Tour Longreach and Winton + Catch the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival (Jun 2022)

Please note the following itinerary is subject to change without notice.

Day 1: Saturday 25 June

Welcome to our 8-day tour to Winton for the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival. From the Sunshine Coast we head via Kilcoy and Blackbutt with a brief stop for morning tea. Our lunch stop today is at Jimbour Homestead. Jimbour Station is one of the oldest stations on the Darling Downs and the heritage listed Jimbour Homestead is perhaps the grandest country home ever constructed in Queensland. The house is built on a lavish scale with spacious rooms and high ceilings. It was designed with the best modern conveniences of the time with gas and water on tap. We have lunch on arrival, followed by a guided tour of the house, then make our way to Roma for tonight’s accommodation.

• Included Meals: Lunch & Dinner
• Stay: Roma Explorers Inn

Day 2: Sunday 26 June

After breakfast, we hit the road again with a long drive ahead of us. In Tambo we stop in time for lunch and a look through Tambo Teddies, a local business originally created by 3 local women wanting to overcome low wool prices and drought. Next, we travel to Blackall, where the legendary gun shearer Jackie Howe set the almost unbelievable record of shearing 321 sheep with blade shears in a day. A bronze statue now stands as a monument to the man and his achievement. Blackall has the only fully intact steam-powered wool washing plant left in Australia. The historic Woolscour is a living museum and a direct physical link to Australia’s pioneering era. It is totally authentic, unique, full of history and has great educational and social values. Late afternoon we arrive in Barcaldine for our overnight accommodation.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Stay: Landsborough Lodge Motel

Day 3: Monday 27 June

This morning we visit the new memorial at the Tree of Knowledge. This iconic ghost gum, which grew outside the Railway Station, earned its claim to fame as the founding site of the political movement we now know as the Australian Labor Party. It was poisoned in 2006 and did not recover. We also visit the Worker’s Heritage Centre, the only national attraction dedicated to celebrating the lives and proud heritage of ordinary working people. The displays tell the stories of the railway workers, blacksmiths, farmers, nurses and teachers who shaped the nation. We stop in Longreach for some free time to purchase lunch, but don’t worry we will be returning to take a closer look at this town. We will see some dramatic and ever-changing scenery as we make our way to Winton. The area was once home to dinosaurs and is full of groundbreaking scientific discoveries and archaeological digs. Today we will have the opportunity to learn about this prehistoric phenomenon. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs is located on top of the “jump up” – a rugged mesa plateau formation that stands 75 meters above the surrounding plains. The centre hosts the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils and the largest fossil preparation laboratory in the southern hemisphere. Following our visit, we head to our accommodation for some relaxation, prior to heading out to the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival.

• Included Meals: Breakfast
• Stay: Boulder Opal Inn

Day 4: Tuesday 28 June

Following breakfast, we head out of Winton to Lark Quarry for a visit to the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument. Here, some 4,000 footprints have until recently been known as the world’s only record of a dinosaur ‘stampede’— a herd of small dinosaurs being chased by a large theropod, about 95 million years ago! We return to Winton in time for lunch at your own expense, prior to visiting the Waltzing Matilda Centre. This world class museum and art gallery focuses on displaying Australian landscape, channel country, the women of the homesteads, livestock/wool industries of the outback and of course, the classic poem. The remainder of the day is free and this evening we can enjoy more of the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival.

• Included Meals: Breakfast
• Stay: Boulder Opal Inn

Please Note: Details for the 2022 Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival have not yet been announced and we will update our itinerary and costing around April with more details.

Day 5: Wednesday 29 June

This morning we’ll enjoy Breakfast with the Stars while discussing the Vision Splendid Films with Industry guests. There will be time to take in the late morning screening before we farewell to Winton and head for Longreach – our home for the next three nights.

• Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
• Stay: Albert Park Motor Inn

Please Note: Details for the 2022 Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival have not yet been announced and we will update our itinerary and costing around April with more details.

