Day 1 (L,D) HOME, ROMA

Following Melbourne metropolitan home/hotel pick up we transfer to Melbourne Airport for our flight to Brisbane and Roma. Lunch as we fly. Interstate passengers may fly direct to Brisbane/Roma or via other ports, depending on schedules. Our Young at Heart coach awaits. During the afternoon explore the city and visit the Big Rig. Learn of the development of oil and gas production. Following an early dinner, enjoy a spectacular night show at the Big Rig. Home tonight, Roma Explorers Inn.

Day 2 (B,L,D) ROMA, CARNARVON GORGE

This morning view the Bi-Centennial Mural and the stained glass windows at St. Paul’s Anglican Church before beginning our journey inland via Injune, to the spectacular Carnarvon Gorge. Located in the 300,000ha Carnarvon National Park, the gorge is part of the sandstone belt of the Great Dividing Range. Following lunch you may wish to participate in a guided walk to the Rock Pools. Home for tonight is the Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge.

Day 3 (B,L,D) CARNARVON GORGE, EMERALD

A relaxing morning in the beautiful surroundings of Carnarvon Gorge. You may wish to walk the short distance to Balloon Cave along Mickey Creek or relax in the sub-tropical surroundings. Lunch at the Resort before we travel to Emerald, famous for its sapphire gemfields, with afternoon cuppa at Springsure on the way. Home tonight, Maraboon Motor Inn.

Day 4 (B,L,D) EMERALD, BARCALDINE

Visit the National Trust-classified Railway Station, Mosaic Pathway & the world’s biggest Van Gogh sunflower painting. Following lunch we continue to Barcaldine, “Garden City of the West”, historically famous for its role in the 1891 Shearer’s Strike. Our overnight home is the Barcaldine Country Motor Inn.

Day 5 (B,L,D) BARCALDINE, LONGREACH

This morning we visit the Australian Workers Heritage Centre and the Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine. Later we continue to Longreach, where we visit the School of Distance Education which caters for over 300 outback pupils, before checking into our home for two nights, the Albert Park Motor Inn.

Day 6 (B,L,D) LONGREACH

Today we visit to the world famous Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame and Heritage Centre, and the Qantas Founders Museum, birthplace of the airline which commenced in 1921. Tonight we enjoy a relaxing Thompson River sunset dinner cruise on the MV Longreach Explorer.

Day 7 (B,L,D) LONGREACH, WINTON, CLONCURRY

Our journey continues as we travel to Winton where we visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre. This is the town where the first meeting took place to establish the original Qantas Airlines. On to McKinlay where we view the Walkabout Hotel then travel to Cloncurry and our home for tonight, the Gidgee Motor Inn.

Day 8 (B,L,D) CLONCURRY, MT ISA

A short drive to Mt Isa where we spend the day exploring this iconic outback town. The lead stack of Mt Isa Mines is the tallest free-standing structure in Australia. Our day includes a visit to the recently expanded Outback at Mt. Isa, incorporating the Riversleigh Fossils Interpretive Centre and Sir James Foots Building & Mining Centre. Home tonight the All Seasons Verona.

Day 9 (B,L,D) CLONCURRY, NORMANTON

We depart Mt. Isa and head back through Cloncurry then north on the Matilda Highway. Lunch at Burke and Wills Roadhouse prior to continuing to Normanton, on the Norman River and originally the port for the Croydon gold rush. Our home for two nights is the Gulfland Hotel.

Day 10 (B,L,D) KARUMBA

Today we travel to Karumba, the major prawn and barramundi fishing centre on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Nearby wetlands are the habitat of saltwater crocodiles and a vast variety of birdlife including pelicans, brolgas and black swans.

Day 11 (B,L,D) NORMANTON, COBBOLD GORGE

Our highlight today is a journey on the historic Gulflander, a rail link “from nowhere to nowhere”. We join the train in Normanton and travel by rail to Blackbull, then continue by coach to Croydon, once a gold mining city in the late 1800’s. We continue via Georgetown to Cobbold Gorge and our home for two nights.

Day 12 (B,L,D) COBBOLD GORGE

Today explore the relatively unknown but spectacular Cobbold Gorge. Our tour includes a boat cruise of the gorge, with its majestic sandstone cliffs. The gorge is fed by permanent springs and many native fish and Johnstone River crocodiles are found there. Lunch before we visit the grave of John Corbett, murdered in 1871 during the gold rush.

Day 13 (B,L,D) COBBOLD GORGE,  FORSAYTH, SAVANNAHLANDER, MT SURPRISE, UNDARA

We return to Forsayth to join the historic Savannahlander train, journeying through scenic country to Einasleigh and Mt Surprise. Lunch as we travel. Rejoining our coach, we take the short journey to Undara lava tubes. Enjoy a guided tour of the famous lava tubes, formed 190,000 years ago when waves of molten lava flowed into creek and river beds. The surface cooled but underneath the lava continued to flow, causing tunnels under the black lava rock. Home tonight, Undara Lava Lodge (some shared bathroom facilities).

Day 14 (B,L,D) UNDARA, ATHERTON, CAIRNS

From Undara we travel to Ravenshoe, Atherton, and Mareeba. Visit the Coffee Works Experience, enjoy lunch here today. During the afternoon we continue to Kuranda, craft market extravaganza, and Cairns. Join the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls. This famous railway winds its way from Kuranda, “the village in the rainforest” to Cairns. Our coach awaits to transfer us to our home for two nights, the Cairns Harbour Lights Hotel.

Day 15 (B,L,D) CAIRNS

This morning we join a half-day Harbour and Everglades Habitat Cruise which includes a visit to Cairns Crocodile Farm. View these fascinating creatures at close range. Lunch in Cairns and, in the afternoon, visit the Cairns Botanical Gardens followed by a little free time. Alternately, you may wish to spend the afternoon browsing in the central shopping area of Cairns, or relaxing at the hotel. (Passengers may choose to join a full-day Great Barrier Reef Sunlover Cruise to Moore Reef – additional cost approximately $198 per person.)

Day 16 (B,L) CAIRNS, HOME

A short tour of Cairns then we visit Palm Cove, a sandy beach with grass areas shaded by majestic palm trees. Morning tea/early lunch prior to travelling to Cairns Airport for our return flight. Melbourne passengers are scheduled to depart around 2:00 p.m. on a direct flight to Melbourne. Passengers returning to other home ports may have different schedules or return via Melbourne. Melbourne metropolitan home/hotel transfers are included. So concludes a fascinating, memorable and most enjoyable Young at Heart Queensland Inland holiday.