Brisbane to the red heart of Queensland — artesian hot springs, crystal-clear night skies, legendary outback towns and genuine bush hospitality.
Experience the real Queensland — beyond the reef and the Gold Coast — on this immersive 11-day coach journey through the state's legendary outback heartland. Travel in comfort through changing landscapes, from the green Darling Downs to the ochre Channel Country, stopping at historic towns that tell the story of pioneering Australia.
Soak in the restorative warmth of artesian hot springs at Cunnamulla, gaze at a night sky unpolluted by city light at the Charleville Observatory, cruise the Balonne River at St George, and experience the unhurried hospitality of regional Queensland at its most authentic.
A well-paced journey through Queensland's outback, balancing travel days with genuine exploration time in each town.
Meet your Cooee Tours guide and fellow travellers on arrival in Brisbane. Enjoy a relaxed cultural afternoon at the Brisbane Powerhouse on the river before settling into your hotel and joining a welcome dinner with the group.
Board the coach and head west through the Darling Downs, one of Australia's most productive agricultural regions. Stop in Warwick — Queensland's Rose City — and the small border town of Yelarbon before reaching St George, a riverside outback town built on the banks of the Balonne River.
A leisurely day exploring St George and the beautiful Balonne River. Enjoy a guided town tour, stroll along the riverbanks, and take time to meet local residents and discover the region's agricultural heritage. St George produces some of Australia's finest cotton, and the irrigation channels that feed the fields are an engineering story in themselves.
Travel west into deeper outback country to Cunnamulla, one of Queensland's most remote regional centres. Afternoon sightseeing includes the town's heritage streetscape before the highlight of the day — a restorative soak in warm artesian hot springs, fed by the Great Artesian Basin, one of the largest underground freshwater reserves in the world.
Journey north through the vast Channel Country — an extraordinary landscape of braided river channels, clay plains and open horizons. Stop at Eromanga, Australia's most inland town and home to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, where some of the country's most significant dinosaur fossils have been unearthed, before continuing to Quilpie.
Explore Quilpie — the opal capital of southwest Queensland — before heading north to Charleville, the largest outback town in southern Queensland. Afternoon guided touring takes in Charleville's fascinating heritage streetscape, the historic QANTAS connection and the story of the 1947 Vortex Gun — a bizarre attempt to make it rain in drought-stricken Queensland.
A restful day to explore Charleville at your own pace — browse the local galleries and shops, visit Charleville's Historic House Museum, or simply relax in the town park. The evening brings the tour's most anticipated moment: a guided stargazing session at the Charleville Cosmos Centre Observatory, where the near-zero light pollution reveals a night sky of extraordinary depth and brilliance.
Travel east towards Roma, stopping at Mitchell — the artesian spa town where you can take a morning dip in thermal pools at the Great Artesian Spa. Arrive in Roma for an afternoon of guided heritage touring through Queensland's cattle capital, taking in the impressive outdoor Big Rig oil and gas exhibition and Roma's grand Main Street.
A full day dedicated to the Roma region. Visit Bassett Park Saleyards — one of Australia's largest cattle sale yards — to understand the scale of Queensland's cattle industry. Explore the Roma Bottle Tree Avenue, enjoy a locally guided tour of surrounding properties, and in the evening enjoy a relaxed dinner celebrating the penultimate night of the tour.
Head east through Chinchilla — the watermelon capital of Australia — and then climb the Great Dividing Range into Toowoomba, the Garden City, where a lunch stop allows time to stroll through its famous parks before the final run into Brisbane via the Lockyer Valley.
A leisurely final morning — enjoy a Brisbane River cruise taking in the city skyline and Story Bridge before transferring to Brisbane Airport or your onward destination. Your guide will be available throughout the morning for assistance with onward arrangements.
Everything you need to know about what's included in your tour price.
Single Supplement: A single room supplement applies for solo travellers. Contact Cooee Tours for current single supplement pricing.
A well-paced, comfortable journey designed for travellers who want to experience the real Australia without roughing it. Luxury coach, quality accommodation and expert guides throughout.
Popular with community groups, U3A clubs, caravan clubs and retirement village social groups. We handle all the logistics — you just enjoy the journey together.
For anyone who wants to go beyond the beaches and reef and discover the Australia that most tourists never see — its history, its vastness and its warm country character.
The Outback Queensland Discovery Tour is especially popular with travel clubs, seniors groups, community organisations and travel agents. We offer flexible options to make group booking straightforward and rewarding.
"A beautifully paced outback tour. Our guide's knowledge of the region's history was extraordinary, the coach was supremely comfortable, and every accommodation exceeded our expectations. The stargazing at Charleville was simply unforgettable."
"The hot springs and observatory were the absolute highlights — we talked about both for weeks afterwards. We felt genuinely looked after at every single step of the journey. Cooee Tours understand how to travel through the outback with grace."
"Our travel club booked this tour as a group of 18 and it was the best group trip we've done. The logistics were seamless, the guide was brilliant, and every member of our group said they'd travel with Cooee again without hesitation."