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About Your Journey
From outback legends to tropical Queensland
Discover a wonderfully diverse side of Queensland, travelling from Brisbane into the heart of the outback before continuing north to Townsville and tropical Cairns. Journey aboard three iconic Queensland trains, uncover the pioneering stories of Longreach and Winton, experience unforgettable outback evenings and finish among the rainforests and tropical landscapes of Far North Queensland.
Itinerary
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Depart Auckland at 9.20am on Air New Zealand flight NZ145, arrive Brisbane 11.05am. Transfer to your hotel with time to settle in before dinner this evening.
Stay Royal on the Park Hotel, 1 night.
Included: D
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Board the Tilt Train for the journey north through Queensland to Bundaberg. Transfer to your hotel on arrival and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
Stay Burnett Riverside Hotel, 1 night.
Included: B, L, D
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Explore Bundaberg with visits to Monsoon Aquatics, a macadamia orchard, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and Bundaberg Rum Distillery. This evening, board the Spirit of the Outback for your overnight journey to Longreach.
Included: B, L
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Arrive Longreach 4.30pm. This evening, experience Luminescent Longreach, an immersive outback sound and light show. Stay The Staging Post, 2 nights.
Included: B, L, D
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Step back in time on the Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience before an afternoon at leisure. Later, cruise the Thomson River aboard a historic paddlewheeler, followed by a stockman’s campfire dinner, stories, a sound and light show, billy tea and damper beneath the outback night sky.
Included: B, L, D
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Visit the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, including the museum, live show and cinema experience. Continue to Winton for the Dusty Hour Show. Stay North Gregory Hotel, 2 nights.
Included: B, D
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Discover Queensland’s prehistoric past on a Dinosaur Stampede tour with Red Dirt Tours. This evening is freedom dining before a night at Winton’s Royal Theatre Open Air Cinema.
Included: B, MT, L, AT
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Visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum and Waltzing Matilda Centre. Fly Regional Express ZL5204 to Townsville. Stay Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville, 3 nights.
Included: B, L, D
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Enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Townsville, with the afternoon at leisure and freedom dining this evening.
Included: B
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Visit Billabong Sanctuary and get up close with some of Australia’s favourite native animals. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Included: B, D
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Board the Spirit of Queensland for the scenic rail journey through the tropical landscapes of North Queensland to Cairns.
Stay Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, 4 nights.
Included: B, L, D
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Experience two of Far North Queensland’s most famous journeys – the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – with spectacular views across the tropical rainforest.
Included: B, L, D
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Cruise by fast ferry to Fitzroy Island, where rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, and enjoy a glass bottom boat tour. Return to Cairns with the evening at leisure.
Included: B
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Head inland to explore the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, with its rolling countryside and tropical landscapes. Return to Cairns for a final dinner at Dundee’s on the Waterfront.
Included: B, L, D
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After breakfast, transfer to Cairns Airport. Depart Cairns at 11.55am on Air New Zealand flight NZ162, arrive Auckland 6.35pm.
From outback sunsets to tropical horizons.
Reserve your place on this unforgettable tour. Numbers are limited, so don’t delay.
Why you’ll love this trip
This journey reveals Queensland from a completely different perspective, combining iconic rail travel with the characters, stories and landscapes of the outback before heading north to the tropics. From Longreach and Winton to Kuranda, Fitzroy Island and the Atherton Tablelands, there’s an impressive variety of experiences along the way.
Inclusions & Activities
Airfares: Return Economy class airfares Auckland to Brisbane and Cairns to Auckland
Rail: Enjoy 3 rail experiences: Tilt train Brisbane to Bundaberg, Spirit of the Outback Bundaberg to Longreach, and the Spirit of Queensland Townsville to Cairns
Accommodation: 13 nights quality hotel accommodation throughout, plus 1 night onboard the Spirit of the Outback train in a private sleeper cabin (please note shared bathroom facilities onboard the train)
Sightseeing: All sightseeing and attractions as shown, including Longreach outback experiences and a day visit to Magnetic Island
Meals: Daily breakfasts plus lunches and dinners as specified
Transfers: Home pick up and drop off in Auckland Metro area
Tour Leader: Travelwise Tour Leader throughout, plus local guides
Bex Brown, Tour Leader
Your Tour Leader
Bex Brown
Bex is a fun, charismatic Tour Leader at Travelwise known for her sense of humour, easy-going attitude, and genuine passion for people and culture. Bex’s enthusiasm and storytelling make every trip feel like the adventure of a lifetime.
Before you book, you should know
Activity Level 2: A balanced pace with more time exploring throughout the day. Suitable for travellers comfortable with longer walks, standing during sightseeing, independently boarding coaches, trains and boats, and walking over some uneven surfaces. A good choice if you prefer: Getting out and about, with a steady but manageable pace.
Departure: 22 July 2027
Other Notes:
Deposit: $1,000 pp
Balance Payment Date: 06 May 2027
Bookings may still be available after this date. Please contact us for availability.
Insurance:
Not mandatory for this tour, however we recommend this for peace of mind.
