Overlander’s Way | School Excursion Itineraries1

Day 1 – Townsville to HughendenJourney: Townsville to Charters Towers ..........................approx 138km/1hr 30 mins Charters Towers to Hughenden .......................243km/2hrs 50mins

Highlights: Stock Exchange Arcade Assay Mining Museum Zara Clark Museum The Miner’s Cottage Lissner Park Historic Coolibah Tree Mt Walker Lookout & Muttaburrasaurus stories

Morning: We begin our story with a 1.5 hour drive west to the town once dubbed ‘the world’ – Charters Towers. Be prepared for some awesome tales as we follow the Ghosts of Gold Heritage Trail, which brings to life the legends and the characters of Charters Towers. We can even try our hand at panning for gold at the Miner’s Cottage!

Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch at Lissner Park, home to the First World War Digital Heritage Trail.

Afternoon: Flush with wealth from recent gold discoveries, a prize was offered for the first expedition to cross Australia from North to South – a challenge taken up by Burke & Wills. In Hughenden, we will see the historic Coolibah Tree linked to two relief expeditions searching for Burke and Wills. We’ll learn about tree blazing – some would say this was the early explorers’ equivalent to today’s GPS system!

Tonight we’ll have a sunset sausage sizzle at Mt Walker Lookout and hear stories about a time when ‘Hughie’ the dinosaur called this region home.

Accommodation: Allen Terry Caravan Park, Hughenden. Ph: (07) 4741 1190

Live and breathe Australia’s stories on this wonderful journey along the Overlander’s Way. Follow the Ghosts of Gold Heritage Trail bringing our gold mining legends and characters to life. At the historic Coolibah Tree learn its connection to the Burke and Wills story. Boil a billy at Combo Waterhole which inspired our unofficial national anthem. Discover dinosaur stories at Kronosaurus Korner and learn the story of the Mitakoodi people of the Cloncurry River.

7 Days/6 Nights – price on application

Stories of the Overlander’s Way– camping & accommodated

Stock Exchange Arcade Historic Coolibah Tree

Overlander’s Way | School Excursion Itineraries2

Day 2 – Hughenden to Julia CreekJourney: Hughenden to Richmond……………….....112km/1hr 10mins Richmond to Julia Creek……………………149km/1hr 40 mins

Highlights: Kronosaurus Korner Horse riding demonstrations Campfire stories and stargazing Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre

Morning: Our next stop will be Richmond where we will step back in time and discover early pioneer stories at the Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre. Built from local flagstone rock the Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre is a replica of the original Cambridge Downs Homestead built in the late 1860s.

Next our story travels back 100 million years when a large section of Queensland was covered by the Cretaceous Inland Sea. At Kronosaurus Korner we’ll hear the amazing discovery story of the 100-million-year-old pliosaur on a nearby cattle station. As we tour the museum, we’ll see the most complete marine reptile fossils in the world.

Lunch: Lunch at Kronosaurus Korner.

Afternoon: Leaving the Dinosaurs, we travel on to Julia Creek, known as the ‘Gateway to the Gulf’ in a region traditionally used for sheep and cattle grazing.

We’ll see a horse riding demonstration by local riders then perhaps join the local CWA ‘champion’ bakers for some hands-on fun to learn how to make the best campfire damper. Tonight enjoy some campfire stories and stargazing. The Outback is one of the best places to explore the galaxy of stars in the night sky.

Accommodation: Julia Creek Caravan Park. Ph: (07) 4746 7108

Horse Riding Demonstration Kronosaurus Korner

Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre

Overlander’s Way | School Excursion Itineraries3

Day 3 – Julia Creek to CloncurryJourney: Julia Creek to Cloncurry ......................................... 137km/1hr 37mins

Highlights: Julia Creek Dunnart feeding John Flynn Place Museum & Art Gallery Mary Kathleen Memorial Park Chinaman Creek Dam Bush Tucker Tour with Aboriginal guide Kup-Murri Traditional Dinner

Morning: We begin the day with a visit to the Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre, ‘At the Creek’, to learn stories of water, country and people. A highlight will be the opportunity to watch a live Dunnart feeding! Next, we’ll travel a short distance to Cloncurry, birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. At John Flynn Place Museum you’ll hear the inspiring story of how the RFDS began as the dream of the Rev John Flynn, a minister with the Presbyterian Church who lived in the Outback for most of his life.

Lunch: Picnic lunch at Mary Kathleen Memorial Park.

