2023 Australia The Queensland Coast by rail, road, air and sea

Our tour begins in Brisbane, where we’ll all meet at a central location (we suggest you are in Brisbane by Noon), before boarding our coach for the journey north. On our way to Gympie we’ll make a stop at the quaint Woodford Railway, run by the Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society, for a look around and a special chartered ride on their train.

Made famous in 1867 when James Nash discovered 72 ounces of gold in just six days, Gympie became known as “the town that saved Queensland from bankruptcy.” On arrival in this historic city we’ll check in to our hotel and freshen up before enjoying a welcome dinner together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Shady Rest Motel, Gympie (or similar)  (L, D)

This morning we’ll enjoy an iconic heritage rail experience on the Mary Valley Rattler. Dating back to the early 1900s, this rail link was built to service the growing need for goods in the goldfields around Gympie. Starting at the historic Gympie Station, still the largest timber railway building in Queensland, our journey will take us through the upper reaches of the Mary Valley and back to a time when rail travel was replacing horses as a means of transport.

On our return to the station we’ll transfer by coach to the Gympie Woodworks Museum where we can explore the interesting workshop and mills and enjoy a lunch put on by the museum team. Later in the afternoon we’ll continue north by coach to the charming town of Maryborough, made famous as the birthplace of P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins. We’ll enjoy dinner in our hotel’s restaurant tonight.

Overnight: Blue Shades Motel, Maryborough (or similar) (B, L, D) 

This morning we’ll head to the workshops of the Maryborough City Whistle Stop, where the team of volunteers will light up the replica of the Mary Ann, Queensland’s first locomotive of 1873. We’ll even get to ride on a special run of this historic relic for a short distance down the track.

Following this we’ll take some free time to explore Maryborough and have lunch at leisure, before visiting Olds Engineering, a most illuminating engineering enterprise run by Peter and Robert Olds that, amongst other things, constructed wheels for the Queen’s royal coach. Enjoy a guided tour of the workshop before farewelling Maryborough and heading to the coast. We’ll arrive in Hervey Bay with plenty of time to check in, relax, and explore before enjoying dinner together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Mantra Hotel, Hervey Bay (or similar) (B, D)

The early morning light beckons for today’s adventure onto the waters of the bay with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Due to its protected waterways, Hervey Bay is often home to hundreds of humpback whales who visit these waters on their journey north from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef, and who use it as a calf kindergarten to teach their young. We’ll board our cruise early this morning and hear the story of the extraordinary migration from a local guide. During this time of the year we are guaranteed to see these magnificent creatures!

We’ll arrive back in time to check out of our hotel and enjoy a few hours to explore and have lunch at leisure before boarding our coach for the journey to Bundaberg. In ‘Bundy’ we’ll check in to our hotel with the rest of the afternoon at leisure before re-grouping in the early evening for dinner together.

Overnight: Villa Mirasol, Bundaberg (or similar) (B, D)

Enjoy a free morning to have breakfast and explore Bundaberg on your own. At noon we’ll meet for lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery, which was established in 1888 when seven Bundaberg locals decided to take the by-product from the growing sugar industry and open a rum distillery. Visit the museum, join an in-depth guided tour of the distillery, and top it off with a tasting of any of the top shelf rums on offer.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to explore at leisure.

Overnight: Villa Mirasol, Bundaberg (or similar) (B, L)

After breakfast this morning we’ll check out of our hotel and embark on an exploration of Bundaberg, starting at the beautiful Botanic Gardens. There follows a feast of experiences to enjoy, including the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Fairymead House, and the quaint and historic Sugar Cane Railway, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

In the mid-afternoon we’ll continue our journey north to Rockhampton. As the Tilt Train is currently under maintenance, their timetable is not yet released. Permitting confirmation of the timetable, we hope to travel on the next leg of the old ‘Sunlander’ route with Queensland Rail on the Tilt Train. If this is unavailable, we will travel via coach to Rockhampton. ‘Rocky’ is one of Queensland’s oldest and largest cities and we’ll arrive in the early evening, just in time to check in, freshen up and enjoy dinner in our hotel’s restaurant.

