DAY 1:  BRISBANE TO ROMA (APPROX 504KM / 5 HR 20 MIN)

Travel north-west from Brisbane along the Warrego Highway to Queensland’s Garden City, Toowoomba. Stop for morning tea at Picnic Point, best known for its expansive views across the Great Dividing Range. Continue along the Adventure Way to Chinchilla, home of the Chinchilla Melon Festival and Miles, a vibrant rural township.  Arrive in Roma, the heart of beef country late afternoon with time to check-in and refresh at your accommodation ready for our fabulous Welcome Dinner at the newly opened Western Queensland Spirit. Located on a 55-acre property just outside of Roma, this former citrus and grape farm is now the base for the region’s first craft distillery. Learn about the distillery’s commitment to sourcing ingredients locally and how they support local farmers and producers. Enjoy a delicious local produce dinner and product sampling.  Stay 2 nights in Roma. (accommodation suggestion – Roma Explorers Inn)

DAY 2: ROMA

Option 1

Feel the energy and excitement of a real cattle auction (Tuesdays only) at Australia’s biggest cattle selling facility, Roma Saleyards. This is where it all happens.  On any given day up to 7,000 head of cattle are brought for sale.  Join a retired grazier for an insiders view of the saleyards and entry to the new multi-media Interpretive Centre. Next we’ll join our ‘Roma Rigger’ guide for a tour of the Oil Patch Museum to understand the grit and tenacity employed by our oil and gas industry pioneers.  Share a few hours with a local guide from Boobook Ecotours for an insight into the colourful history and characters of Roma.  Hear how the town began and the industries it supports; discover Heroes Avenue, the Biggest Bottle Tree and the Roma Bush Gardens. Experience authentic country hospitality this afternoon at Mount Hope, a 34,000 acre working cattle station.  A family host will board your coach at the station entrance for a guided tour of this Droughtmaster cattle property.  Enjoy sunset nibbles and drinks followed by a delicious two-course camp oven dinner under the stars.

Option 2

Today we will be hosted by our local Boobook Explore guide for the 1 hour 45-minute drive to Wallaroo Station, a 72,000-acre cattle property in the spectacular Carnarvon Ranges. Our experienced Eco-guide will share fascinating insights as we explore cultural sites and notable Indigenous Rock Art Sites on short walking tours of the property (medium fitness level required). Discover Cycad Gorge with its prehistoric plants and impressive rock formations. Keep your eyes peeled for rare squatter pigeonsand rock wallabies too. This promises to be a full day 4WD touring adventure through some truly spectacular country. We return to Roma late afternoon in time for a relaxed dinner at the Roma Explorers Inn onsite restaurant – showcasing the best of fine dining and extensive bar.

DAY 3:  ROMA TO CHARLEVILLE (APPROX 267KM / 2 HR 52 MIN)

Travel further west towards Charleville for a mid-morning visit to the Outback Date Farm boasting 450 palms growing delicious eating dates. Established by farmer Mark Hampel, his innovative irrigation system utilises Charleville’s reclaimed water. On a short tour of the property, you’ll learn the history of dates, how they are grown and the incredible health benefits of this superfood. Time also to sample a delicious date loaf morning tea while admiring rows of magnificent palm trees. Visit the Bilby Experience and hear first-hand what the Save the Bilby Fund is doing to protect this environmental engineering marvel. Tour the nocturnal house where you will meet these beautiful bilbies. Early evening, visit the Cosmos Centre for the Big Sky Twilight Tour.  See an amazing night sky brought into focus with the help of powerful Meade telescopes and listen to captivating stories from their experienced sky guide.  Overnight in Charleville (accommodation suggestion – Mulga Country Inn)

DAY 4:  CHARLEVILLE TO QUILPIE (APPROX 211KM / 2HR 50 MIN)

This morning, an experienced guide will board your coach at the Cosmos Centre for a one hour tour of the USAAF Top Secret sites.  Find out why Charleville was selected for this top secret site in WWII. Visit intriguing historical sites and learn about the highly classified computerised bomb aimer. Departing Charleville, we’ll continue west along the Warrego Way to the opal town of Quilpie, where a passionate local boards our coach for a Quilpie Town Tour. Mixed in with quirky, insider stories, we’ll explore Quilpie town, Baldy Top Lookout, St Finbarr’s Opal Altar and more. Our lunch venue will be served up with a slice of history at the fully restored Quilpie Brick Hotel. Early afternoon we’ll travel to Toogunna Plains, a 4th generation sheep and cattle property, located in the heart of the Channel Country. We’ll stay two nights in beautifully presented, ensuite cabins and indulge in delicious, locally sourced meals prepared by resident foodie and host, Fiona Ferguson. Celebrate the glorious colours of the Channel Country with sunset drinks and canapesoverlooking rolling, red, Kyra Sandhills before a sumptuous two-course dinner in the homestead garden. Stay 2 Nights at Toogunna Plains Farmstay, Quilpie Shire

