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Australia Pacific Touring Historical Outback Trail

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Discover the fascinating heritage of Queensland's outback on this 14 or 12 day tour as you travel from Sydney to Tamworth then inland to Winton and Mt Isa before arriving in the tropical Atherton Tablelands and Cairns.


14 Days Sydney to Cairns
12 Days Toowoomba to Cairns

Itinerary

 Day 1 Thur.
Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Welcome Dinner
Stay: Armidale, Country Comfort

Depart Sydney and travel to Tamworth for a tour of Australia's country music capital. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner and Drinks. Dx1

Day 2 Fri.
Lamington National Park
Stay: APT HIGHLIGHT! Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat

Today set out for the mountainous rainforest of World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. It contains a diverse range of animals, birds and plant species, as well as O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, a haven within the rainforest. Tonight maybe join the enlightening glow worm-tour. Bx1 Dx1

Day 3 Sat.
Lamington National Park, Toowoomba
Stay: Toowoomba, Comfort Inn Grammar View

Travel to the top of Morans Falls as you're given a commentary on O'Reilly's history and Lamington National Park. Be guided through the rainforest to view the falls, then head to a spectacular lookout with views of the Lost World. Here your guide will boil the billy as you sample some O'Reilly's damper and syrup. Continue to Balancing Rock before travelling to the Gold Coast hinterland. Enjoy lunch and sample the wine a Canungra Valley Winery as your host explains the art of wine-making and tasting. Finish in Toowoomba with drinks at the Heritage-listed Empire Theatre. Bx1 Lx1 Dx1

Day 4 Sun.
Roma, Carnarvon Gorge
Two Night Stay: Carnarvon National Park, Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge

Travel through the town of Dalby, in Australia's richest grain and cotton growing area, to the provincial town of Roma. Continue to Injune, a cattle and timber town located at the southern end of Carnarvon National Park. The park covers some 28,000 hectares of wilderness, ranging from creeks and fern-lined gorges to sandstone walls covered in ancient Aboriginal art. Tonight stay on the fringe of Carnarvon Gorge, renowned for its towering white sandstone cliffs. Bx1 Dx1

Day 5 Mon.
Carnarvon National Park

After breakfast, participate in various guided walks around the picturesque Carnarvon National Park. Take in the sights, sounds and scents of the bush. Visit Moss Garden, set amid porous sandstone and shale walls, where a continuous flow of crystal clear water fosters the growth of lush ferns and mosses (a reasonable level of fitness is required to reach this location). Following lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure - perhaps take further walks through Carnarvon National Park. Bx1 Lx1 Dx1

Day 6 Tue.
Rubyvale, Gem Fossicking, Emerald
Stay: Emerald, Maraboon Motor Inn

This morning travel to Rubyvale and go on the Miners Heritage Walk through a local mine and display. Afterwards tour the gem gallery to see the most exquisite stones mined in Outback Queensland. This afternoon you can fossick for your own gems before heading to Emerald, the hub of the Central Highlands. Bx1 Dx1

Day 7 Wed.
Emerald, Freedom of Choice Touring, Longreach, Cattlemen's Dinner and Show
Stay: Longreach Motor Inn

Today travel just outside Emerald to Lake Maraboon - a huge expanse of water in the outback. Then journey to the charming town of Barcaldine. This afternoon, perhaps visit the Australian Workers Heritage Centre or the Barcaldine Folk Museum. Alternatively join the Bougainvilleas Heritage Trail to learn about the township's interesting history. Tonight in Longreach enjoy dinner and a show at the Cattlemen's Bar and Grill. Bx1 Dx1

Day 8 Thur.
Longreach, Qantas Founders Outback Museum, Stockman's Hall of Fame, Winton
Two Night Stay: Winton, Boulder Opal Motel

This morning visit the Qantas Founders Outback Museum, the only place in the world where you can tour a fully-equipped 747 jumbo jet and the recently staged Boeing 707. Learn about the history of Australian aviation before visiting the Stockman's Hall of Fame. Here, delve into Australia's bush history and see displays on the early explorers. Then head to Winton, where Qantas first found its "wings" and the bush poet Banjo Paterson wrote his famous song "Waltzing Matilda". After dinner, enjoy free time. Bx1 Dx1

Day 9 Fri.
Lark Quarry, Waltzing Matilda Centre, Royal Open Air Theatre

Travel to the undercover site of Lark Quarry to view dinosaur footprints. This is the only site in the world where fossilised tracks from a stampede, thought to have happened 95 million years ago, can be seen. (Lark Quarry is inaccessible in the wet.) Visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre to learn the story behind "Waltzing Matilda". Then tour the Outback Regional Art Gallery. Enjoy a movie tonight at the famous Royal Theatre, one of Australia's last remaining open air theatres. Bx1 Lx1 Dx1

Day 10 Sat.
Mt Isa, Freedom of Choice Touring, Dine Around Dinner
Stay: Mt Isa, All Seasons Verona Hotel

This morning, see Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay, made famous by the movie "Crocodile Dundee". On arrival in Mt Isa, take a surface tour of the Mt Isa Mines to learn of the formation and development of lead, silver, zinc and copper. Or perhaps visit the Outback Isa Experience illustrating the prehistoric, indigenous, cultural and mining heritage of the region. Also learn about the fossils extracted from the World Heritage-listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields. Alternatively, tour Mt Isa's Underground Hospital, built after the Darwin bombings in 1942. Tonight choose to dine at the Redearth Hotel, The Buffalo Club or at your hotel. Bx1 Dx1

Day 11 Sun.
Mt Isa, Karumba, Sunset Drinks, Seafood BBQ Dinner
Stay: Karumba Lodge Hotel

Travel to Cloncurry, home to Australia's first Royal Flying Doctor Service base. Visit the John Flynn Museum, named after the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Traverse the isolated terrain Burke and Wills crossed on their famous expedition, then stop at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse. Journey out to Karumba on the peninsula for a town tour. Enjoy sparkling wine and fresh prawns at sunset followed by your seafood BBQ. Bx1 Dx1

Day 12 Mon.
Gulflander Train Journey, Georgetown
Stay: Georgetown, Latara Resort Motel

At Normanton board the Gulflander Train for the journey to Critters Camp. Travel to the old goldmining town of Croydon for a walking tour of the beautifully restored buildings. Bx1 Lx1 Dx1

Day 13 Tue.
Undara Lava Tubes, Farewell Dinner
Stay: NEW! Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, stay in a guaranteed Pool View Room

Visit the 190,000 year-old Undara Lava Tubes. Undara means a long way in the local Aboriginal dialect and the system has the longest lava flow from a single volcano in the world. Join a local guide for a tour through a tube section then enjoy a Farewell Dinner and Drinks tonight with your APT crew and fellow passengers. Bx1 Lx1 Dx1

Day 14 Wed.
Cairns, Day at Leisure

Enjoy a free day in Cairns, perhaps go shopping, walk along the esplanade or see the various sights. Your tour concludes with a transfer to the airport.Bx1

Note: Itinerary is altered for 12 day tour

COST

14 Day Tour CQ14N Single: $5890 Twin: $4895 Triple: $4650

12 Day Tour CQ12N Single: $5525 Twin: $4695 Triple: $4460