5 Day Outback Gems Country Tour
10th September - 14th September
$1320 P/P T/S
$300 Single Supplement
$300 Single Supplement
Tour Highlights
Day 1: (LD)
Jondaryan Woolshed. Built in 1859, Jondaryan Woolshed is the oldest operating woolshed in Australia and the first “purpose built” shearing shed in the country. The complex covers 12 acres and features historic buildings and vintage machinery.
We have arranged a short tour and an early, traditional camp oven lunch,
before continuing to Dalby.
The surrounding Western Downs Shire is at the centre of rich coal and natural gas reserves which underpin the power generation industry for SE Qld. The region is also renowned for its rich agricultural land. Late afternoon we arrive at Roma in the centre of the Maranoa Shire. (Light lunch / Dinner at the motel)
Day 2: ROMA TO EMERALD (BLD)
Roma is a thriving community of nearly 7,000 people lies at the heart of a rich sheep and cattle grazing area and boasts the largest store cattle market in Australia. There’s enough oil in the area around Roma to support a small refinery, which produces just enough petroleum for local use. Gas deposits in the region are rather larger and Roma supplies the city of Brisbane with gas through a 450km pipeline. We stop to visit the Big Rig, a $5 million tribute to Australia's’ multibillion oil and gas industry for a self-guided tour and morning tea. Back on the road we head north along the Carnarvon Development Road through to Springsure and onto Emerald - the commercial hub of Central Queensland. The historic railway station was built in 1900 and is now classified by the National Trust. Outside the Town Hall there is a fossilised tree that is 250 million years old (Breakfast and dinner in the motel / Picnic lunch supplied)
Day 03: THE GEMFIELDS (BLD)
We have a fascinating day in store starting with the sights of Emerald before heading out to the Capricorn Hinterland & the largest Sapphire Gem fields in the Southern Hemisphere. First up we visit the Emerald Pioneer Cottage. Built in 1880 it houses photos, memorabilia and models of the old town centre, and is arguably the finest building in the area. We see the Fossilised Wood, estimated to be 250 million years old. We stop to visit the Anakie Sapphire Fields, the largest of their type in the world, supplying the major portion of the world production. After our tour of the gemfields, we enjoy morning tea at the historic Anakie Gemsfield Hotel. We’ll learn of the colourful history of the hotel and its association with the gemsfield. We have some time to explore before heading to Sapphire for lunch and some fossicking at Pat’s Gems Tourist Fossicking Park. Hopefully with a few Sapphires of our own in tow, we now head off to Rubyvale for a visit to Miners Heritage, Australia’s largest underground sapphire mine. We enjoy a guided walk -in mine tour, discover the process of underground sapphire mining & wonder at the amazing array of colours. At Rubyvale Gem Gallery we view the showroom displays then relax with the resident rainbow lorikeets in the award winning garden. Our dinner tonight will be at the New Royal Hotel Rubyvale before returning to our accommodation in Emerald. (Breakfast in the hotel / lunch / dinner)
Day 04 (BD): EMERALD TO BUNDABERG (BD)
After breakfast we depart Emerald and travel east today, through Blackwater to Rockhampton which is where we stop for our lunch break. This afternoon’s journey takes us south, past Gladstone to Bundaberg. (Breakfast and dinner at the motel / Lunch own arrangements and cost)
Day 5: BUNDABERG TO BRISBANE (B)
We depart Bundaberg after breakfast this morning meandering our way home. At Maryborough we have time at leisure to purchase lunch and to explore the township. Visit the Mary Poppins statue outside the heritage listed bank building where the author P.L. Travers was born in 1899, explore the streets on which she grew up and enjoy the striking public art that explores the themes of her novels. Upon our arrival we take a drive down Wharf Street, which hosts the greatest concentration of old buildings. Next, we visit the Brennan & Geraghty’s Store Museum. Bought by the National Trust in 1975, the store was originally opened in 1871 by Irish Immigrants. When in 1972, Geraghty’s youngest son George (aged 88) decided to close the family’s grocery store, he closed it complete with stock, packaging and an assortment of other items dating from the 1870s through to the 1970s. The family retained outdated stock of Curry Powder from the 1890s, toilet paper from the 1950s and even customer grocery orders that were written out on the back of used envelopes! From Maryborough, we join the Bruce Highway and express home, arriving late afternoon after an absolutely fabulous getaway! (Breakfast at the motel / lunch own arrangements and cost)
All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc.