Day 6: Thursday 30 June

Following breakfast at the Birdcage Hotel we will feel like pioneers from the past, as we experience the only Stage Coach gallop in Australia. Our schedule includes a stagecoach ride, photos, traditional smoko and a classic Australia movie in retro cinema seats before we experience the Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show with a Billy Can lunch. Based on the traditional outback travelling shows, it’s hard not to be charmed by the simple delights of bush theatre. The show tells a fictional story set in the time of Harry Redford (Captain Starlight) and refers to his infamous adventures. Next, we will have a little time at leisure in the main street of Longreach before returning to our hotel for some time to relax. Tonight’s dinner venue is at the Welcome Home Hotel that was originally built in 1896 and was named to honour soldiers returning from the Boer War. Our unique StoneGrill dining experience re-creates a cook-your-own campfire dinner in the comfort of the hotel dining room. A selection of meat, fish and chicken will be served to our tables on hot stones and we have a large buffet selection of vegetables and sauces along with all your favourite desserts. It will be a great outback experience!

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

Day 7: Friday 1 July

After another breakfast at the Birdcage Hotel, our day of adventure begins. A trip to Longreach would not be complete without a visit to the iconic Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame to experience the Outback Stockman’s Show. The show encompasses the modern-day aspects of being a stockman, as well as telling tales of the past. This afternoon we’ll uncover some national treasures at the QANTAS Founders Outback Museum. The historic photographs, memorabilia and multimedia displays bring the inspirational stories of one of the world's pioneering airlines to life. After a fantastic day, we take a sunset cruise down the majestic Thompson River. As the sunset fades into starlight, we dock at Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show for a night of great food and live entertainment under the stars. – what a perfect way to end our time in Longreach.

• Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
• Stay: Albert Park Motor Inn

Day 8: Saturday 2 July 2022

We once again head to the Birdcage Hotel for our final breakfast together. Next up is a visit to the Station Store – the heritage heart of Longreach and an amazing outback emporium. With some final goodies and gifts under our arm, we’ll get to the airport in time to board our early afternoon QANTAS flight direct to Brisbane.

• Included Meals: Breakfast

One Departure Only! 25 June - 02 July 2022

• Twin Share - $3,790 per person
• Single Traveller - $4,280 per person

Please call our travel team on 1300 414 198 to learn more and secure your spot. Our experienced consultants can also happily help with flights, pre/post-tour accommodation and travel insurance.

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

Roma Explorers Inn, Roma provides free WiFi, air-conditioned accommodation, flat-screen TVs with Foxtel, a modern pool, fully equipped kids playroom, and undercover parking.

Enjoy 1 night at the 3.5 star Landsborough Lodge Motel, Barcaldine. All rooms feature TVs with cable channels, and you can enjoy free WiFi, coffee/tea makers, refrigerator, microwave and ceiling fans.

Boulder Opal Inn is the newest motel in Winton Queensland Australia. 3.5 star self-rated accommodation which offers free WiFi, Swimming Pool, Restaurant & Bar and friendly outback hospitality. Rooms feature reverse cycle air conditioning, fans, refrigerator, Foxtel Satellite TV, Coffee and Tea Facilities.

Albert Park Motor Inn is Longreach’s newest motel. Set in an idyllic bush setting and near Longreach’s iconic attractions. All rooms are ground level for your convenience and comfort. The Motel facilities include Free WiFi, outdoor swimming pool, guest laundry, BBQ Area and undercover car parking. All rooms have air conditioning, refrigerator, Kettle and TV with digital channels.

Day 1 - Pick up location Sunshine Coast or Brisbane

Day 8 - Tour ends in Brisbane, If you had a pick up from the Sunshine Coast on day 1 when the flight lands in Brisbane on day 8 you will be transferred back to the sunshine coast by the coach provider.

Willing to share: One of the advantages of travelling on a Travel at 60 dedicated group departure is that we have the ability to match solo travellers, so that you they can avoid paying the single supplement. Subject to availability of another traveller of the same gender willing to share. Please note you will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid19.