasleigh pub with its quirky miniature furniture collection and see the impressive rock formations of Copperfield Gorge. We take a scenic drive to Mount Surprise before heading on to the Undara Experience. This afternoon we join a guided tour of the incredible Undara Lava Tubes, part of the world’s longest lava flows from a single volcanic crater. Enjoy learning about the geological and historical features pointed out and explained by your Savannah Tour Guide. Overnight Undara Experience, Mount Surprise.
Travel through contrasting landscapes and Forty Mile Scrub National Park to Woodleigh Station. Take a tour through the original homestead built in 1876 and learn how hard life was for Queensland’s early settlers. Relax with lunch in view of their giant 100-year-old bougainvillea and take a stroll around their expansive gardens. Travel the Kennedy Highway to the lush Atherton Tablelands and Dimbulah. We’ll pass through Ravenshoe, the highest town in Queensland at 920m above sea level and the bustling township of Atherton. Next we board the Savannahlander in Dimbulah for a unique outback rail experience on this classic 1960s ‘silver-bullet’ railmotor. Enjoy Happy Hour and spectacular views on the descent into Cairns. Overnight Rydges Esplanade, Cairns.
Your tour concludes after breakfast. Own transfers to your homeward bound connections.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
| 2024 DEPARTURE DATES: |
|---|
| GULF12 Ex Longreach: *22 May, 29 May, 10 July, 14 August (SOLD OUT), *11 September |
| GULF13 Ex Brisbane: *21 May, 9 July, 13 August (SOLD OUT), *10 September |
| Cost Per Person 2024 | Twin Share | Sole Use |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane to Cairns GULF13 Rail from Brisbane |
$8558 | $10158 |
| Longreach to Cairns GULF12 Land only |
$8199 | $9799 |
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