Afternoon: This afternoon we’ll travel around 3km to Chinaman Creek Dam to learn more about the Mitakoodi people of the Cloncurry River (the ‘River People’). Our Aboriginal guide will walk us through country on a Bush Tucker trail where we will learn how the local people survived on a variety of bush plants and animals. Late afternoon, we’ll be treated to a traditional underground cooking feast called a ‘Kup Murri’ – a very special dinner treat!

Accommodation: Discovery Parks, Cloncurry. Ph: (07) 4742 2300

Julia Creek DunnartChinaman Creek Dam

John Flynn Place Museum & Art Gallery

Overlander’s Way | School Excursion Itineraries4

Day 4 - Cloncurry to Kynuna and RichmondJourney: Cloncurry to Kynuna ................................................................. 183km/2 hrs Kynuna to Combo Waterhole .............................................. 16km/15 mins Combo Waterhole to Richmond .............................................. 265km/3hrs 20mins

Highlights: Combo Waterhole Bush walks Picnic by the billabong Bush poetry

Morning: This morning we will pack up early and head to the site, which inspired Australia’s unofficial national anthem – Waltzing Matilda. At Combo Waterhole Conservation Park, we’ll walk the 2.5km circuit and boil the billy beside the billabong….. under the shade of the Coolibah tree. This will be a great spot for us to recite some other bush poems by Banjo Paterson.

Lunch: Picnic lunch and billy tea.

Afternoon: After discovering some of Australia’s favourite bush stories, we travel back to Richmond, our overnight stop. Enjoy some free time to relax at our campsite late this afternoon with views of the award winning Lake Fred Tritton. Tonight we’ll have some poetry writing competitions to see who comes up with the best bush poem.

Accommodation: Lakeview Caravan Park, Richmond. Ph: (07) 4741 3772

Day 5 - Richmond to Virginia Park StationJourney: Richmond to Charters Towers ...............................................approx 361km/4hrs (& return) Charters Towers to Virginia Park Station .......................... 30km/25mins

Highlights: Virginia Park Station Farm activities Storytelling around the campfire

Morning: Up early this morning for a big morning drive with a big finish! We’ll make a morning tea stop at Prairie a small town of just 50 people and part of the Great Northern Railway Line that links Townsville to Mount Isa. We will arrive at Virginia Park Station in time for lunch and to learn the story of life on a working cattle station.

Lunch: Catered lunch at Virginia Park Station.

Afternoon: Join in on a range of optional farm activities including horse riding and calf branding. Tonight we tell stories and sing songs around the campfire under the starry skies!

Accommodation: Virginia Park Station, 25 minutes north east of Charters Towers. Ph: (07) 4770 3125

Combo Waterhole

Overlander’s Way | School Excursion Itineraries5

Day 6 - Virginia Park Station to TownsvilleJourney: Virginia Park Station to Townsville………………..…98km/1 hr

Highlights: Virginia Park Station Billabong Sanctuary

Morning: This morning we join our station hosts to learn the art of cow milking and to hear more stories about life on the land. Following smoko, we’ll test our skills on a station obstacle course.

Lunch: Catered lunch at Virginia Park Station.

Afternoon: We reboard our coach for the last leg of our Overlander’s Way journey, arriving in Townsville mid afternoon. Discover stories of Australia’s wildlife at the Billabong Sanctuary. Meet the ranger for an interactive tour including a crocodile feeding demonstration and turtle feeding. Tonight you’ll enjoy a dinner feast and a Sanctuary after Dark tour then fall asleep to the sounds of the Billabong.

Accommodation: Billabong Sanctuary (Melaleuca Function Centre). Ph: (07) 4778 8344

Day 7 - Townsville to HomeportJourney: Townsville to homeport (Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar)

