Outback Queensland Agricultural Adventure Tour 2025

Departing from your regional departure point in New Zealand to Brisbane. Once you arrive, you will spend the time at an Brisbane Airport Hotel ready to join the tour in the morning of 13 May.

You will be welcomed on arrival at Longreach Airport by our experienced Outback tour guide for a town tour and transfer to Mitchell Grass Retreat. Enjoy some free time to relax and refresh before experiencing the Luminescent Longreach Sound & Light Show at Qantas Founders Museum. Prepare for 20 minutes of awesomeness as you stand surrounded by historic aircraft doubling as the canvas for this amazing high-tech show. Return to Mitchell Grass Retreat for a relaxed BBQ dinner and stargazing around the firepit. Stay 3 nights at Mitchell Grass Retreat, Longreach (B) (L) (D)

Start your day with a relaxed breakfast on your private deck overlooking the Mitchell Grass Plains before heading to historic Rosebank Station, just a 10-minute drive from town. Rosebank is the private home of Outback Aussie Tours’ owners Alan & Sue Smith. At Rosebank, you’ll be treated to a tour of the 100-year-old homestead before enjoying a freshly baked morning tea. Back in town, explore the fascinating, themed galleries at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and see a live muster at the Outback Stockman’s Show followed by lunch at the Drover’s Place. Return to Mitchell Grass Retreat with time to refresh before our afternoon visit to Weewondilla Station, located approximately 45-minutes-drive from Longreach. We’ll meet our grazier hosts, the Boyds, to learn how the installation of a 140km exclusion fence has enabled them to bring Merinos back to their business along with existing cattle and goats. As the sun sets, we’ll join our hosts atop Mt Mitchell, an impressive flat-top mesa, for a truly memorable long-table paddock to plate dinner, under the stars, with 360-degree views of the surrounding open downs. We’ll return to Mitchell Grass Retreat after dinner. (B,L,D)

Today, we’ll drive 45-minutes west along the Matilda Way to Morella and Darr River Downs. Historically running approximately 135,000 sheep, Darr River Downs was home to Queensland’s first woolscour. The property, now 55,000 acres, still features the original stone buildings and large stone homestead. The stone, quarried on site, was also used to form several weirs across the Darr River. We return to Longreach after lunch, to uncover the story of how Qantas began at the world-class Qantas Founders Museum. Discover the history of Australia’s national airline from its birth in Outback Queensland in the 1920’s to present day. View marvelous interpretive and interactive exhibits, then join a guided Airpark Tour. Return to Mitchell Grass Retreat to refresh before our evening activity. It’s time to slow down and appreciate the pristine outback environment. Late afternoon, unwind on the Drover’s Sunset Cruise with tasty onboard nibbles followed by a two-course table service dinner under the stars at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show. (B,L,D)

Enjoy an early breakfast at Mitchell Grass Retreat before setting off on a back-roads adventure drive to the magnificent Welford National Park. Made up of three former grazing properties, Welford National Park is named after Richard Welford, a previous owner of one of the properties. Neighbouring lands include cattle and sheep grazing properties and stock routes. Substantial areas of gidgee and mulga have been cleared on some of these properties and some have been seeded with buffel grass. While at Welford National Park, we will follow the stunningly beautiful Desert Drive featuring red sand dunes, golden-green spinifex and white-barked ghost gums. Enjoy a pub lunch at the Western Star Hotel in the remote town of Windorah. Late afternoon we’ll arrive at Toogunna Plains, a 4th generation sheep and cattle property, located in the heart of the Channel Country. We’ll stay two nights in beautifully presented, ensuite cabins and indulge in delicious, locally sourced meals prepared by resident foodie and host, Fiona Ferguson. Celebrate the glorious colours of the Channel Country with sunset drinks and canapes overlooking rolling, red, Kyra Sandhills before a sumptuous two-course dinner in the homestead garden. Stay 2 Nights at Toogunna Plains Farmstay, Quilpie Shire (B,L,D)

