Historic Outback Towns – Cairns to Alice

You’ll fly to Cairns and will be greeted by the Aussie Redback Tours crew and transferred to your accommodation. We then have a meet and greet with our fellow travellers with a pre-dinner drink before our evening meal – a lovely way to start the tour. (D)

A visit to the Daintree this morning, immerse yourself deep into the rainforest by taking a trip on our world-renowned wildlife experience cruise. you will slowly glide along the Daintree River while one of our local guides shares their knowledge about the unique tropical ecosystem. Rainforest is a breathtaking natural marvel estimated to be around 135 million years old, the oldest living rainforest on earth, later it’s onto Port Douglas for lunch. Port Douglas is a chic, yet relaxed sea-side village. Later we return to our accommodation. Cruise included in fare (B)

This morning we make our way through the Atherton Tablelands to Ravenshoe. Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland.  Historically Ravenshoe was a town with a proud heritage of extracting timber from the surrounding forests. In the 1980s. In the afternoon we arrive at Charters Towers. Founded in 1871 after the discovery of a gold nugget, Charters Towers was established as a place for prospectors to find their fortune in the gold fields. We visit the Venus Gold Battery before checking into our accommodation. Entry to museum included in fare (B, D)

Today we continue our journey on the Gregory Highway to Emerald. We pass several little towns with populations no bigger than 48 people, we also visit Clermont. Clermont is one of the most historic towns in northern Australia and has a colourful past filled with drama and laced with tragedy. In fact, Clermont was the first inland settlement in the tropics, making it a frontier town in the truest sense of the word. Emerald established in 1879 as the base for the railway line, it has slowly grown to be the major regional centre of the Central Highlands and the gateway to the Central Western district. (B,D)

Departing Emerald, we head to Barcaldine with a stop on the way for morning tea. Barcaldine has an interesting and famous history. Barcaldine is home to the Tree of Knowledge, the reputed birthplace of the labour movement in Australia.  We visit the Australian Workers Heritage Centre and later onto Longreach for 2 nights. Entry to AWHC included in fare (B, D)

Longreach is the heart of Outback Queensland and is home to attractions including the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Qantas Founders Museum and you can visit both. In the afternoon we enjoy the sights and sounds of the outback as the sun sets over the horizon on this evening riverboat adventure. Cruise down the mighty Thomson River on a unique paddle-wheeler Disembark at a campground in the heart of the local bush and continue our outback experience with intimate performances and a two-course stockman’s dinner around the campfire. (Entry to SHF included in fare. (B, D & show)

Onto Winton this morning and a visit to the Waltzing Matilda Centre, a journey back in time. Later we visit the pub made famous by Crocodile Dundee the Walkabout Creek Hotel, on our way to Cloncurry, our stop for the evening. (B, D)

Today we head to Mt Isa and explore this mining town in the outback, then onwards to Camooweal and a visit to the Drovers Camp Museum, before checking into our accommodation. Entry to DCM included in fare (B)

Departing Camooweal, we cross the Queensland and Northern Territory border and head to the Barkley Homestead, the only stop between for travellers crossing the border. Later onto the town on Tennant Creek, our stop for the night. (B,D

We travel through some smaller NT towns today with stops on the way, before arriving in the largest outback town in the territory, Alice Springs. (B,D)

This morning onto Simpsons Gap in the MacDonnell Ranges and is also part of an important spiritual site to the Arrernte Aboriginal people. Later it’s onto Ormiston Gorge. Massive geo-logical forces created the towering red walls of Ormiston Gorge. Within the gorge is a permanent waterhole, esti-mated to be at least 14 metres deep, which attracts all kinds of birdlife and animals, this attraction is not to be missed. Later we visit Ellery Creek Bighole, another stunning waterhole in the centre of Australia. (B, D)

This morning we have free time in Alice before being transferred to the airport for our flights home after an amazing tour of Queensland and the Northern Territory Outback. (B)