DAY 5:  TOOGUNNA FARMSTAY & EROMANGA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Wake to blissful splendour on this 130,000-acre property and tuck into a gourmet cooked breakfast – the perfect start to your day!Next, join our hosts on a morning station tour for an insightful look into the unique challenges and joys of living on the land. After lunch, enjoy some free time to relax into your unique outback environment or to join grazier Adam for more station insights. Early afternoon, we’ll drive the short distance (approx. 25 mins) to the Eromanga Natural History Museum, to meet Australia’s largest dinosaur from some 95-million years ago. On an enthralling one-hour tour, we’ll watch expert guides demonstrate fossil preparation, see the incredible megafauna fossils, and witness these ancient giants come to life in a state-of-the-art multi-media presentation. Toast thewarm, sunset afterglow with drinks and canapes on the Museum’s spectacular outdoor pavilion, then savour an exclusive five course ‘Taste of the Outback’ long-table dinner in their multi-million-dollar Reception Gallery.

DAY 6:  TOOGUNNA FARMSTAY TO THARGOMINDAH (APPROX 280KM / 3HR 6MIN)

Follow the Cooper Developmental Road as it skirts the edge of Queensland’s Southern Outback, then take the turnoff for the historic Noccundra Hotel for morning tea. Look closely at the sandstone walls of this 1882 construction. The sandstone was quarried in New South Wales and transported by Camel Train to its present location. You have to ponder the logistics of this! From the hotel it’s then about 1.5 hours to Thargomindah on the banks of the Bulloo River. Join a local guide for a town tour with great local stories and insights. Relive moments of yesteryear at the Old Jail and Old Thargomindah Hospital courtesy of life-size holographics and interactive experiences. Discover the story behind  Australia’s first town to produce hydro-electric power for street lighting at the Artesian Hydro Power Plant and step out on the viewing deck for a spectacular outback sunset with nibbles. Optional Dinner, or Dinner & Dessert Packages available. Overnight Thargomindah (accommodation suggestion – Explorers Caravan Park cabins + Oasis Motel)

DAY 7: THARGOMINDAH TO CUNNAMULLA (APPROX 197KM / 2HR 4MIN)

Head east along the Adventure Way to Eulo often described as the ‘Montville of the Outback.’ Relax with a hearty pub lunch in the famous Eulo Queen Hotel before sampling the town shop. See opals and art at the Telegraph House Gallery, pick up handcrafted leather goods or purchase some locally made honey.  Take a selfie with Kenny the life-size Diprotodon (giant Megafauna) found in the Eulo Area.  Travel around 45 minutes on to Cunnamulla and the Cunnamulla Fella Visitor Information Centre. A fourth generation local from Out The Back Australia will board your coach for a one-hour guided tour of Cunnamulla.  See the huge natural sand dunes and learn how they came to be. Gain an insight into the region’s first inhabitants, early pioneers and quirky characters. Find out the story behind the closure of the railway line to Cunnamulla. Return to Club Boutique Hotel for sunset drinks and dinner. Overnight Cunnamulla (accommodation suggestion Club Boutique Hotel)

DAY 8:  CUNNAMULLA TO ST GEORGE (APPROX. 293KM / 3HR 14MIN)

Continue east along the Balonne Highway for around 42km to the turnoff for Charlotte Plains.  This family owned and operated sheep station was established back in the 1860s.  Property owner Robyn Russell will board your coach for a guided tour of the station, home to Merino Sheep and Dohne Rams as well as the more recent Aussie White Sheep. See the historic bore, sunk into the Great Artesian Basin to a depth of 561m, tour their historic woolshed and enjoy a relaxed lunch on the old homestead verandah. Arrive into St George early afternoon with time to refresh before joining a leisurely two hour sunset cruise on the Balonne River with Sandytown River Cruises. Your experienced guide will entertain you with interesting stories about the river and native birdlife. Stay 2 nights in St George (accommodation suggestion Riverland Motor Inn)

DAY 9:  ST GEORGE

This morning we’ll visit the Unique Egg where artist Steve Margaritis has been hand carving emu eggs for more than 60 years. His work is truly unique!  Join a local guide for a heritage tour of St George including a visit to Anchorage Homestead (with morning tea) to discover the history of one of the oldest homes in the shire – The Anchorage is a heritage-listed homestead built in 1903. Meet the makers at Riversands Wines on a tour of the vineyard followed by a personal wine tasting and three course winery lunch.  This afternoon we’ll be joined by a local cotton farmer on a tour of a fully operational cotton farm to learn how cotton is grown, irrigated and harvested. Tonight enjoy a traditional pub meal at the Cobb & Co Hotel, first licensed in 1886.

DAY 10:  ST GEORGE TO BRISBANE (APPROX 551KM / 5HR 59MIN)

Travel south east along the Carnarvon Highway to Nindigully and call into the famous Nindigully Pub, the longest continually licensed pub in Queensland for morning tea.  Continue east along the Barwon Highway to Goondiwindi then take the Gore Highway to Toowoomba.  From there you’ll re-join the Warrego Highway back to Brisbane.