Wake to blissful splendour on this 130,000-acre property and tuck into a gourmet cooked breakfast – the perfect start to your day! Next, join our hosts on a morning station tour for an insightful look into the unique challenges and joys of living on the land. After lunch, enjoy some free time to relax into your unique outback environment or join grazier Adam for more station insights. Early afternoon, we’ll drive the short distance to the Eromanga Natural History Museum, to meet Australia’s largest dinosaur from some 95-million years ago. On an enthralling one-hour tour, we’ll watch expert guides demonstrate fossil preparation, see the incredible megafauna fossils, and witness these ancient giants come to life in a state-of-the-art multi-media presentation. Toast the warm, sunset afterglow with drinks and canapes on the Museum’s spectacular outdoor pavilion, then savour an exclusive five course ‘Taste of the Outback’ long-table dinner in their multi-million-dollar Reception Gallery. (B,L,D)

Following breakfast, we continue east to the opal town of Quilpie, where a passionate local boards our coach for a Quilpie Town Tour. Mixed in with quirky, insider stories, we’ll explore Quilpie town, Baldy Top Lookout, St Finbarr’s Opal Altar and more. Travel east along the Warrego Way to Charleville to visit the Outback Date Farm boasting 450 palms growing delicious eating dates. Established by farmer Mark Hampel, his innovative irrigation system utilises Charleville’s reclaimed water. On a short tour of the property, you’ll learn the history of dates, how they are grown and the incredible health benefits of this superfood. Enjoy a light lunch while admiring rows of magnificent palm trees. Next, we visit the Charleville Bilby Experience – a centre dedicated to the endangered bilby, one of nature’s eco-engineers. On a one-hour tour of their nocturnal house, see bilbies interacting and learn about the important breeding program run by volunteers. Time to check-in to our accommodation and refresh before joining the enlightening Twilight Tour(30 mins) at Charleville Cosmos Centre. As the roof rolls back to reveal the cosmos, see the amazing night sky brought into focus with the help of powerful Meade telescopes and experienced sky guides. You’ll get an enticing insight into the wonders of our galaxy. Dinner tonight will be at a local venue. Overnight The Rocks, Charleville (B,L,D)

Following breakfast and check-out of our accommodation, we’ll join the WWII Secrets Tour. An experienced guide will board our coach at the WWII Secret Base and highlight all aspects of Charleville’s unique WWII history on a tour of the original ‘Top Secret sites’. You’ll visit intriguing historical sites, understand the reasoning behind choosing Charleville and learn about the highly classified computerised bomb aimer. Next as we head west along the Warrego Way towards Roma, we’ll join local Agritourism host Boobook Explore on a visit to Massey Downs, a cropping and cattle farming business located on Open Downs country. A striking feature of this property is Mount Abundance, where we’ll enjoy a lunch with panoramic views of the surrounding property. Check in to your accommodation early afternoon with time to refresh before The Night Show Sunset Experience at Roma Big Rig. Ignite your interest in sabotage, drama and intrigue through the eyes of a “Roma Rigger” guide, with a glass of Outback port and an original short history film under the stars in our outdoor theatre. Dinner tonight will be at your accommodation. Stay 2 Nights at Roma Explorers Inn, Roma (B,L,D)

Following breakfast, we’ll visit Roma Saleyards, Australia’s largest cattle selling centre. Join retired graziers for a tour of the facility and to watch the live auctions underway. The saleyards, which are known for their record-breaking sales, are the number one choice for many graziers in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Next, we’ll be joined by a local Agritourism host, Boobook Explore, for the one-hour drive to Echo Hills/Nugget Hills station – once a cropping property, now converting back to pasture. Here we’ll enjoy an engaging tour and chat with long time grazier Peter Thomson to learn about his more innovative farming techniques, links to the coal seam gas industry as well as the environmental aspects of the property. Enjoy a fabulous farewell dinner at the newly opened Western Queensland Spirit Distillery. Located on a 55-acre property just outside of Roma, this former citrus and grape farm is now the base for the region’s first craft distillery. Learn about the distillery’s commitment to sourcing ingredients locally and how they support local farmers and producers. Enjoy a delicious local produce dinner and product sampling. (B,L,D)

After checking out of your accommodation this morning, you will be transferred to Roma Airport for your connecting flight back to Brisbane. Here you have a free night to head into the city, explore the area, or just relax in your Brisbane Airport Hotel room This is your opportunity to continue your Australian Adventure. Zest4Travel will assist with accommodation and transport for all travellers who wish to extend. (B)

For those not extending their holiday. After breakfast at your Brisbane Airport Hotel it's time to say goodbye to Australia and start your journey back to New Zealand. (B)