Day 1: (LD)
Jondaryan Woolshed. Built in 1859, Jondaryan Woolshed is the oldest operating woolshed in Australia and the first “purpose built” shearing shed in the country. The complex covers 12 acres and features historic buildings and vintage machinery.
We have arranged a short tour and an early, traditional camp oven lunch,
before continuing to Dalby.
The surrounding Western Downs Shire is at the centre of rich coal and natural gas reserves which underpin the power generation industry for SE Qld. The region is also renowned for its rich agricultural land. Late afternoon we arrive at Roma in the centre of the Maranoa Shire. (Light lunch / Dinner at the motel)
Day 2: ROMA TO EMERALD (BLD)
Roma is a thriving community of nearly 7,000 people lies at the heart of a rich sheep and cattle grazing area and boasts the largest store cattle market in Australia. There’s enough oil in the area around Roma to support a small refinery, which produces just enough petroleum for local use. Gas deposits in the region are rather larger and Roma supplies the city of Brisbane with gas through a 450km pipeline. We stop to visit the Big Rig, a $5 million tribute to Australia's’ multibillion oil and gas industry for a self-guided tour and morning tea. Back on the road we head north along the Carnarvon Development Road through to Springsure and onto Emerald - the commercial hub of Central Queensland. The historic railway station was built in 1900 and is now classified by the National Trust. Outside the Town Hall there is a fossilised tree that is 250 million years old (Breakfast and dinner in the motel / Picnic lunch supplied)
Day 03: THE GEMFIELDS (BLD)
We have a fascinating day in store starting with the sights of Emerald before heading out to the Capricorn Hinterland & the largest Sapphire Gem fields in the Southern Hemisphere. First up we visit the Emerald Pioneer Cottage. Built in 1880 it houses photos, memorabilia and models of the old town centre, and is arguably the finest building in the area. We see the Fossilised Wood, estimated to be 250 million years old. We stop to visit the Anakie Sapphire Fields, the largest of their type in the world, supplying the major portion of the world production. After our tour of the gemfields, we enjoy morning tea at the historic Anakie Gemsfield Hotel. We’ll learn of the colourful history of the hotel and its association with the gemsfield. We have some time to explore before heading to Sapphire for lunch and some fossicking at Pat’s Gems Tourist Fossicking Park. Hopefully with a few Sapphires of our own in tow, we now head off to Rubyvale for a visit to Miners Heritage, Australia’s largest underground sapphire mine. We enjoy a guided walk -in mine tour, discover the process of underground sapphire mining & wonder at the amazing array of colours. At Rubyvale Gem Gallery we view the showroom displays then relax with the resident rainbow lorikeets in the award winning garden. Our dinner tonight will be at the New Royal Hotel Rubyvale before returning to our accommodation in Emerald. (Breakfast in the hotel / lunch / dinner)
Day 04 (BD): EMERALD TO BUNDABERG (BD)
After breakfast we depart Emerald and travel east today, through Blackwater to Rockhampton which is where we stop for our lunch break. This afternoon’s journey takes us south, past Gladstone to Bundaberg. (Breakfast and dinner at the motel / Lunch own arrangements and cost)
Day 5: BUNDABERG TO BRISBANE (B)
We depart Bundaberg after breakfast this morning meandering our way home. At Maryborough we have time at leisure to purchase lunch and to explore the township. Visit the Mary Poppins statue outside the heritage listed bank building where the author P.L. Travers was born in 1899, explore the streets on which she grew up and enjoy the striking public art that explores the themes of her novels. Upon our arrival we take a drive down Wharf Street, which hosts the greatest concentration of old buildings. Next, we visit the Brennan & Geraghty’s Store Museum. Bought by the National Trust in 1975, the store was originally opened in 1871 by Irish Immigrants. When in 1972, Geraghty’s youngest son George (aged 88) decided to close the family’s grocery store, he closed it complete with stock, packaging and an assortment of other items dating from the 1870s through to the 1970s. The family retained outdated stock of Curry Powder from the 1890s, toilet paper from the 1950s and even customer grocery orders that were written out on the back of used envelopes! From Maryborough, we join the Bruce Highway and express home, arriving late afternoon after an absolutely fabulous getaway! (Breakfast at the motel / lunch own arrangements and cost)
All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc.