Join us as we head out west to experience the outback way of life, learning about how the graziers and producers of this region carry out their impressive operations all whilst enjoying the local sights and country hospitality. Spending nights out under the wide open sky away from the bright city lights you will be able to discover the cosmos in all its glory. Take the opportunity to see some of the endangered species of native Australian animals up close and personal as we visit them in their natural habitats. Discover and learn the history of Australia’s National Gemstone, the opal as we are shown how they are mined,processed, and turned into beautiful jewellery.
22 April 2024 16 July 2024
22 Meals Included 1 Eco Experience 6 Cultural & Heritage Experiences
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Save $500 per couple or $250 Single if booked before 30 November 2023
22 April 2024
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PRE & POST TOUR EXTENDER OPTION
2 additional days (TOTAL 10 DAY TOUR)
• Return economy class flights ex Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide to Brisbane
• 2 additional nights room only (1 night pre & 1 night post tour) at Meriton Suites Brisbane
• Return Airtrain tickets ex Brisbane Domestic Terminal to Roma Street Station
Plus $999pp Twin Share
Plus $1230 Sole Use
**Subject to availability – some block out dates apply. Prices are subject to change without notice**
Deposit of $800pp required within 14 days of making booking to secure your reservation.
N.B. Tour subject to fuel levy price increases for all transport operators. See T&Cs for details.
**(standardbeer, wine, spirits and soft drink capped to a bar tab not unlimited)
Deposit of $800pp required within 14 days of making booking to secure your reservation.
N.B. Tour subject to fuel levy price increases for all transport operators. See T&Cs for details.
Depart on our opulent ‘Diamond Class’ coach from Brisbane Coach Terminal on Roma Street, and travel responsibly knowing all coach emissions are 100% offset. We travel through the Lockyer Valley and onto Toowoomba where we have morning tea at Picnic Point. A perfect opportunity for a photo of the Lockyer Valley below. We continue through Dalby and onto Chinchilla for lunch. Continuing west along the Warrego Highway through Miles finishing our day at Roma.
We start our day at Roma’s Cattle Sale yards which is the largest cattle selling facility in Australia. We browse the new state-of-the-art interpretive centre telling the story of the cattle industry. As you enter the Interpretive Centre, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d joined a cattle drive on the long paddock. Leaving Roma we take a stop at Morven, then continue on Charleville for a tour and lunch at the historic Hotel Corones. Built in stages, the hotel was completed in 1929 during Charleville’s wool industry boom. Following lunch we take a guided gossip tour of Charleville and visit the Bilby Centre to see the super cute bilbies in their spectacular nocturnal house. Learn about the plight of the bilby and the successful breeding and release program. Tonight enjoy drinks and canapés followed by the Big Sky Twilight Tour at The Cosmos Centre. See an amazing night sky brought into focus with the help of powerful Meade telescopes and listen to captivating stories from an experienced sky guide.
Arriving in Cunnamulla we break at the famous Cunnamulla Fella statue, a larger than-life statue tribute to the Aussie larrikin stockman. Enjoy a visit to The Artesian Time Tunnel, stepping inside a mock opal mine lift and taking a journey through time. We go back 100 million years, deep into the middle of ancient sandstone rocks that form part of the Artesian Basin. Discover the home of ancient animals and Australia’s largest dinosaurs that roamed the Eromanga Inland Sea many millions of years ago. You will experience an old opal mine and hear about the ‘Yowah Nut’ and the early days in the opal fields. Back on the road passing through outback country towns, we break at Bollon Pub for a counter lunch before making our way to the South West Queensland town of St George.
A leisurely breakfast this morning before we board the coach with a local guide for a Heritage tour of St George. This includes a visit to Anchorage Homestead to discover the history of one of the oldest homesteads in the shire, heritage listed and built in 1903. We leave the homestead and make our way to the well-respected makers of Riversands Wines for a tour of the vineyard followed by wine tasting and a three-course winery lunch. After returning to our accommodation, enjoy the afternoon at leisure before meeting up again for dinner.
Our first stop today is Thallon’s beautiful town park, for a selfie with ‘William the Wombat’, a giant sculpture of the critically endangered Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat. We join a local guide to learn more of the town’s special connection to the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, see the town’s numerous sculptures, and seek out the vibrant Thallon Silo Mural. After lunch, we continue on to Lightning Ridge, once a forested plain near this ancient sea, famed for dazzling opal and as one of Australia’s most important dinosaur fossil sites. Our afternoon is spent at the Australian Opal Centre which houses the world’s greatest public collection of Australian opal, rare opalised fossils, opal-related geological samples and opal from around the world. From here we make our way to our hotel to check-in.
