Festival of Outback Opera 7 Day

Your Festival of Outback Opera adventure begins today. Check in at Roma Street station to board the Spirit of the Outback Rail journey as you settle into the first of 8 days of fun, iconic sceneries, incredible talent, and the special camaraderie that are included in the Festival of Outback Opera. The Spirit of the Outback makes its way north to Rockhampton, then heads west through the Central Highlands and the Great Dividing Range into Outback Queensland. Wonder at the ever-changing landscape – as the train travels through the very heart of Queensland. Your first-class travel includes your sleeper and the dining experience in the Tucker Box restaurant. Sit back and contemplate the incredible program of Outback Opera in the week ahead.

1 Night Spirit of the Outback train

Soak up the romance of Rail through the spectacular Drummond Range via Bogantungan and Hannon’s Gap.  The rail journey today takes us through the quaint townships of Alpha, Jericho, Barcaldine, and Ilfracombe. The landscape travels astride the great divide through the desert uplands, the eucalypt and gidgee scrublands and into the vast open plains of mitchell grass downs country. This region steeped in heritage, offers a strong sense of the pioneering spirit of western Queensland prior to your arrival in Longreach. Arrive at the Longreach Railway Station where you’ll be met by your Outback Aussie Tours Driver/Guide. Enjoy an evening to settle into Longreach at your accommodation. Late Afternoon, receive a warm welcome at the historic Rosebank Station, originally settled as a sheep and cattle station some 100 years ago. Enjoy a picturesque sunset tour, and special Taste of Sunset Dinner while listening to stories of yesteryear.

5 nights Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach

Start the morning with a famous breakfast at the Branch Cafe. Travel and enjoy the early morning light on the coolibah-lined creeks and vast open plains on our way to Winton. At 11am, we join your first event of the Festival of Outback Opera, the Winton ‘Long Lunch’ at the famous Waltzing Matilda Centre, the only museum in the world dedicated to a song. You will dine in style with friends and other festival guests celebrating all things Outback cuisine. This afternoon, we take a short drive out of town to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, perched high on a spectacular mesa. Join a guided interpretive tour of the laboratory and collection room. Take in the moment at our very special sunset barbecue overlooking the plains where dinosaurs once roamed before returning to Longreach.

This Morning, we visit the historical Longreach Railway Station with a light breakfast on arrival. Boarding the unforgettable 2000 class rail motor, fall in love, and feel her rhythm on the rails. Take a different perspective of the country as we encounter wildlife and bring alive the numerous waterholes, passing scrub and grasslands with it’s incredible natural and cultural heritage. Step off the rail motor for a short Mulga Walk, learn of bush medicines and Leander sand ridge secrets. Our rail motor ambles through the western side of the sand ridge and onto the floodplains and waterhole of the Darr River to the boil the billy for smoko. We return to our accommodation for a break, prior to the tonight’s Festival of Outback Opera event at Camden Park Station. The working cattle station, which was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970, hosts the spectacular ‘Singing in the Night’, a majestic concert that showcases opera’s best loved hits among the spellbinding colours of the outback sunset and stars. Enjoy a leisurely dinner and the great atmosphere of the Branch courtyard to reflect on the highlights of our night of opera.

Enjoy a lazy start to the day with a drovers rest big breaky followed by the renowned sing along event ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’, getting the chance to revel in the backdrop that is the Drovers Place. Afterwards, step into the world of the life of Australian pioneers at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Stockman live Show followed by time to explore the fascinating themed galleries of this incredible outback icon. Return to your accommodation for a break. Tonight, it’s time to dust off your riding boots and break out your ballgown and get ready for an ‘Opera Ball’ like no other. This relaxed, yet stylish, gathering embodies the spirit and iconography of the Outback with its casual approach that adds just enough glitz to ensure the evening is a memorable one.

This morning, we soak up the spirit of the Australian aviation history of Qantas, beginning with an exclusive breakfast, followed by an informative Airpark tour as well as time to the explore the Qantas Founders Museum galleries and old historic hangar. Late Morning, discover the one pub town of Ilfracombe, with its machinery mile and famous Wellshot Hotel. Quench your thirst with a welcome drink and lunch. This oldest pub in the west has loads of quirky and interesting memorabilia not to mention a little history that could keep you entertained for years. Tonight, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the final evening of the Festival of Outback Opera and the tour celebrating opera and contemporary music at the Qantas Founders Museum. Enjoy a light supper afterwards before we head to the back to the accommodation.

Today, catch a lazy start to the day with a special champagne brunch cruise on the Thomson River, catching 360-degree sweeping river and floodplain views as you travel on the M.V Longreach Explorer.  After brunch, check in for your flight home or your next port of call via a QantasLink flight departing for Brisbane. The unforgettable experience of the Outback and Festival of Outback Opera are certain to touch your heart with stories and special moments to share with your friends and family for years to come.