Why not Join us on our 7-day Western Queensland small group escorted tour.  We will explore Roma, visiting the Big Rig for a journey through the early days of the gas and oil industries in Australia.  We will travel to Mitchell and bathe in the Great Artesian Spa natural mineral waters.  We will spend 2 nights at Carnarvon Gorge, an outback oasis with towering sandstone cliffs, with more than 2,000 examples of Aboriginal rock art and home to 173 species of birds and 60 different mammals.  We will visit other towns like Chinchilla, Moura, Biloela, Monto and Cania Gorge National Park.

departing:

27 April 2025

Price:

$2,615 per person, twin share

$2,575 per person, twin share

$3,115 per person, single room  

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

ITINERARY:

DAY ONE – SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025:

You will be picked up this morning from your home address if you are located in the Tewantin/Noosa area.

We will head north through Gympie and have morning tea at Goomeri Bakery.  We will continue to Chinchilla, and after lunch we will have time to visit the Chinchilla Historical Museum, where you can find the only Fire Tower Interpretative Centre in Australia, documenting the history that fire towers played in the prevention of forest fires throughout Queensland. There is an extensive collection of petrified wood on display. Chinchilla is a renowned by fossickers world-wide for the quality and colour of petrified wood.  We’ll take a drive to Chinchilla Weir, visit the Chinchilla Botanic Parkland, and take a photo with the Big Watermelon.  We will have 1 night in Chinchilla.

DAY TWO- MONDAY 28 APRIL 2025:

This morning after breakfast, we will continue our journey west, stopping at Miles to visit the Miles Historical Village Museum for a short tour and morning tea.  We will continue on Roma where we will visit the Roma's Visitor Information Centre, and The Big Rig - a living memorial to the pioneers of Australia's oil and gas industry.  After lunch, we will see Roma’s largest bottle tree and drive down Hero’s Avenue, home of 140 bottle trees planted as tribute to the fallen soldiers from the Roma District. We will check into our motel, where we will be staying 2 nights and relax before dinner.  We will drive out to The Barn later this afternoon for our Sunset Tour and 2 course dinner on the cattle property. Enjoy authentic, homestyle food.                                                                                                                                                                                   (MT, D)

DAY THREE- TUESDAY 29 APRIL 2025:

After breakfast, we’ll have an early start this morning to do a tour of the cattle saleyards.  We will then have a look at St Paul’s Anglican Church and Roma Courthouse.  We will visit LifeFlight Roma Visitor Experience and get a behind-the-scenes experience of what it takes to run an aeromedical service in the Maranoa Region.  Visit the Bungil Art Gallery and see Sculptures Out Back, and outdoor walk of art at the entrance to Roma and some smaller works around town.  We will drive to Muckadilla Pub for lunch, and then continue on to Mitchell, to swim in the natural mineral waters at the Great Artesian Spa which has both a warm and cold pool.  We will return to Roma, and relax until we go to the Big Rig Night Show at 5.30pm, followed by dinner in town.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (B)

DAY FOUR – WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL 2025: 

This morning after breakfast, we will drive to Carnarvon Gorge for our 2 nights stay.  We will have a morning tea stop at Injune.  We will have a two-nights in ensuite tent or ensuite cabin accommodation at Carnarvon Gorge campground. (Accommodation options vary the tour price). The accommodation is the best available in the area and you have to remember we are in a National Park with limited facilities. This afternoon you will have time at your leisure to relax or take a short walk.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (B, D)

DAY FIVE – THURSDAY 1 MAY 2025: 

Today you can just relax at the campground, see the platypus early in the morning or at dusk in the river below, or for the more active, join us for one of the many hiking trails in Carnarvon Gorge, from short hikes of 1-2 klms to the longer hikes like Moss Garden Walk which is 7klms return, or through to the Amphitheatre walk 8.6 klms return or the longer Art Gallery walk which is 10.8klms return.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 (B, D)

DAY SIX – FRIDAY 2 MAY 2025: 

This morning after breakfast, we will have an early start as we have a big day travelling through to Monto.  We will have a coffee stop in Rolleston, and then continue on to Moura.  Moura is a coal mining town and we will drive up to a viewing platform so we can see the mine in operation and time to see the local water tower mural.  We will continue on to Biloela where we will have a lunch stop.  We will see the Bioela Water Tank Art and visit, The Little Market Co which is a small indoor collection of 40 local artist stalls.  We will continue on to Cania Gorge, where we will have time to do a short walk of 1 -2 klms.  If you choose not to walk, you can relax in the picnic area.  From here we will drive to Cania Dam to have a look, before continuing on to Monto, where we will stay overnight.                                                                              (B)

DAY SEVEN – SATURDAY 3 MAY 2025: 

This morning after breakfast, we will be heading home.  Our first stop will be the Three Moon Art Silos to see some more amazing art works including the water tank.  We will continue on with a stop in Gayndah, which is one of the oldest towns in Australia, founded in 1849.  Several buildings have been heritage listed including Mellors Drapery.  Sheep and mining brought settlers into the area, but the rich volcanic soils set the area up as a prime citrus growing area.  Take your photo with the Big Orange while you are there.  We will continue on to Goomeri for lunch before arriving home mid-afternoon.

**There are 2 prices depending on the accommodation you choose in Carnarvon Gorge.  The ensuite tent does not have air conditioning and has fans.  The ensuite cabins all have air conditioning. 

Ensuite Tent Accommodation in Carnarvon Gorge:  Single $3115.  Twin $2615/person. Double $2575/person

Ensuite Cabin Accommodation in Carnarvon Gorge: Single $3360. Twin $2735/person. Double $2695/person

If you are going to do the walks in Carnarvon Gorge and Cania Gorge, you have to be competent to walk on uneven ground with rocks and be capable of walking up and down hills.

**Subject to minimum of 10 passengers for some of the activities.

 ***Minimum number required for guaranteed departure.  

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