Our local guide shows us many hidden gems in this fascinating town. We visit Fred Bodel’s hut, the oldest miner’s camp in the area and the Historic Three Mile Flat, the site of the early miners’ settlement. We travel back to town for morning tea and an opal cutting demonstration. Later we learn about the historic opal mining techniques at Lunatic Hill Open Cut. Next we see the Astronomers’ Monument, the hand built Amigo’s Castle and Bevan’s cactus gardens. After lunch we visit ‘Chambers of the Black Hand’ a national treasure in the making in a 100 year old mine shaft. After a day of sightseeing we take a therapeutic soak in the naturally heated thermal baths.
We farewell Lightning Ridge and head for Moree in the beautiful Gwydir Valley. We continue on through this rich rural region, home to wheat, cotton, wool, beef and sheep producers. We reach Goondiwindi in time for lunch, then join a local guide for a town and cotton tour. Discover the heart of the town’s cotton industry, showcasing the process of cotton farming from planting to harvesting, see the crop (if in season) up close and learn about the irrigation systems and other farming practices used to cultivate the cotton.
We head for home today and celebrate the conclusion of our tour, we indulge in a long lunch over looking the vines at Albert River Wines, before our return to Brisbane Coach Terminal.
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Fun Over 50 is proud to announce that we’ve been named as a Best Of Queensland Experience. This means that we come highly recommended by travellers, and provide exemplary tourism experiences through:
Get in touch with us to join the waitlist for this tour. Our team will get in touch with you soon to confirm your details and reserve your place.
Get in touch with us to request a booking for this tour. Our team will get in touch with you soon to confirm your details and reserve your place.
Our Gold Class coach tours let you experience the beauty of the Australian landscape in comfort and style. From the coach itself to the accommodation and meals, every detail is considered.
See Gold Class coaches
For the next level in luxury, our Diamond Class coach tours give you the business class experience every step of the way. We only book the very best options available
Heron Island is a National Marine Park situated in the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. This area is a significant nesting location for two threatened sea turtle species, the Green Turtle and the Loggerhead Turtle.
Our over 50’s tour to Heron Island is in the height of baby Green and Loggerhead Turtle hatching season. During hatching season, turtle hatchlings will erupt from their nests between 25 to 50 metres from shore and make their way to the reef, just beyond the water’s edge.
Heron Island is a true coral cay and is ribboned by white sands, crystal clear waters and acres of coral with beautifully coloured marine life. The emphasis is on enjoying natural beauty. Stress is replaced by adventure, and your days are filled with discovery.
Make tracks for Queensland's central west on the Spirit of the Outback, an historic rail journey like no other. Then delve deep into outback life staying in Longreach, Toogunna Plains Station and Roma. Visit the Stockman's Hall of Fame and Qantas Founders Museum. Take a Station tour and Thomson River sunset cruise. Unearth dinosaurs in Winton, Waltz with Matilda, take a station tour with insights to the land overseeing all of Queensland’s iconic outback.
Take advantage of discounted low season fares and make tracks for Longreach on the Spirit of the Outback, an historic rail journey like no other. Then delve deep into outback life visiting The Stockman's Hall of Fame, Qantas Founders Museum, Camden Park Station and a trip to the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit in Winton. We then depart the Outback and make our way to the Town of 1770 where we spend 2 nights. Take in the highlights of Agnes Water by land and sea onboard a unique LARC amphibious vehicle.
To book this tour, all you need to do is get in touch with us. We will take your details and reserve your place over the phone. We can also answer any questions you may have and give you all the information you need.
Our coach tours have a baggage restriction of 17kg per person (regardless of flight and rail allowances) due to our Occupational Health & Safety standards. You can also bring one small, soft carry-on bag not exceeding 30cm wide, 30cm high, and 15cm thick that may be stowed in the overhead compartment.
Each of our tours has a fitness rating which describes the level of physical activity involved with the tour. These ratings are very important when choosing your tour to ensure it's right for you. Our fitness ratings are:
Our Gold Class coaches have a seat capacity of between 44 and 46, but we cap Gold Class tours at 40 guests per tour. Our Diamond Class tours have a capacity of just 26 guests. Other tour types may have different capacities depending on the transport and destination. Please get in touch with our team if you have any questions about a specific tour.
In most cases, yes we can. We can accommodate guests who are vegetarian and can assist with diabetic, gluten-free and other medically-recommended diets. Please advise us at time of booking, and we can confirm with our suppliers and restaurants.
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We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
Fill out your details and we will get in touch with you to reserve your place on the tour.
We roll out the red carpet so you can just sit back and relax and know that everything is included in your holiday experience, no surprises, all inclusive!
More on tour inclusions
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