Day 1 Brisbane, Queensland

Day 2 Archerfield, Brisbane
Transfer for the day to Archerfield to meet your plane and our crew. A CFI will be on hand to perform the check rides, sign off for your Australian licensing, and conduct the tour briefing. Afterward, enjoy a tour around the region and a “welcome” dinner with your travel companions.

Day 3 Brisbane to Tamworth
Without question, Tamworth is THE country music capital of Australia and second in the world only to Nashville, Tennessee. Just to prove it, every January the city holds the Australian Country Music Awards; a week long festival featuring 800 artists playing in 120 different venues. The coveted Golden Guitar (given at the awards presentation) is one of the most sought after country music awards in the world. Located in town is the “Hands of Fame” walk, where artists have set their hands in concrete (similar to that of the Chinese Theatre in California).

Day 4 Tamworth to Bathurst/Sofala
Land at Bathurst airport and transfer to Chesleigh Homestead a 3000 acre wildlife preserve. This property is amazing in that it has never been forested. The massive and ancient trees provide homes for a plethora of Australian native creatures. The region is hilly, providing valleys, pristine creeks, waterfalls,
lookouts and caves. Want to pan for gold or go horseback riding? Just say the word. By the way, come hungry to the table.

Day 5 Bathurst to Bourke
Sitting on the Darling River, 789 km (490 miles) northwest of Sydney, lays the town of Bourke. Once a vital transport center for the whole of southwest Queensland and western New South Wales, this small town, population 3,500, is famous for the noises coming from nearby Mount Oxley. On a still night, after a hot day, a mysterious low-booming sound reverberates through the area originating from Mount Oxley. No one knows why. It is said that the trees in this town are made of chloroform, because they are so shady that you can pass out underneath them on a hot day. On our agenda for today is a trip to Mount Oxley for the spectacular view and admire the 140 species of birds, including the black cockatoos and eagles that inhabit the area.

Day 6 Bourke to Broken Hill
Broken Hill is often called “The Silver City” as it holds the largest known silver, lead and zinc lodes in the world. Life in this outback town depends so heavily on the mines that many streets are named after metals, minerals and compounds: Bromide St., Oxide St., and Crystal St., for example. Other than the remarkable aridity of the region, the most striking aspects of the town are the number of pubs and that it is the home of the largest company in Australia, Broken Hill Proprietary Company, aka BHP “The Big Australian”. Fly through the centre of the 16 million hectare (39,536,861 acre) West Darling pastoral industry and its 1.75 million wool producing merino sheep. All of which are protected by a 600k (373 miles) dog proof fence that has come to be called “The Dingo Fence.” Tour an underground silver mine, and yes, you get to wear the hat with a light on it.

Day 7 Broken Hill to Woomera
Depart Broken Hill Airport en route to Woomera, a town rich in history of rockets and space research. Until 1982, Woomera was restricted to the public. After checking into the ELDO hotel, and having lunch, it’s off to tour the Rocket Range as well as the Missile Park, located at the Heritage Museum. The Heritage Museum contains historical displays relating to the Woomera Range and to the closed U.S. Joint Defense Facility at Nurrungar, along with photographs and descriptions of Range activities, including the most recent NEXST-1 and HyShot trials. Dinner will be at the Hotel.

Day 8 Woomera to Coober Pedy
Welcome to the opal mining capital of Australia. A city where you will not only be able to purchase opals and see where they are mined, but you will be “noodling” for them as well. Our accommodation tonight is entirely different than anywhere you have probably ever slept before. The Desert Cave Hotel is the World’s only underground international hotel. Don’t worry above ground rooms are available if you don’t relish the idea of spending the night sleeping in a five star rabbit’s warren. It’s said to be the one of the quietest, most peaceful night’s sleep you’ll ever have. Tours of the hotel are available, if desired.

