Get set for an Aussie adventure
WHEN it comes to holidaying in Australia, we’ve all said at one time or another, “Of course I want to see my own back yard, and I will...one day”.
But when exactly is ‘one day’?
A year from now? Five years? Ten?
If you’ve been putting it off, you don’t know what you’re missing. With international travel still a long way off and COVID-19 restrictions continuing to make border crossings a concern, now’s the perfect opportunity to change ‘one day’ to ‘today’ - letting you discover Queensland and what incredible outback treasures sit right on our doorstep.
One couple who knows how special our wide brown land can be is Graham and Debbie Reid from Travel West.
From Birdsville to Innamincka, from Longreach to Lake Argyle, the Reids know every pebble of our Queensland outback and they’re ready to share it again with travellers via two of their most popular fully escorted excursions - the Outback Queensland Stations 4WD Tag Along Tour and the Best of Outback Queensland Air Safari.
Outback Queensland Stations Tour - 7-night 4WD Accommodated Tag Along Tour
The tour runs on three dates (May 10, June 21 and August 16, 2021). Cost is $2759 pp twin share
“For anyone who has been travelling around the country and wanted to ‘pull up and have a yarn’ to a farmer about life on the land, well here’s your opportunity,” Graham says.
Having been brought up on a farm in South West Western Australia, Graham has a real appreciation for people on the land and the challenges they face on a daily basis.
This tour allows him to share his extensive experience and give an insight into what makes our farmers and graziers tick.
Ever wondered what an exclusion fence is, how graziers coexist with oil and gas companies, how ‘Cubbie’ station manages its irrigation water, how dingoes interact successfully with farming operations and what occupies one special farmer after farming?
Graham has the answers, and he and Debbie will be there to lead you from the first night (on a property east of Roma) until the last night in Longreach.
“We had a great time researching this tour and fine tuning to take in as much farming/grazing content as possible. We can’t wait to share this with guests,” Graham says.
“Come for a drive through some great country, visiting various stations and chatting with the owners about what they do.”
Groups are small (with tours limited to five cars), giving you the ultimate ‘behindthe-scenes’ experience at some of our iconic Aussie homesteads and properties.
Tour highlights include:
■ Hearing about the coal seam gas industry near Roma
■ A tour of the Roma Saleyards - the largest cattle selling centre in Australia.
■ A visit to St George
■ A stop at Dirranbandi and an exclusive tour of Cubbie Station - the largest irrigation property in the southern hemisphere comprising of 93,000 hectares (230,000 acres)
■ An overnight stay at the historic Hotel Corones in Charleville
■ Learning about Moble Station (and its exclusion fencing, mulga and vegetation management)
■ An overnight stay at
Noonbah Station
■ And then, travelling along the Thomson River to Longreach
■ Smithy’s Dinner & Show
4-night Best Of Outback Queensland Air Safari
The tour will depart Brisbane July 26 (running to July 30) and the cost is $5527 per person twin share.
Graham will be on board all flights providing excellent commentary for the guests and his knowledge and practical experiences are most definitely a true ‘point of difference’ when you visit the outback with Travel West.
Tour Highlights include:
■ Flying to Longreach over the Carnarvon Gorge Range
■ Lunch at the historic Wellshot Hotel
■ Drover’s Sunset Cruise, followed by Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show
■ Qantas Founders Museum and Airpark tour
■ Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame for ‘A Night at the Museum’
■ A visit to Winton, the Dinosaur Capital of Australia
■ Age of Dinosaurs - sunset barbecue dinner including drinks and nibbles
■ Sunset drinks and nibbles on top of Big Red before dinner at the historic Birdsville Hotel
■ Lunch and wine tasting at Riversands Winery, on the banks of the Balonne River
“Birdsville is my second home, I love the place,” Graham said.
“Can you imagine standing on the tallest sandhill in the Simpson Desert (Big Red) watching the sunset with a cold drink in your hand?
“We’ll be doing just that. As well as seeing incredible and iconic locations like the Qantas Founders Museum and the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.
“Both give us such an amazing insight into the early history of Australia and how we developed as a nation.”
Either tour is an unforgettable experience that highlights how truly special our Outback Queensland is.
So, don’t say ‘one day’, start planning the adventure of a lifetime today with experts who have more than 60 years’ experience between them in the travel industry.
For bookings and enquiries please phone Debbie on 0428 545 954, send an email to info@travelwest.com.au or visit the company’s website www.travelwest.com.au