2025 Outback Queensland & Lightning Ridge Tour

2025 Outback Queensland & Lightning Ridge Tour

Discover The Unique Charm Of Australia’s Outback

7 Days

23 – 29 June 2025

From $2,990*

Immerse yourself in a true outback experience and discover some of Australia’s most unique outback towns on this fascinating tour. Beginning in Queensland, discover the rich history of Roma and indulge in local food and wine at St George. Continuing to New South Wales to Lightning Ridge, home to the elusive ‘Black Opal’ and renowned for its colourful characters and fantastic experiences. Travel through the Celtic Capital of New England, before arriving back in Brisbane.

7 days
Twin Share / Double pp $2990
Single $3390
Deposit $500

Inc – Home p/up & return*
* Brisbane > Sunshine Coast Regions

Itinerary

Day 1: (LD) Brisbane To Roma - Monday, 23 June 2025

 Leaving from Noosa/Tewantin we depart for the Brisbane Transit Centre picking up passengers along the way before travelling through the Lockyer Valley to our early lunch stop at Urth Café in Toowoomba. This afternoon, watch the scenery roll by, and get to know your fellow travellers as we express through to Roma. Roma, located in the centre of the Maranoa Shire, is home to the largest store cattle market in Australia and is an important piece of the oil and gas industry.

Explorers Inn Roma | 07 4620 1400
Dinner at motel | Lunch at Urth Cafe & Co

Day 2: (BD) Roma To St George - Tuesday, 24 June 2025

We are met by a local guide this morning who will first take us to the Roma Saleyards to see firsthand the largest cattle selling centre in the Southern hemisphere on sale day. Through told and untold stories of early settlers, cattle duffers and merchants, you will discover Roma’s past. Uncover how the town transformed, the industries it supports and find hidden treasures like Heroes Avenue, naturally illuminated stained glass windows, the Biggest Bottle Tree and the Roma Bush Gardens. We have free time in town to purchase lunch (own expense) before we farewell Roma and continue our journey to Surat where we visit the Cobb & Co Changing Station. The Museum is built on the original site of the Cobb & Co Store and was once the drop off point for coach passengers and goods. Included in the current display is a 14-seat replica Cobb & Co Coach, a 25,000 litre freshwater aquarium and a display of local artworks at the Surat on Balonne Gallery. Located north of St George is The Anchorage Historic Homestead, a rare example of opulence and grandeur for a homestead of the early 1900s. The homestead was built in 1903 for Andrew Nixon from local cypress milled at Nixon’s sawmill. The unique architecture features large lofty rooms and wide sweeping verandas perfectly suited to western Queensland living. We enjoy a delightful afternoon tea here before arriving into St George for our overnight stay.

Riverland Motor Inn, St George | 07 4625 1229
Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch own expense

Day 3: (BLD) St George To Lightning Ridge - Wednesday, 25 June 2025

This morning a prominent local cotton and grain farmer will host us on a visit to his farm, where you will learn about cotton planting, growing, irrigation, harvesting and marketing. We then visit Riversands Winery who will guide you through a journey on table and wine grape growing, followed by a delicious lunch and wine tasting. After a relaxing afternoon, we board the coach for an afternoon of travel along the Castlereagh Highway. We make our way through the small town of Hebel, once known as Kelly’s Point because it is believed that Ned Kelly’s brother Dan and flower Kelly gang member Steve Hard lived here under an alias. Arriving in Lightning Ridge, we make our way to our accommodation where we settle in for the next three nights.

Wallangulla Motel, Lightning Ridge | 3 nights | 02 6829 0542
Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at Riversands Winery