Day 9 Coober Pedy to Yulara (Uluru)
Touch down in Yulara early enough in the day to see Uluru as an orange-red mound. As the day goes by, the sandstone that composes Uluru absorbs the heat from the sun and changes to an incredible shades of burnt orange and deep red. As a sacred Aboriginal site, and by request of the local tribe to prevent damage to the rock, the local government limits the number of tourists allowed to climb the massive monolith on a daily basis. Those who choose to climb to the top should be in extremely good health. For those of us who decide not to attempt the climb, we will enjoy the fly over the top of the rock as we are coming into Yulara “village.” Get the same view, without the workout. The caves located at the base of Uluru have Aboriginal artwork believed to be 2,000 years old. Dinner that night in the “‘village” of Yulara with Uluru as a distant backdrop. Talk about a Kodak moment!

Day 10 Yulara (Uluru) to Alice Springs
Land in the town lovingly called “The Alice” by locals. Transfer to the hotel and relax by the pool, the bar, or explore on your own. In the evening, the award winning “Spirit of the Night Sky” tour will take you on a journey through space and give you a new perspective on our place in the universe. The craters of the moon, rings of Saturn and neighboring galaxies will all be visible through high powered telescopes. With the isolation of outback Australia, the star shows at night are so clear that it’s common to see the passing satellites.

Day 11 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek
Just south of town, a grouping of odd rock formations known as the Devil’s Marbles will be on the agenda for an afternoon outing. The Devil’s Marbles are a collection of very precariously placed granite rocks. It is possible to climb the rocks and have a “mate” take your picture from ground level. Aboriginal mythology says these are the eggs of the Dreamtime Rainbow Serpent, the being who controls the most important resource in the outback…water.

Day 12 Tennant Creek to Karumba
Karumba is the major fishing port on the Gulf of Carpentaria. However, 38 nautical miles north of the coast is our actual destination for the night. Sweers Island Resort is not only, once again, a fishing haven, but a bird haven as well. There are more than 50 species of tropical birds inhabiting the island, including two that were thought to be extinct until just a few years ago. Just off the tip of the island is a newly discovered coral reef that is the size of New Jersey. Located at 20 meters (60 feet) in depth, and therefore making the water colder, the coral found in this reef is starkly different to those found anywhere else in the world.

Day 13 and 14 Karumba to Cairns
There are so many activities available in this town that you may have a difficult time choosing. As we will be here for two days, you get to decide your itinerary. Will it be beach, reef diving or snorkeling, botanical gardens, the 7.5 kilometer (4.6 mile) long skyrail, Fitzroy Island’s 324 hectare (800 acre) rainforest, a trip to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure Park or just resting by the motel pool? These two days are yours. You decide. We book it. It’s included in your tour. Be sure to have your picture taken by the 7 meter (21 feet) tall Big Captain Cook, Australia’s founder in 1776, and the 8 meter (24 feet) tall Marlin statues in town. (You thought they made everything big in Texas!!!)

Day 15 Cairns to Mackay
Early departure!!! Eungella National Park is our adventure for the day. Drink the unusually made Billy tea and savor the soft inside of Aussie Damper, bread that is traditionally baked in the ground covered by hot coals. Today we are searching for the elusive Platypus, in its natural environment. You can even swim with the soft creature if you care too. They are terribly shy, but photo opportunities are guaranteed.

Day 16 and 17 Mackay to Biloela
Biloela is a small country town that will provide you with a true Aussie outback experience. Lochenbar Station, a cattle station located adjacent to Kroombit National Park, is our stop for the next two nights. Fossilized coral, the Lochenbar Beds, a waterfall, a 4 wheel drive tour, whip and lasso lessons, a photo opportunity of a wrecked B24 bomber that crashed in 1945, skeet shooting, dinner around a campfire and a cow cockie telling yarns will be your day. For those of you who long for excitement, abseil (repel) down the gum tree wall or join the goat muster.

Day 18 Biloela to Coolangatta
Upon landing in Coolangatta, the tour is officially over, but return transportation to the hotel will be provided. A farewell feast is planned for tonight. Enjoy the day shopping, resting or both.