Day 1

Day 2

Depart Charleville and travel to Cunnamulla for smoko by the weir and then its south to the border of NSW for lunch at Barringun. Travel through Enngonia before arriving into Bourke and visiting Stage 1 of the Back O' Bourke Exhibition Centre and the Bourke Visitor Information Centre.
For the next two nights we will be guests of John and Sipha at the historic Riverside Motel. After check-in, join us for chardonnay and nibbles on the banks of the Darling before dinner in the motel restaurant.

Day 3

Photo: Len Cram, Lightning Ridge

Continental breakfast in the restaurant. This morning Stuart, the local historian and tour guide, will show and tell you all there is to know about Bourke. Enjoy lunch a the Bridge Inn before cruising along the Darling River on the "PV Jandra" paddleboat. Bourke was at one time one of the largest inland river ports in the world!

Dinner this evening will be a Chinese banquet at the Bourke Bowling Club.

Day

Following breakfast we will depart for Lightning Ridge via Mt Oxley and Brewarrina. Rising from the perfectly flat landscape, Mt Oxley offers spectacular views over hundreds of kilometers of outback plains. Whilst at Mt Oxley sample delicious hot camp oven scones and freshly brewed billy tea while chatting with station owners Bill and Denise Stalley. Then it's onto Brewarrina for a look around and lunch at the last remaining original Greek cafe in Australia. Brewarrina is of major historical significance to the aborigines as the site of the present town was one the great inter-tribal meeting places for Eastern Australia. The Barwon River adjacent to the town contains remains of the uniqe man-made stone fish traps (believed to be over 40,000 years old) that were an integral part of the aboriginal food chain. Step back in time as we travel through mining communities of Sheepyard, Glengarry and Grawin before arriving at Lightning Ridge - famous for its spectacular black opal. Enjoy a two-night stay at the Wallangalla Motel with dinner this evening at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club.

Day 5

After breakfast, depart on a town tour followed by a visit to an underground opal mine where you will have the opportunity to view opal cutting and polishing. Then we'll visit the cactus nursery to see a large variety of rare specimens, some over 100 years old. Lunch at the Lightning Ridge Hotel before some free time this afternoon to explore "The Ridge". There are a number of opal shops to browse through including Lost Sea Opals, Mandy's Fine Jewelery and Opals, John Murray's Art Gallery and perhaps take a look at Cooper's Cottage, an historical miners cottage built in 1916.

Day

Photo: Len Cram, Lightning Ridge

This morning depart Lightning Ridge, travelling back to Queensland at Hebal where we'll enjoy morning tea at the
Yum Yum Cafe. Continue into Dirranbanbi and then onto
St. George for 2 nights.

Day 7

Depart Dirranbandi and travel on the back roads to Rosehill Aviaries for a delicious smoko with John and Elaine before a tour of the most complete collection of Australian parrots in the world. Continue onto St. George for lunch and this afternoon will be spent in and around St. George ending our day at the Riversands Winery for a tasting and nibbles. Overnight and dinner at Riverlands Motel.

Day 8

Photo: Len Cram, Lightning Ridge

Departing St. George we will head to Mitchell for a lunch and tour with Lyle and Madonna at Bonus Downs before arriving in Charleville at the railway station for you to board The Westlander and onto your next adventure.