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The words of Banjo Patterson still echo around the streets of Winton where the Waltzing Matilda Centre sings the praises of Australia's unofficial anthem.

The footprints of legendary stockman, R.M. Williams are practically imprinted in Longreach, a delightful rail destination, where Qantas also enjoyed a humble start. The original 1922 hangar sits proudly at the Qantas Founders Outback Museum and the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame spins a yarn about the region's pioneers.

The Barcaldine ghost gum tree - the Tree of Knowledge - stands defiantly in memory of the striking miners of 1891, and Ilfracombe's Wellshot Hotel captures the wool station era. Sweat almost drips off the Blackall Woolscour, where the original steam machinery remains in place, in a town synonymous with shearer Jacky Howe.

The Thomson River runs like an artery through Longreach, where orange outback sunsets light up the sky. Take an iconic rail journey into living history - discover outback legends, stockmen and settlers, delve into the cockpit of a Qantas jumbo, and fair dinkum hospitality.

Included:

• Overnight travel on Spirit of the Outback
• 5 nights accommodation
• Meals as per itinerary
• Fully guided small coach touring with accredited Savannah Guide

Day 1: Head out of the city, as your overnight Spirit of the Outback rail journey travels overland to Longreach.

Day 2: Arrive at Longreach and check in to your accommodation at the Longreach Motor Inn.

Day 3: Join your accredited Savannah Guide tour to Ilfracombe, home of the famed historic Wellshot Hotel and Interpretive Centre. Relax with a sunset dinner cruise on the Thomson River. (B, D)

Day 4: Learn the history behind the School of the Air and visit the Australian Agricultural College. Tip your hat to the heroes at The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, and the historic Longreach Cemetery. Overnight Longreach.

Day 5: Wander through Innangai Nature Reserve, an outback botanical garden dedicated to the district's early indigenous tribes. Take time out for smoko and a bush yarn, and a Cobb and Co coach-ride. Overnight Longreach. (B, D)

Day 6: Hop off to see the Flying Kangaroo: visit the fascinating Qantas Founders Outback Museum, walk on the wings of a 747 and inspect the historic 707 that was Australia's first commercial jet. Overnight Longreach. (B, D)

Day 7: Say farewell to the friendly locals of Longreach as you head home either by rail or flight back to Brisbane (own expense). (B) Pioneer Spirit, Bush Pubs and Timeless Traditi

Travel by train to the central west, where big skies hang like a giant canopy, the gums are a ghostly white and the air sizzles with stories of outback legends. Walk in the footsteps of the ancient dinosaurs, waltz through Matilda country and glide through the tale of Qantas on a passionate and personal tour. Uncover unsung heroes at The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and capture the pioneering spirit of the outback.

Included:

Overnight travel on Spirit of the Outback
• 5 nights accommodation
• Meals as per itinerary
• Fully guided small coach touring with accredited Savannah Guide

Day 1. Leave the hustle and bustle behind as you begin your overnight journey into Australia's heartland onboard Spirit of the Outback.

Day 2. Arriving in Longreach, meet your host from Outback Aussie Tours and check into the Longreach Motor Inn. Enjoy a welcome tour of this major western centre. Unearth unsung heroes and pioneer legends at The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, before a late afternoon Longreach galah session at Banjo's Outback Theatre. Sunset nibbles and drinks whet your appetite for an old-style dinner, showcasing shearing days of old. Overnight Longreach. (D).

Day 3. Pay tribute to pioneer lives on a fascinating Cemetery tour, meander past open plains and coolibah-lined creeks. With your accredited Savannah Guide, travel by comfortable coach to Winton. Take the Opal Walk, hum along with history at the Waltzing Matilda Centre, see the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Display - then check in to the Boulder Opal Motor Inn before the Ultimate Progressive Dinner and Winton Welcome. Take in the sunset with a happy hour at the Rangelands Scenic Rift Valley, followed by main course at the North Gregory Hotel, where Waltzing Matilda was first publicly performed. For a nostalgic finish to the evening, sit back in canvas seats under an open sky, and catch some old reels at the Royal Mail Open Air Theatre. Overnight Winton. (B, L, D).