PROSERPINE

BARRINGUN

WYANDRA

HUNGERFORD

CUNNAMULLA

EULO

QUILPIE

JERICHO

EROMANGA

BETOOTA

WINDORAH

BIRDSVILLE

PoeppelCorner

HaddonCorner

BEDOURIE

THARGOMINDAH YOWAH

NOCCUNDRAINNAMINCKA

DIG TREE

MERTY MERTY

ISISFORD

STONEHENGE

BOULIA

ALPHA

ILFRACOMBE

MUTTABURRA

ARAMAC

OPALTON

MIDDLETON

KYNUNA

McKINLAY

DOOMADGEE

TIRRANNA

BURKETOWN

LAWN HILL GORGEADELS GROVE

RIVERSLEIGH

WAGGABUNDI

GUNPOWDER

DUCHESS

DAJARRA

GREGORYDOWNS

SOUTH WELLESLEYISLANDS

SWEERSISLAND

MORNINGTONISLAND

HUGHENDEN

JULIACREEK

NELIAPRAIRIE

MAXWELTON

TORRENS CREEK

CLERMONT

CAPELLA

SAPPHIRERUBYVALE

SPRINGSURE

EMERALD BLACKWATERROCKHAMPTON

BILOELA

BANANA

MORANBAH

MACKAY

PROSERPINE

BOWENBALFE’SCREEK

HOMESTEADPENTLAND

CHARTERSTOWERS

BURKE & WILLSJUNCTION

QUAMBY

KAJABBI

CROYDON

CAIRNS

TOWNSVILLE

INGHAM

CARDWELL

TULLY

INNISFAIL

GORDONVALE

MAREEBA

ATHERTON

RAVENSHOE

GEORGETOWN

URANDANGIE

LYNDHURST

MARREE

MOSSMANPORT DOUGLAS

COOKTOWN

YARRADEN

LAKELAND

COEN

ARCHER RIVER

WEIPA

MOUNTSURPRISE

MOUNT GARNET

CHILLAGOE

CAMERONCORNER

CHARLEVILLE

AUGATHELLA

MORVENMITCHELL

MUNGALLALA AMBYROMA

INJUNE

ROLLESTON

MILES

TAROOM

THEODORE

GAYNDAHMUNDUBBERA

EIDSWOLD

MONTO

CHINCHILLA

DALBY

ST GEORGEBOLLON

MOONIE

SURAT

TEXAS

ARMIDALE

GLEN INNESINVERELL

DORRIGO

URUNGA

COFFSHARBOUR

GRAFTON

BALLINALISMORE

TENTERFIELD

INGLEWOOD

WARWICK

MILMERRAN

PITTSWORTH

TWEEDHEADS

OAKEYTOOWOOMBA

IPSWICH

BRISBANE

NAMBOUR

GYMPIE

KINGAROY

CHILDERSGIN GIN

BUNDABERG

MIRIAM VALE

GLADSTONE

MARYBOROUGH

BLACKALL

TAMBO

BARCALDINELONGREACH

WINTON

CLONCURRY

MOUNTISA

EMMETYARAKA

RICHMOND

KARUMBA

NORMANTON

THE LYND JUNCTIONGREENVALE

BOURKE

CORFIELD

STAMFORD

JUNDAH

ADAVALE

CHEEPIE

COOLADDI

TOOMPINE

WANAARING

BREWARRINA

WALGETT

MOREE

GOONDIWINDI

MUNGINDI

NARRABRI

TIBOOBURRA

CAMOOWEAL

NINDIGULLY

DIRRANBANDI

HEBEL

JACKSON

G UL

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LAKE DALRYMPLE

LAKEMARABOON

LAKEMACHATTIE

LAKEDUNN

CURRAWINYANATIONAL

PARK

LAKE BINDEGOLLYNATIONAL PARK

TREGOLENATIONAL

PARK

WELFORDNATIONAL

PARK

LOCHERNNATIONAL

PARK

DIAMANTINANATIONAL

PARK

MUNGA-THIRRI (SIMPSON DESERT)

NATIONAL PARK

LARK QUARRY

CONSERVATIONPARK

BLADENSBURGNATIONAL

PARK

IDALIANATIONAL

PARKCARNARVON

NATIONALPARK

SALVATORROSA KA KA

MUNDI

MT MOFFATT

MOORRINYANATIONAL

PARK

FORESTDEN

NATIONALPARK

UNDARAVOLCANICNATIONAL

PARK

BLACKBRAESNATIONAL

PARK

PORCUPINEGORGE

NATIONALPARK

WHITE MOUNTAINS

NATIONALPARK

COMBOWATERHOLE

CONSERVATIONPARK

CAMOOWEAL CAVESNATIONAL PARK

BOODJAMULLA(LAWN HILL)

NATIONAL PARK

EXPEDITION NATIONAL

PARK

NUGA NUGANATIONAL

PARK

Q U E E N S L A N D

Q U E E N S L A N D

N O R T H E R NT E R R I T O R Y

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S O U T HA U S T R A L I A

FlightsBrisbane to/from

Homeport

RELEVANT OUTBACK EDUCATION FACT SHEETS: 01, 07, 08, 09, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, 29 – refer www.teq.queensland.com

Billabong Sanctuary

Virginia Park Station