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Day 1 : Cairns (D)
On arrival at Cairns airport you will be met and transferred* to your hotel. Enjoy some free time exploring the city. This evening meet your Outback Discovery crew and get together with fellow travellers during your welcome dinner.
Overnight Stay: Cairns
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Day 2 : Cairns – Undara (B,L,D)
This morning we depart Cairns travel to Mamu, for a close encounter with rainforest plants, animals and the North Johnstone River gorge, from the forest floor to the forest canopy. The walkway passes through one of the largest remaining continuous stands of complex vine forest on basalt soils in the Wet Tropics.We continue to Undara on the eastern edge of the ruggedly beautiful Gulf Savannah region. This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Undara Lava Tubes, formed some 190,000 years ago. After dinner tonight, have some fun around the campfire swapping tales.
Overnight Stay: Undara
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Day 3 : Undara – Cobbold Gorge (B,L,D)
Start the day with a true Aussie breakfast surrounded by birds and the bush before leaving Undara and driving to Georgetown. At the Terrestrial Centre you will view the multi award–winning Ted Elliott Mineral Collection. This collection, which is all the work of one man, contains over 4,500 mineral specimens in a myriad of fascinating colours and shapes from the region and throughout the world. On to Cobbold Gorge for lunch. The gorge is hidden away within rugged sandstone formations and is extremely narrow, closing to a mere 2 metres wide in places, with spectacular 30 metre cliffs on either side. The overall length of the gorge is about 6 kilometres and consists of a series of water holes and rock falls. We’ll board a flat bottom boat this afternoon for a guided cruise along the gorge.
Overnight Stay: Cobbold Gorge
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Day 4 : Cobbold Gorge – Karumba (B,L,D)
This morning we travel to the historic village of Croydon, which was once a booming gold town. We will have lunch in Croydon and then continue to the gulf town of Karumba, where a huge prawn trawling fleet is based. It was near Karumba that the Bourke and Wills expedition reached the top end of Australia.
Overnight Stay: Karumba
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Day 5 : Karumba – Adel’s Grove (B,L,D)
This morning we board the Gulflander Train for a ride back in time. This historic little train takes you on a journey with a difference through the tough and inhospitable Gulf Country to Critters Camp. Your driver is waiting to take you to Leichhardt River, which was named after the great explorer who went missing without a trace. After lunch we’ll cross the Savannah grasslands to the gulf town of Burketown and on to the historic town of Gregory Downs. We’ll visit the Gregory Downs Pub before our drive to Adel’s Grove, the gateway to Lawn Hill National Park and Riversleigh Fossil Site.
Two Night Stay: Adel’s Grove
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Day 6 : Adel’s Grove (B,L,D)
This morning we travel a short distance to the Riversleigh Fossil Site. This is one of the few fossil sites around the world that has been listed as World Heritage. We then continue our adventure in Lawn Hill National Park where you will take a guided walk, swim in the spring-fed waters of the gorge or explore aboard a canoe. We’ll return to Adel’s Grove in time to relax with friends before dinner.
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Day 7 : Adel’s Grove – Mount Isa (B,L,D)
Today we travel to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse and then on to Cloncurry for a visit to the John Flynn Place Museum. The exhibits here trace the inspirational story of the origins of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Our final destination today is Mount Isa, known as the ‘Oasis of the Outback’ nestled among the ochre-red Selwyn Ranges, on the banks of the Leichhardt River.
Two Night Stay: Mt Isa
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Day 8 : Mount Isa (B,L,D)
After breakfast we’ll take a tour around the town, which concludes with a visit to Outback at Isa. We’ll then join a guided tour of the huge Mount Isa Mine, the world's largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc.