Day 4. Tour the land-care award winning Carisbrooke Station, set in the splendour of Cory's Range and the Williams Valley. Follow in the footsteps of stampeding dinosaurs, preserved forever at Lark Quarry. Onto Longreach, for 2 nights at the Albert Park Motor Inn. Overnight Longreach. (B, L, D).

Day 5. Get an insight into the working of the School of the Air and the Australian Agricultural College, discover the history and human story of Australian aviation at the Qantas Founders Outback Museum. There's time for souvenir shopping before a magical sunset dinner cruise by candlelight. Overnight Longreach. (B, L, D)

Day 6. Depart Longreach by rail or flight (own expense) taking unforgettable outback stories with you.

Ride the rails to the iconic outback towns of Barcaldine, Ilfracombe, Longreach and Winton, waiting like old local characters to share their tales with travellers. Unravel mystery and history through heritage centres, museums, halls of fame, pastoral colleges and schools where education is distinct and distant.

Included:

• Overnight return economy travel on Spirit of the Outback
• 4 nights motel accommodation in Longreach
• Meals, touring and entrance fees as per itinerary

Day 1: Your adventure begins as you depart Brisbane onboard Spirit of the Outback.

Day 2: Arrive in Barcaldine, meet your host from Longreach Outback Travel, and visit the Australian Workers Heritage Centre. Travel to Ilfracome, visiting the memorabilia-rich Wellshot Hotel. Overnight Longreach. (L)

Day 3: Enjoy the history at The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Outback Museum. Cruise under star-bright night skies on the Thomson Belle, enjoy a campfire dinner. Overnight Longreach. (L, D)

Day 4: Discover rich history in Winton. Visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre, North Gregory Hotel, the Opal Walk and the Dinosaur Diorama. Overnight Longreach. (L)

Day 5: Learn about modern station life skills at the Longreach Pastoral College, and how the young are educated at the Longreach School of Distance Education. Overnight Longreach. (L)

Day 6: Wave goodbye to the outback as you begin your relaxing journey home on board Spirit of the Outback.

Day 7: Arrival in Brisbane.

Charleville wears a eucalypt and callistemon fragrance and creatures of corrugated iron guard a garden. Browse through Botanical Gardens, stroll from rivers to ridges, discover hydroponic vegetables. Blackall is scented with rose perfume and the hedges are coiffed to perfection. Travel by train to a green-thumbed outback adventure.

Included:

• Overnight travel on The Westlander
• Overnight travel on Spirit of the Outback
• 8 nights motel accommodation
• Tour hosted by gardening legend, Colin Campbell

Day 1: Board The Westlander for your journey to Charleville, where you will visit gardens featured in 'Gardens Off The Beaten Track' and part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme in 2007, hosted by gardening legend, Colin Campbell.

Day 2: Take in the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitors Centre, go star-gazing at the Cosmos Centre and Observatory. (L, D)

Day 3: Lunch at Colac Station, on to Quilpie and the rambling country garden of Moble Station. Return to Quilpie for the night. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Venture up the Bulloo River and onto Adavale, then north into Blackall country. Check in to the Acacia Motor Inn. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Visit a glorious garden featuring old-fashioned roses. Head back to Blackall for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Visit an historic homestead, check in at the Ironbark Inn in Barcaldine, take a town and garden tour. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Explore the Australian Workers Heritage Centre, tour two distinctive Barcaldine gardens. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Visit local gardens in Longreach and tonight dine at the Qantas Founders Outback Museum. Overnight Albert Park Motor Inn.

Day 9: Tour The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, savour a sunset cruise, and enjoy dinner by the campfire. (D)

Day 10: Depart Longreach aboard the iconic Spirit of the Outback.

Day 11: Arrival in Brisbane.