Discover Queensland's Gulf Country

The operator reserves the right to alter itinerary and accommodation if necessitated.

Day 1 – Brisbane to Rockhampton

This morning you’ll board the high-speed Tilt Train for an exciting first leg of our tour.  Travelling the 639-kilometre daylight trip between Brisbane and Rockhampton, you can relax with on board meals and beverages while enjoying in-seat visual and audio entertainment. You will be met on arrival at Rockhampton Railway Station by our Outback Aussie Tours guide & host for transfer to your overnight accommodation. Keeping to the rail theme, our welcome dinner tonight will be at the Archer Railway Station. 

• Stay: Mercure Hotel, Rockhampton
• Included Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2 – Emerald

Today we’ll visit the ancient Capricorn Caves set into a limestone ridge.  We’ll join a guided tour of the large caves, featuring the Cathedral Cave with it’s near perfect acoustics. Continuing our drive west we’ll call in to the Blackwater International Coal Centre for an insight into this billion dollar industry and to see oversized machinery navigating massive open cut pits. Arrive Emerald late afternoon for check-in. Enjoy sunset nibbles and drinks at Lake Maraboon, Queensland’s second largest lake and a popular freshwater fishing destination. 

• Stay: Emerald Maraboon Motel
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 – Barcaldine

Following breakfast, we’ll board our 2nd rail experience, The Spirit of the Outback!  We get to enjoy the best section of the Spirit of the Outback in daylight hours.  Settle in to your comfortable, reclining seat and enjoy the expansive outback scenery on the full day rail adventure to Barcaldine.  You’ll pass through the gem field town of Anakie, then Alpha and Jericho. Arrive relaxed and recharged in Barcaldine  in time for the Desert Dreaming Indigenous cultural dinner and show. 

• Stay: Barcaldine Country Motor Inn
• Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 – Longreach

This morning, we’ll visit the Australian Workers Heritage Centre. Spread across over two hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding a tranquil billabong, the Australian Workers Heritage Centre presents a rich tapestry of exhibits capturing the spirit our nation’s workers. Continuing our drive west, we’ll enjoy a traditional pub lunch at the historic Wellshot Hotel in Ilfracombe. Arrive in Longreach early afternoon with time to relax and refresh.  Late afternoon, we’ll join the Drover’s Sunset Cruise followed by Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show. 

• Stay: Longreach Motor Inn or Albert Park Motor Inn
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 – Longreach

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your accommodation this morning.  Visit the world-class Qantas Founders Museum, eloquently telling the story of the founding of Qantas. View interpretive displays, interactive exhibits, original and replica aircraft, and an impressive collection of genuine artefacts. Enjoy some free time downtown Longreach after lunch. This evening, we 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.

• Stay: Longreach Motor Inn or Albert Park Motor Inn
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 – Longreach

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. Witness the traditional Australian Stockman skills that are still used today.  Late afternoon experience the warm hospitality of local graziers on a visit to Camden Park Station. Join Outback Dan on a personalised tour of his family property, sunset drinks at Two Tree Hill, followed by an exclusive dinner in their 100 year old woolshed.

• Stay: Longreach Motor Inn or Albert Park Motor Inn
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 – Richmond

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.  Visit 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.  

• Stay: Ammonite Inn, Richmond
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 – Karumba

We drive north along the Burke Development 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 to capture your first memorable Gulf sunset.  

• Stay: End of the Road Motel, Karumba
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 – 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 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.

• Stay: End of the Road Motel, Karumba
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 – Cobbold Gorge

Travel to Normanton 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!  

• Stay: Cobbold Gorge Resort
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 – Cobbold Gorge

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!

• Stay: Cobbold Gorge Resort
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 – Mount Surprise

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. 

• Stay: Undara Experience, Mount Surprise
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 – Cairns

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. See the cattle yards and hear the story of the cattle’s journey from paddock to plate. Relax with morning tea 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.   

• Stay: Rydges Esplanade, Cairns
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 14 – Cairns

Your tour concludes after breakfast.  Make your own way to your homeward bound connections.

• Included Meals: Breakfast

Travel at 60 can assist with flights or rail to your home city, call us on 1300 414 198 to get your quote today!

Brisbane to Cairns

• 2​2 May 2023
• 1​9 June 2023
• 1​7 July 2023
• 3​1 July 2023
• 2​8 August 2023
• 11 September 2023

• Twin share from $9,999 per person
• Single Traveller from $11,699 per person

Call our local travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your seat now. We can also book your flights and additional accommodation if you wish to extend your stay in Cairns.

On this tour you will enjoy 13 nights accommodation with ensuite bathrooms.

• Mecure Hotel, Rockhampton
• Emerald Maraboon Motel
• Barcaldine Country Motor Inn
• Longreach Motor Inn or Albert Park Motor Inn (3 nights)
• Ammonite Inn, Richmond
• End of the Road Motel, Karumba (2 nights)
• Cobbold Gorge Resort (2 nights)
• Undara Experience, Mount Surprise
• Rydges Esplanade, Cairns

*Please note that as you will be travelling through remote parts of North Queensland, some accommodation will be basic, however all accommodation used in this itinerary will have private ensuite bathrooms.

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. height 60cm - width 40cm - depth 30cm) maximum weight 20kg. One piece of hand luggage/day pack may be carried onboard the coach. Due to limited space, the carriage of wheelie-walkers must be requested prior to travel. 

Want to avoid the single supplement? If you're willing to share, we can happily pair you with another solo traveller. Subject to COVID-19 vaccination, availability of another guest of the same gender willing to share, otherwise a single room rate will apply.