Experiences

The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre, bringing to life the rugged landscape of the outback, our galleries reveal a journey for all your senses featuring the birth of a nation through the eyes of the Australian stockman.

A world-class, award winning museum and cultural display, eloquently telling the story of the founding of Qantas through interpretive displays, interactive exhibits, replica aircraft and an impressive collection of genuine artefacts.

Experience and see what the true Longreach is all about, hear about it’s history, people and the town itself. What better introduction to all the interesting and quirky things this town has to offer.

As we travel to Ilfracombe see the big sky country and learn about what this country has to offer in the way of geology, flora, fauna and how people live on the “land”, explore machinery mile, the Wellshot Centre and lunch (optional) at the iconic Wellshot Hotel.

We take you on a personalised guided tour of the Powerhouse & Historical Museum. See what it was like to work and live with this Powerhouse when it was in operation. Find out about the history of Longreach and 10yr old Nogo Cottage.

Your captain will captivate you with stories about the river, its wildlife and indigenous links, stopping at Sunset Bend to toast the sunset and take in the stunning colours of the outback sky.  Relax under the stars with table-service dining featuring camp-oven themed modern cuisine at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & guest artists will entertain you.

An evening to remember dining under the stars beside the Coolibah lined river. A two-course table service dinner, featuring our camp oven themed modern cuisine. Live on stage our quality guest performers will entertain you.

Join us for the ultimate late afternoon experience. Live it up as the sun sets over the mighty Thomson River floodplains, whilst savouring signature canapes, enjoying a drink (available for purchase), and quality outback hospitality on our heritage Rail Motor.

Silver-Tails Sunset rail experience where you watch the sun set over the floodplains, whilst savouring signature canapes, enjoying a drink on our heritage Rail Motor. Dinner at Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show experience under the stars enjoy a delicious two-course camp oven themed dinner, followed up with freshly baked damper and billy tea. A good selection of wine, cold beer, soft drinks and select pre-mixes is available for purchase from our licensed bar. Live on stage our talented outback performer will entertain you with their songs and stories. This night out will be a highlight of your Outback holiday.

All aboard our heritage Rail Motor as it travels over the Thomson River and its flood plains, highlighted by the stories that connect the romance of rail with a special slice of western Queensland life outside your window. This tour offers travellers and families a short immersive rail experience.

Discover the incredible land types of the Longreach region on our heritage Rail Motor. Relax by rail through the incredible landscapes from the Dreamtime of the Inningai people, our wildlife encounters, as well as the pioneering and natural heritage story as you travel out to the Darr River. Watch as the countryside changes from floodplains to Gidgee scrub, then open Boree, to Leander sand ridge, and the Mulga country. Disembark the train at an exclusive location and enjoy a guided Mulga walk where you learn about our native flora. On arrival at Darr River soak up the atmosphere of one of the major tributaries of the Thomson River and Cooper Creek Catchment as you savour the experience and we boil the billy for Smoko. After an incredible Outback Rail Adventure on the Great Darr River Rail Run, re-board the train for the journey back to Longreach Railway Station.

Experience our heritage Rail Motor en-route to the one pub town of Ilfracombe, with stories of nostalgia to tell your mates about for years to come. Feel the freedom of the vast open plains to Ilfracombe before disembarking in Ilfracombe to explore the unique attractions in “the Hub of the West” like the Wellshot centre, the Machinery Mile and grab some lunch at the Famous Wellshot Hotel. After a great break exploring this historic town, re-board the train for the journey back to Longreach Railway Station.

Let Outback Pioneers take you on a gentle cruise down the majestic Thomson to watch the sunset and birds flock to roost on the riverbanks. Then we go ashore for a traditional stockman’s camp-fire dinner, followed by bush poetry with a local outback storyteller. Next, the bush is illuminated by the Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture Show. Finally, in the atmospheric surroundings of the bush at night, enjoy the timeless favourite – billy tea and damper.

Hold on to your hat for the only stagecoach gallop in Australia! And it’s the closest you can get to feeling what it would have been like in the pioneer past. After the 45 minute stagecoach ride and photos, slow down with a traditional smoko (the original Aussie tea break), a classic Australian movie in retro cinema seats and our Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show, which has fun for all the family in a tribute to the old travelling shows.

In the historic shearing sheds, you’ll meet the merinos then experience a station safari by open-top double-decker with a spectacular view of the vast plains where wedge-tailed eagles fly and local wildlife mingles with iconic cattle breeds, stock-horses and feral animals like desert camels, wild donkeys, pigs and more. Relax with smoko under the gum trees (with billy tea of course) while the Kinnons tell you more.