Overnight: Empire Apartment Hotel, Rockhampton (or similar) (B, L, D)

We’ll go back in time this morning when we head out of town by coach to visit the heritage settlement of Mount Morgan, nestled high in the ranges southwest of Rockhampton. Once a thriving gold mining centre, Mount Morgan is now a well-preserved heritage town full of remarkable timber buildings and a rich history. It is also home to the Mount Morgan Railway Museum, which will reveal how travel and life was in the town’s ‘Golden’ days. We’ll also pay a visit to the Historic Museum and enjoy lunch at the Grand Hotel.

On our return to Rockhampton, we’ll visit the Archer Park Rail and Steam Tram Museum, home to a rare restored Purrey Steam Tram. Rockhampton was the only Australian city to use Purrey Steam Trams, which were built in Bordeaux and operated between 1909 and 1939. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to explore at leisure.

Overnight: Empire Apartment Hotel, Rockhampton (or similar) (B, L)

After breakfast this morning we’ll check out of our hotel and head via coach to the airport for our mid-morning flight to Mackay. On arrival, we’ll transfer a short way to the region of the Whitsundays, our stunning home for the next two nights. Enjoy some free time for lunch and a wander in Airlie Beach before checking into our hotel to relax. Dinner this evening will be at our hotel’s restaurant.

Overnight: Airlie Beach Hotel, Airlie Beach (or similar) (B, D)

Early this morning we’ll head out from Airlie Port for a boat cruise through the Whitsunday Islands. We’ll cruise past Hamilton and Daydream Islands before touching our toes in the pristine waters of Whitehaven beach, where we’ll have time to relax and swim. Morning tea will be included in our tour as we soak up this stunning paradise.

We’ll arrive back in Airlie Beach in the early afternoon with the rest of the day free to explore the vibrant foreshore.   

Overnight: Airlie Beach Hotel, Airlie Beach (or similar) (B)

An early start this morning has us transferring b y coach to the nearby town of Proserpine, the departure point for our next leg by rail on the Spirit of Queensland. Enjoy breakfast on the train as we continue north to Townsville. We’ll arrive in the mid-morning and transfer by coach to the Museum of Tropical Queensland, which showcases the diversity of the North Queensland region and its rich natural and cultural history, including the story of the shipwrecked HMS Pandora.

Enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant before checking in to our centrally located hotel, home for the next three nights. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore the excellent facilities before meeting for dinner in the hotel later in the evening.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Townsville (or similar) (B, L, D)

After breakfast this morning we’ll meet our coach for a visit to the Army Museum North Queensland, located in the beautiful Jezzine Barracks. The museum showcases objects and stories relating to the history of the Australian Army in North Queensland and we’ll have ample time to explore.

The rest of the day is yours to catch your breath and relax at our hotel or further explore Townsville and its surroundings.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Townsville (or similar) (B)

After breakfast this morning we’ll board a ferry to the wonderful Magnetic Island, where our coach will take us on a guided tour showcasing the unique history and landscape of the area. Observe some of the wonderful wildlife, including Rock Wallabies, and enjoy the scenery of this iconic island before spending some time in beautiful Horseshoe Bay followed by lunch and an afternoon at leisure before our return ferry. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to explore Townsville.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Townsville (or similar) (B)

Get ready for another big day of train travel on the Spirit of Queensland, which slices north through some of Australia’s most captivating tropical scenery. This is the wet country, lush and verdant and framed by Queensland’s highest mountains and widest rivers. Enjoy the contemporary comforts of our train as we continue to Cairns, arriving in the late afternoon and transferring to our hotel in time for dinner together at the hotel’s restaurant.

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (or similar) (B, D)

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll depart for a tour of the region of the rich Atherton Tablelands. We’ll start by travelling south across the Sugar Cane fields, then up the steep Gillies Highway to the lush forests and farming country of the tablelands. Our first stop is the excellent Mining Museum, before meeting the team at the Herberton Historic Railway Museum. Here, we’ll learn about the restoration work and history of the railways of the tablelands before sampling it ourselves with a run along the old line to the astounding Historic Village. Take some time to explore the vast collection and witness a variety of large machines in action. We’ll return to Cairns via Mareeba and the mountain road later in the afternoon, arriving with plenty of time to freshen up and rest before enjoying a delicious farewell dinner and drinks together.

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (B, L, D)

Our tour comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for flights home or onward for other journeys.