13 Day Channel Country & Carnarvon Gorge
Departs: Thursday 1st May 2008
TOUR COST: from $3053 pp twin share
This holiday package is a distinctly Queensland Holiday…taking you right out of the City into the horizons of Central Queensland’s outback with its unforgettable colours and landscapes! There are so many scenic attractions in this tour to captivate your interest; follow the Cunnamulla Heritage Trail to the Yowah Opal Fields to fossick for a bit of opal colour! Enjoy a unique two night stay on a working property, Ray Station. Stay in original station accommodation restored and themed, each with its own story to tell. “Walk with the Dinosaurs” at the famous Lark Quarry, discover the historic town of Winton including the fascinating Waltzing Matilda Centre. Travel the Matilda Highway on a journey of discovery through Longreach to Blackall. Enjoy the scenic wonders of Carnarvon Gorge, one of the jewels of Queensland. Travel home via Roma’s Big Rig. Enjoy a diversity of landscapes from stark open plains, ‘opal country’, and grazing lands to the contrast of the lush ancient sheer cliffs of Carnarvon Gorge. It’s all there waiting for you to explore with your Down Under Crew!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY — BRISBANE — ST GEORGE (D)
Thursday 1st May: An early start for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caboolture. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Roma Street Transit Centre at 10.00am. Take the Barwon Highway to Queensland’s oldest drinking establishment, the Nindigilly Pub. Admire the walls adorned with hundreds of well worn Akubra hats and don’t let your mobile phone ring, or the next shouts on you! Stay at the Australian Hotel Motel (limited single supplement available).
DAY 2 YOWAH OPAL FIELDS — QUILPIE (BLD)
Friday 2nd May: Travel westward across vast plains and open horizons to Cunnamulla, joining the Heritage Trail, visiting various historic sites and points of interest including the Robber’s Tree. Travelling west through the one-pub, one-general store town of Eulo, see the famous dome shaped mounds of the Mud Springs. After a tour of the Yowah Opal Fields try your luck fossicking for a precious ‘Yowah Nut’, that when split reveals a centre of pure opal. Time permitting journey to ‘The Bluff’ for excellent views of the local landscape. Head northward to an old Cobb and Co Changing Station at Toompine. All that remains today is the Toompine Hotel, and its shade provides a welcome spot for a break. Arrive in Quilpie, on the banks of the Bulloo River, in the heart of opal country. Stay at the Quilpie Motor Inn.
DAY 3 QUILPIE — RAY STATION (BLD)
Saturday 3rd May: Visit the Quilpie Visitors Centre for a guided town tour; highlights include St Finbarr’s Catholic Church and its unique opal altar and the Amy Johnson Landing Site. Travel via Eromanga passing the Oil Fields. Lunch at the local café and have a yarn with the locals who proudly boast their town is the site of the largest dinosaur bone ever found in Australia and is the furtherest town from the sea too! The cafe owner helped rescue modern day adventurer Steve Fossett when his hot air balloon crash landed nearby. Enjoy a photo stop at beautiful Kybra Waterhole, then arrive at our highlight destination, Ray Station. Ray Station was first settled in 1874 by Patsy and Sarah Tully (nee Durack), great grand-parents of the current owners, Sandra Tully and Mark Durack.
Ray Station is 225 square miles in size and remains one of a select few properties in Australia never to have changed hands since white settlement. The station currently runs about 4000 head of sheep and over 1000 head of cattle, and grows Mitchell grass. Our hosts bring to life the pioneering history of our great land with guided tours and hearty home cooked meals. After afternoon tea an introductory tour of the property. Settle into unique accommodation in different buildings on the property, each with its own story to tell (share facilities—single supplement not available). After a delicious three course dinner join Sandra and Mark for a sing-along and poetry around the campfire.
DAY 4 RAY STATION (BLD)
Sunday 4th May: Something special in store today as we set off for the full Tully-Durack tour. This morning see the Ray Station Cemetery, shearing shed, Aboriginal rock holes, the 1900 tree plus lots more! Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch before travelling to the William Tell boulder opal mine on Ray Station. Enjoy a bush smoko and see the different stages a boulder opal goes through to create a finished gem. Return to the homestead for a three course dinner followed by a 40 minute film - “Bygone Days at Ray”.
DAY 5 RAY STATION — WINDORAH (BLD)
Monday 5th May: Bidding farewell to Sandra and Mark we leave Ray Station with lots of wonderful stories to tell our friends. Stop for morning tea at the causeway near Welford National Park. Visit Jundah’s Historical Museum, the Jundah Post Office with its beautiful shopfront mural and the Galaxy Opal, one of the world’s largest Boulder Opals. At the Jundah Store, locals Stan and Kathy welcome us with tales of the outback, and Stan might even grind a few opals for us. Criss-crossing the Thomson River and Cooper Creek to arrive in Windorah. Stay at the Western Star Motel.
DAY 6 WINDORAH — LARK QUARRY – WINTON (BLD)
Tuesday 6th May: Bring plenty of film, a hat and walking shoes for our guided tour of Lark Quarry Dinosaur Park. The park is the only site in the world that depicts a dinosaur stampede from over 100 million years ago. Over 5,000 dinosaur footprints are fossilised in this fascinating environment. After a day in the Australian bush on to Winton, looking forward this evening to reliving childhood memories at the Royal Theatre Picture Show Under the Stars, a truly unique experience. Stay at the Boulder Opal Motor Inn.