You step into the past with the legendary stagecoach driver, Ned Devine and his famous team of all grey horses. Become pioneers for the evening. The ride reaches a vantage point at sunset, where you’ll soak in the colours of the outback sky and linger awhile for refreshments before returning to town with the stagecoach lamps lit. Then join ‘Ned Devine’ for dinner.

Our air-conditioned coach tour travels the 180 kilometres from Longreach to Winton. Visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre and enjoy lunch at the legendary North Gregory Hotel. Your full-day experience includes: Entry to Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Lunch at the legendary North Gregory hotel, Entry to the Waltzing Matilda Centre,  pick-up & drop-off at town accommodation.

It’s a hilarious hour of entertainment featuring animals, stockmen and improvised live theatre with a laugh a minute. Based on the traditional outback travelling shows, it’s hard not to be charmed by the simple delights of bush theatre. The Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show tells a fictional story set in the time of Harry Redford (Captain Starlight) and refers to his infamous adventures.

‘Imagine a classroom more than twice the size of Victoria, where the playground is as vast as the outback and the partnership between home and school is legendary’. We invite you to join us in touring one of the largest classrooms in the world! Observe our school in action and learn how education is delivered using technology ‘in the bush’.

This one day tour to Lake Eyre departs from Longreach taking in floodplains of the Thomson River, the Diamantina channels, Birdsville, Lake Eyre, Innamincka,  “Dig Tree”, Cooper Creek channels, Lake Yamma Yamma and Windorah. Return along the Thomson River and arriving back late afternoon as the sun sets over Longreach.

Depart Longreach in morning with views of the Thomson River, Diamantina channels, Birdsville, Lake Eyre over the Goyder Lagoon, Halligan Bay and staying at William Creek. Day 2 fly over Belt Bay viewing Lake Eyre and the wildlife on the flight to Innamincka, visit the site of Burke and Wills “Dig Tree”. From the Dig Tree we follow Cooper Creek through the Channel Country, the Barcoo River and the Thompson River, and back to Longreach.

Follow the winding curves of Thomson River on our extended flight to the town weirs and into channel country on our incredible 20 minute scenic flight.
Duration: 20 Minutes (approx.)

A fantastic 10 minute scenic flight around Longreach and over the Thomson River. You will see the famous Stockman’s Hall of Fame and of course the Qantas Museum and static aircraft display Boeing 747, 737 and 707 at Longreach airport.
Duration: 10 Minutes (approx.)

Experience outback Queensland’s channel country in a way like no other. Soar over the winding Thomson River channel country on a scenic helicopter flight before landing and immersing yourself in channel country with a locally sourced picnic.
Duration: 60 Minutes (approx.)

The single most incredible way of experiencing an outback sunset. Take a ride on our Outback Sunset Scenic to see the very best the central west has to offer!
Duration: 20 Minutes (approx.)

Join our scenic flight to Starlight’s Lookout. Walk to the top for a spectacular view of the open plains below and a complimentary beverage*.
Duration: 90 Minutes (approx.)

Experience the sense of freedom and adventure as you spend time exploring the charms of Ilfracombe, you can’t miss ‘the Great Machinery Mile’ an amazing line-up of historic machinery stretching over 1km. The collection of machines leads you to the Folk Museum, a replica of an early station residence, also situated within the museum complex is Oakhampton Cottage which offers a tangible glimpse into early outback households and Romani Hall, a memorial to the young men of the district who answered ‘the call to arms’ and is dedicated to Australia’s Light Horseman. Visit the Wellshot Centre learn about the story of Wellshot Station one of Australia’s greatest sheep and wool producers.

Isisford has plenty to offer when it comes to history with the Main Street housing many of the older buildings like the Hooper & Brunkhorst Store, Butcher and Bakery.  Also within walking distance is the Whitman’s Memorial Museum and Park and the Isisford District Hospital Museum & Multipurpose Centre. Step back in time over 100 millions years of the prehistoric history is contained in this little town. The Outer Barcoo Interpretation Centre features the world class fossil exhibits including one of the oldest modern day crocodiles,’Isisfordia Duncani’ and the ancient Isisford Bulldog fish, which belongs to a group of fishes known as ichthyodectiform.

The small township of Yaraka is nestled between Mesa Hills with the backdrop being the Yang Yang Ranges that offer unique and spectacular picture postcard scenery – a photographer’s delight with their craggy escarpments that are a cacophony of hues and colours at sunrises and sunsets. The township offers powered caravan sites for a small fee, a swimming pool and amenities next to a beautifully maintained and cared for park with BBQ and ample covered seating with a tennis court and children’s playground.