Day 4: (BD) Lightning Ridge - Thursday, 26 June 2025

This morning our coach captain takes us on a brief sightseeing tour of the town before our first visit to the Walk in Mine. Here we experience the atmosphere of an underground mine with a tour including a video presentation and explanation about opal mining. Next, we uncover one of the more unusual sights in the town is Amigo’s Castle. The 15 metre tall structure, based on Italian ruins, was hand built with ironstone boulders in the 1980s and is now home to a small gallery, underground cellars, a corner turret and no roof! We complete our morning at Down to Earth Opals who have been mining, designing, and specialising in selling to the world one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces and top gem quality loose opals. We then have free time in town to purchase lunch (own expense) and the opportunity to John Murray Art Gallery. As you view the brilliant landscapes and characters John creates, we will appreciate why he is one of the outback’s favourite painters. John has also kept busy adding to his mural on the outside wall of the Gallery. This afternoon we are in for a unique experience at Chambers of the Black Hand. We will be captivated by local artist, Ron Canlin, through witnessing the stunning paintings and sculptures he has created 11.2 metres underground. Ron’s creations include The Last Supper, the Egyptian Chamber, and the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. The remainder of the day will be at leisure where you will also be given the opportunity to visit the Hot Artesian Bore Baths. (Bring your bathers)

Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch own expense

Day 5: (BLD) The Grawin - Friday, 27 June 2025

No tour to Lightning Ridge would be complete without a trip to The Grawin. A local guide will join us on our day tour as we visit unique locations including all three bush pubs Sheepyard Inn, Glengarry Hilton, and the Club in the Scrub. Located about 70km west of Lightning Ridge, The Grawin was established in 1908 with the discovery of the opal at “Hammond Hill”. Further discoveries in 1920 at “Richards Hill” put the unofficial village on the map. It was at Grawin that the largest opal ‘Light of the World’ was found in 1928. Since the first discovery of opal in the region, people have come and gone in tides with each new strike, seeking their fortune in search of the rainbow in the rock. It is believed that a field at Grawin was discovered in 1905 but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it became a major field in its own right. The Mulga Rush, which began in 2000, is the biggest opal rush since the Coocoran was discovered in the early 1900s. The Sheepyard area was named after a find of opal near the fence of the old Sheepyards. After a very interesting day we arrive back in Lightning Ridge later this afternoon.

Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch included on tour

Day 6: (BLD) Lightning Ridge To Glen Innes - Saturday, 28 June 2025

Farewelling “The Ridge”, today we venture to the township of Glen Innes, regarding itself as the Celtic Capital of New England and is also known as the “Land of the Beardies”. We return to Castlereagh Highway, where we journey through fertile farming land, arriving in Narrabri for our lunch stop at the Outback Shack. We continue our travel west this afternoon arriving in Glen Innes in time to check into our accommodation.

New England Motor Lodge, Glen Innes | 02 6732 2922
Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at Narrabri RSL – Outback Shack

Day 7: (BLD) Glen Innes To Brisbane - Sunday, 29 June 2025

Glen Innes has the distinction of being chosen for the site of the “Australian Standing Stones”. These are the only standing stones to be erected in the last 3000 years and can be viewed at the Centennial Parklands. Departing Glenn Innes, we travel though Tenterfield, the town where Sir Henry Parkes made his famous 1889 speech calling for Australia’s federation and Stanthorpe, located in the heart of the Granit Belt. We stop for lunch today in Warwick before the final stretch to Brisbane for our last night on tour.

Breakfast at motel | Lunch at the Criterion Hotel Warwick

All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times or days of some attractions. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures or inclement weather.

Tour Highlights

  • Tour Roma Town & Saleyards
  • Local Cotton Farm Tour at St George
  • Wine tasting and Lunch at Riversands Winery St George
  • Visit Anchorage Homestead St George
  • Cobb & Co Museum – Surat
  • Guided tour Lightning Ridge
  • Guided tour Grawin, Glengarry & Sheepyard Opal fields.
  • Visit –  The Walk in Mine
  • – Amigos Castle
  • – Chambers of the Black Hand 
  • – Down to Earth Opals – Cutting demonstration – opal viewing
  • – John Murray Gallery
  • – Lightning Ridge Hot Artesian Baths
  • Narrabri
  • Glen Innes

Inclusions

  • 6 x Cooked Breakfasts
  • 6 x Dinners
  • 5 x Lunchs
  • All entry fees to attractions visited
  • 1 Night – Explorers Inn, Roma
  • 1 night – Riverland Motel St George
  • 3 nights – Wallangulla Motel, Lightning Ridge
  • 1 Night –  New England Motor Inn, Glen Innes

Enquire Now

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You may pay by cheque, credit card over the phone or by Direct Deposit to

Coolum Tours and Travel
Wpac Acc
BSB 034-198
Acc # 666873