DAY 7 WINTON — LONGREACH (BD)
Wednesday 7th May: This morning enjoy an introductory tour of Winton. The main street of Winton is a reminder of a colourful past, see the Pelican Waterhole, Dinosaur Feet and Waltzing Matilda memorabilia. Enjoy a tour of the Waltzing Matilda Centre, that features Waltzing Matilda exhibits, tributes to Banjo Paterson and Qantas displays. Resume our journey to Muttaburra, where the word ‘horizon’ takes on a new meaning as the sky by day is very spectacular. See history preserved at Dr Arratta’s Medical Museum and the contribution made by Greek families as displayed in Cassimatis Store. Enjoy some good old fashioned bush tucker at the Exchange Hotel. On to Longreach for a spectacular sunset dinner cruise on the Thomson River aboard the ‘MV Explorer’ with songs and yarns as we cruise. Enjoy a two night stay at the Albert Park Motor Inn.
DAY 8 LONGREACH ATTRACTIONS (BD)
Thursday 8th May: An introductory tour of Longreach reveals the towns distinctive landmarks, the Watertowers, the Centenary Murals, replica of Qantas’ first booking office and Qantas Park memorial, the Tropic of Capricorn marker and the Arid Zone Research Institute. Take an eye opening guided tour through the Longreach Agricultural College to see rural training at its best. Continue your outback experience with a visit to the world renowned Stockman’s Hall of Fame, purchase your lunch during your visit. Your inspection of the new Qantas Founders Outback Museum will leave you in awe. See the full scale replica of the first Qantas aircraft, the Avro 504K, and the jets; the 747 and the new addition the 707. Your visit will bring a dawning realisation that aviation has certainly opened up the west. Dine at our motel.
DAY 9 LONGREACH — ISISFORD — BLACKALL (BLD)
Friday 9th May: As we travel through Ilfracombe, take a step back in time as we slowly drive past the unending array of old machinery depicting the origins and development of the transport and pastoral industries in the Central West. Drive past the historic Wellshot Hotel, and explore the Isis Downs Shearing Shed which is the largest in Australia. This huge semi-circular construction was fabricated in England, shipped to Australia and built in 1913. In Isisford stop for a catered lunch and an inspection of the Outer Barcoo Interpretative Centre. Arrive in Blackall early afternoon to see another outback wonder – the Woolscour, operated on steam power. Overnight at the Acacia Motor Inn.
DAY 10 BLACKALL — TAMBO — CARNARVON GORGE (BLD)
Saturday 10th May: Today, travel through rich grazing lands to Tambo, home of the Tambo Teddies. Travel the Dawson Development Road where large cattle stations dominate the scenery to Springsure. Between Springsure and Rolleston the scenery is of mountains with sparsely vegetated grassy plains. Follow the Carnarvon Development Road; the surrounding countryside gives little clue to the wonder and unexpected oasis that is Carnarvon Gorge. Settle into our architect designed timber and canvas cabins (serviced daily) featuring carpeted floors and ensuite. The main building contains the guest lounge, dining room, library, store and souvenir shop. A program of guided walks and activities to suit all levels of fitness are available. This afternoon become oriented with the Information Centre and the Rock Pool. At night enjoy slides or films or star-gaze into the southern skies. Sleep like a baby in the silence of the bush and awake to a chorus of melodic birds. Stay at the Wilderness Lodge.
DAY 11 CARNARVON GORGE ACTIVITIES (BLD)
Sunday 11th May: Without leaving your cosy bed, enjoy the birdcalls or sit and watch the pretty-faced wallabies graze. The sheer wonder of Carnarvon Gorge radiates from the National Park where, for the ambitious, a day-long trek begins with a track map and packed lunch, or you're welcome to join in an informative shorter walk led by a guide. The Gorge has many Aboriginal rock art sites. In Angiopteris Ravine, rare King Ferns grow luxuriantly and there's an opportunity to see Aljon Falls and the Moss Gardens. After all that walking and discovering, it's nice to know comfort awaits back at the Wilderness Lodge. After dinner, enjoy a relaxing activity.
DAY 12 CARNARVON GORGE — MILES (BD)
Monday 12th May: Reluctantly, farewell to breathtaking Carnarvon Gorge. Rejoin the Carnarvon Developmental Road for Injune. Arrive in Roma for lunch, view the magnificent Memorial Bottle Trees and visit 'The Big Rig' and Cultural Centre before continuing on to Miles. Stay at the Starline Motor Inn.
DAY 13 MILES — BRISBANE - HERVEY BAY (BL)
Tuesday 13th May: The last day of our outback adventure but still more experiences to enjoy. Continue through Chinchilla on the track blazed by the explorer Leichhardt in 1844. Tour the Cobb & Co Museum for a fascinating insight into Australia's colourful transportation heritage. Lunch is included. Homeward bound through the agriculturally rich Darling Downs to Toowoomba. Farewell to all who have shared this wonderful holiday with you. Arrive in Brisbane mid afternoon. Northbound passengers stay on board the coach for arrival into Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.