7 Day Cubbie Station & Lightning Ridge
Departs: Friday 11th April 2008
SUPER SAVER FARE: $1554 SING SUPP: $235
This tour combines two of Australia’s richest industries, cotton and opals with the magic of the outback. Stay overnight in Roma before visiting the little town of Surat, on the banks of the Balonne River and the site of the last Cobb & Co Coach run. On to Dirranbandi for the highlight of the tour — a visit to Cubbie Station, a 200,000 acre cotton farm, Australia’s biggest, situated near Dirranbandi. Marvel in a fascinating tour of this huge property including harvesting, water storage, natural flood plains, earth moving and huge machinery workshops. In Lightning Ridge join Outback Opal Tours for an informative tour of the area including the opportunity to fossick for your own fiery gem. Dine under the stars at the Dig Inn with camp oven fare and entertainment. At Inverell, visit the fascinating Inverell Pioneer Village. Join Down Under Coach Tours on this tour with a difference….!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY - BRISBANE - ROMA (D)
Friday 11th April: An early start for travelling companions joining the coach between Hervey Bay and Caboolture. Brisbane passengers join us at Brisbane Transit Centre for departure at 10:00 am. Travel west through Toowoomba and pass through the agriculturally rich area of the Darling Downs. In Dalby time to admire the many lovely old buildings in the town centre, including St John’s Anglican Church and the Convent. Buy your lunch, then reboard the coach for travel to Roma. On arrival in Roma view the impressive avenue of Memorial Bottles Trees, overnight the Kings Motel.
DAY 2 ROMA - ST GEORGE (BLD)
Saturday 12th April: After a hearty breakfast it’s all aboard for a town tour of Roma. Learn the history behind “Heroes Avenue” and visit the Big Rig. The complex is a tribute to the pioneers of Australia's oil and gas exploration industry. Experience the development of the industry from the nations first discovery of petroleum in Roma in 1900 through a series of 12 interpretive panels, audio and other visual presentations and fully restored historic rigs and equipment. Also learn of the fascinating history of the Roma Court House where infamous cattle duffer Harry Redford was tried. Conclude our tour with a visit to the Roma Cultural Centre. After our tour on to the little town of Surat on the banks of the Balonne River.
Surat is home to the last Cobb & Co Stagecoach run and we visit the Cobb & Co Changing Station. There are many things to see at the Changing Station such as art displays, the Fresh Water Aquarium and the history of the area. Enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by your crew on the banks of the Balonne River. From Surat travel along the Carnarvon Highway to St George. On arrival in St George you will have the pleasure of tasting some very fine wine award winning wines made from locally grown grapes at the Riversands Winery. At the Balonne Sports Store view a genuinely impressive and interesting collection of hand-carved emu eggs, illuminated from within. Created by Steve Margaritis over a period of more than 40 years, they have been displayed at World Expos but are now on permanent display in the store. Stay tonight is at the Australian Hotel, St George (limited single supplement available).
DAY 3 ST GEORGE - CUBBIE STATION (BLD)
Sunday 13th April: A full day touring Dirranbandi and surrounds. Today we enjoy a guided tour of the famous Cubbie Station. Cubbie Station is the largest privately-owned irrigation layout in Australia covering over 200,000 acres. Cubbie Station has few rivals anywhere in the world, and its massive water storage has created controversy in a dry land. The full extent of Cubbie's massive storage facilities are revealed during our tour with huge storage dams that stretch for 28 continuous kilometres down the trickle that is the Culgoa (or later Darling) River. Feeding this 12,000 hectares of water is a diversion channel wide enough to take a landing light aircraft, perched like an open mouth above a weir over the river. Cubbie Station has enough water capacity to more than swallow the waters of Sydney Harbour. Cubbie grows about 13,000 hectares of irrigated cotton and brings in about $50 million a year. After our awe-inspiring tour enjoy lunch under the shade of the trees next to the homestead. Tonight stay at the Dirranbandi Motor Inn.
DAY 4 DIRRANBANDI - LIGHTNING RIDGE (BD)
Monday 14th April: Trekking south towards Lightning Ridge visit the Hebel Pub, for a cool drink and a friendly smile from the locals. Built in 1894, it was the original Cobb & Co Staging Post. Admire the walls adorned with wonderful history. On to a unique part of Australia, Lightning Ridge, home of the Black Opal. Free time to take in your unique surroundings and meet the locals as you buy your lunch then it’s off to see a house made entirely of bottles, now converted into a museum containing many interesting artefacts. Of course a trip to ‘The Ridge’ would not be complete without a visit to the Artesian Bore Baths. The naturally heated thermal baths are known for their therapeutic healing of any aches or pains. Bring your swimming togs and enjoy a soak – what bliss! Into our motel, the Wallangulla Motel to freshen up before some evening activities. Before dinner we visit the Black Queen, a living example of outback ingenuity and recycling at its best. Tour this amazing retro environment, three hand built sandstone cottages with a feature bottle wall. A highlight of our visit is the exquisite lamp collection and evening Light Show. Dinner tonight is a special treat at The Dig Inn – enjoy a wonderful Bush style dinner with entertainment!
DAY 5 LIGHTNING RIDGE (BD)
Tuesday 15th April: Today a guide will join us for a comprehensive tour of ‘The Ridge’. We go off the beaten track and into the opal fields where the stories are plentiful! See the Ridge’s largest open cut mine, Fred Bodel’s historic mining camp, Amigo’s Castle, guided underground mine tour, opal cutting and polishing demonstration and go fossicking to find your own piece of opal. After our morning tour free time to find your own special souvenir of your time in Lightning Ridge. There are plenty of stores where you can haggle for a bargain gem to take home. Enjoy meeting the locals and taking in the atmosphere of this wonderful and colourful outback town. Tonight enjoy another night stay at the Wallangulla Motel with dinner at the local bowls club.
DAY 6 LIGHTNING RIDGE - GLEN INNES (BLD)
Wednesday 16th April: Farewell to the home of the Black Opal, we join the Gwydir Highway to travel east to Moree for a short break before travelling to the “Sapphire City “ of Inverell. Break for lunch at the Information Centre then enjoy a visit to the Inverell Pioneer Village. Stroll through our pioneering history. See authentic buildings, steam engines and horse drawn vehicles that have been collected from the surrounding districts. A little further up the track to our stop for the night the New England Motor Lodge at Glen Innes.
DAY 7 GLEN INNES - HOME (B)
Thursday 17th April: Bid farewell to our Glen Innes hosts as we make our way homeward with memories of some awe-inspiring moments fresh in our minds from our Cubbie Station and Lightning Ridge outback holiday. Travel home through Tenterfield and across the border to Stanthorpe and onto Warwick for lunch (own expense). We continue over the Cunningham Highway and into Brisbane mid afternoon. North bound passengers stay onboard the coach for arrival in Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.