Birdsville Escape, Longreach & Far West Queensland

Please note that this tour commences and concludes in Longreach

Day 1: Sunday – Longreach

Arrive in Longreach for the start of your Outback Queensland adventure.  You will be met at either Longreach Railway Station or Longreach Airport by your Savannah Guides Operator driver and host. Transfer to your accommodation for a Welcome Supper and tour briefing.   

Accommodation: Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Monday – Longreach

Take a short drive to 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. Visit the world-class Qantas Founders Museum, eloquently telling the story of the founding of Qantas. Discover the inspiring stories of our pioneering heroes at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Enjoy an orientation tour of Longreach mid afternoon.  Return to the Qantas Founders Museum for an exclusive dinner surrounded by aviation history, and the entertaining and informative Luminescent Longreach Sound & Light Show, which brings the 100-year story of Qantas to life.

Accommodation: Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Tuesday – Boulia

This morning we drive to Winton and uncover the story behind the song that lives in the heart of all Australians, Waltzing Matilda.  Follow a spectacularly scenic drive from Winton via historic Middleton Hotel, built during the Cobb & Co. era.  It was originally a changing station where tired horses were replaced with fresh horses on the Winton to Boulia route.  While at the pub hear entertaining yarns by the local publican over afternoon tea.  We stop at Cawnpore Lookout to view the stark flat-topped beauty of the surrounding Lillyvale Hills, before arriving into Boulia, the capital of the Channel Country. 

Accommodation: Australian Hotel or Desert Sands Motel, Boulia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Wednesday - Birdsville

This morning visit the Min Min Encounter, a tribute to the famed mysterious Min Min Light phenomenon. Explore the Stonehouse Museum, one of the first homes built in Western Queensland and see the impressive Marine Reptile Fossil exhibit.  Witness spectacular 360-degree views from the Vaughan Johnson Lookout. Explore the remote town of Bedourie, located on a sand dune; overlooking the Eyre Creek floodplain. See the historic Royal Hotel, built in the 1880s with adobe bricks; still very much in its original condition.  Visit the Carcory Ruins a heritage-listed homestead built in 1877 and abandoned after years of drought.   Keep a look out for a rare stand of Waddi Trees which occur in only a few places in the world.  Arrive in Birdsville late afternoon.  

Accommodation: Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Thursday – Birdsville

Wake up to a glorious outback day in this remote town on the edge of the Simpson Desert.  Join your guide for a town tour of Birdsville.  Stand on the famous Birdsville Race Track which hosts the annual ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’.  See the Burke and Will Tree, said to mark on of Burke & Wills’ final campsites.  Take a stroll to Pelican Point Billabong with its abundant birdlife and tuck into a locally made pie at the Birdsville Bakery.  Tonight we toast the glorious outback sunset from atop Big Red, a 40 metre high sand dune marking the symbolic eastern edge of the Simpson Desert.

Accommodation: Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Friday - Birdsville

Discover the stories behind this iconic town today.  Cross over the border to South Australia along a section of the famous Birdsville Track.  Visit the Australian Inland Mission Hospital Museum and view local indigenous artists’ work at the Wirrarri Centre.  Tonight enjoy the company and stories from Birdsville locals as we share a traditional Stockman’s dinner around the campfire.  Tuck into a mouthwatering homemade stew, made with the finest produced OBE organic Beef. Certified 100% organic and natural it’s produced locally in the spectacular Channel Country. Complete the meal with a side of damper, cup of tea and rustic dessert.

Accommodation: Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Saturday - Windorah

After a wonderful stay in Birdsville we set off to see the Dreamtime Serpent Indigenous artwork; an impressive hillside installation created with gravel and gibbers.  Visit Betoota, originally established to collect cattle tolls and later as a Cobb & Co change station. Take in spectacular views from Deon’s Lookout and see the JC Hotel Ruins, once part of the township site of Canterbury. Arrive into Windorah, said to be the only place in the world where two rivers form a creek! Late afternoon, we’ll take a short trip out of town to toast the sunset from beautiful wind-swept red sandhills. Have your cameras ready!  

Accommodation: Western Star Hotel, Windorah

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Sunday – Longreach

Stop in for a yarn over lunch at the Stonehenge Hotel.  Follow the mighty Thomson River floodplain back to Longreach. Late afternoon join the Drover’s Sunset Cruise on the beautiful Thomson River. Unwind with on-board nibbles and drinks whilst watching a magnificent outback sunset. Enjoy live entertainment and a two-course camp oven themed dinner under the stars at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show. 

Accommodation: Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Monday

Following breakfast you will be transferred to either Longreach Airport or Longreach Railway Station for your homeward bound connections.

Need help with getting to and from Longreach? We can assist with booking flights as well as the Spirit of the Outback rail journey. Ask about options that include flights and/or rail to and from Longreach. Call 1800 414 198 to make a booking.

Please note this itinerary is subject to change without notice.

Please note that prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.

Commencing in Longreach 17 April , 22 May, 12 June, 14 August, 4 September or 25 September 2022

• Twin share from $4,449 per person
• Single Traveller from $5,249 per person

Call our Brisbane based travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your place.

TOUR ACCOMMODATION:

The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:

• Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach
• Australian Hotel or Desert Sands Motel, Boulia
• Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville
• Western Star Hotel, Windorah

Properties used in the tour is subject to change without notice.

Fitness Level:

Please note a medium level of fitness is required for this tour - guests have no mobility concerns and they have declared any pre-existing injuries which may affect their participation. Please note tours include leisurely walks that can be in excess of 1.5km. Not suitable for guests needing wheelie walkers or wheelchairs.

Baggage Allowance:

One small to medium sized suitcase per person (approx H 60cm x W 40cm x D 30cm) maximum weight 20kg. One piece of hand luggage/day pack may be carried onboard the coach.