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Day 9 : Mount Isa – Winton (B,L,D)
Our first stop today is Cloncurry for morning tea, after which we’ll call in at the legendary Walkabout Creek Hotel, known around the world for its role in the movie Crocodile Dundee. The isolated village of Kynuna seems as though it’s in the middle of nowhere and we’ll stop for a visit at the only hotel, the famous Blue Heeler Pub. Before reaching Winton we travel to the Combo Waterhole on the upper reaches of the Diamantina River. It is said to be the billabong where the ‘Waltzing Matilda’ swagman camped more than 100 years ago and was caught with some ‘borrowed’ mutton, thus inspiring the well-known song.
Overnight Stay: Winton
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Day 10 : Winton – Longreach (B,L,D)
This morning at Lark Quarry you’ll take a guided tour of the world's only recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede. You’ll see some 3,300 footprints made by nearly 200 dinosaurs 95 million years ago. We will also visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, the world’s only attraction dedicated to a song and the place where Banjo Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda. This afternoon our journey takes us to Longreach.
Two Night Stay: Longreach
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Day 11 : Longreach (B,L,D)
Our day starts at the Qantas Founders Outback Museum to inspect the original 1922 hangar used by departing flights, the 747-200 aircraft and the first ever Qantas jet passenger aircraft registered in Australia, the Boeing 707. At the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame you’ll discover the history of this country’s brave and intrepid explorers, the stockmen and aborigines of pioneering Australia. This afternoon you’ll visit 'Longway Station', a 34,000 acre working sheep and livestock grazing station, and learn about land care in the outback. This evening enjoy a spectacular sunset dinner cruise along the Thomson River.
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Day 12 : Longreach – Emerald (B,L,D)
From Longreach we drive to Barcaldine, the scene of the Great Shearers' Strike in 1891 that led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party. The Australian Workers Heritage Centre records these historic events and your visit uncovers the rich heritage, history and traditions of all working Australians. Then on to Alpha where many town buildings are adorned with murals painted by local artists. At Anakie you can fossick for sapphires and other prized gems at the Big Sapphire before we travel to today’s destination, Emerald. Despite its name, there are no emeralds to be found in Emerald but it is surrounded by rich gemfields.
Overnight Stay: Emerald
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Day 13 : Emerald – Carnarvon Gorge (B,L,D)
At Carnarvon National Park we’ll check in to our accommodation, have lunch and then take a guided walk into the gorge. Carnarvon Gorge has over 25 kilometres of walking tracks criss-crossing fresh water streams, meandering through lush tropical gorges with sandstone cliffs, passing by tranquil waterfalls and delving into the deep rock crevices that conceal many significant Aboriginal art sites. The surrounding park boasts unique wildlife, spectacular scenery and incredible bush walks.
Overnight Stay: Carnarvon Gorge
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Day 14 : Carnarvon Gorge – Roma (B,L,D)
After breakfast we’ll take another walk in the National Park before travelling to the charming town of Injune. Our destination today is Roma, where in 1863 Samuel Bassett brought vine cuttings to the town and started Queensland’s first wine-making enterprise. The town is also famous for its part in Australia’s oil and gas industry and this afternoon we’ll visit the Big Rig. Learn about the unique history of the industry from the first discovery of petroleum, through the boom and bust years of oil and gas exploration and on to today's multi-billion dollar industry.
Overnight Stay: Roma
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Day 15 : Roma – Brisbane (B,L,D)
We drive east across the Darling Downs to Chinchilla and Toowoomba and over the Great Dividing Range to Brisbane. After checking in to our hotel we head south to the Gold Coast late this afternoon. This evening you’ll attend the Australian Outback Spectacular presented by R.M. Williams – a stirring presentation of outback life with a great cast, 31 talented horses and brilliant special effects. During the show you’ll be served a three course Aussie dinner with beer, wine and soft drinks.
Overnight Stay: Brisbane
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Day 16 : Brisbane (B,L)
This morning we visit Australia Zoo. You will see exciting wildlife shows, chat with friendly zookeepers and get close to many of the different animals. After lunch you’ll be transferred* to Brisbane airport for your homebound flight (please book flights to leave after 3.00pm).*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
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