A JOURNEY ACROSS THE HEART of AUSTRALIA, EXPLORING THE OUTBACK WAY on a 28-DAY MOTEL ACCOMMODATED 4WD TAG ALONG TOUR

Departs 4 July 2024

Winton, the Gateway to the Outback

Winton, with its iconic red dirt and wide-open spaces, serves as the perfect starting point for our epic expedition. Known as the ‘Dinosaur Capital of Australia,’ this town breathes life into the prehistoric past. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum is a must-visit, offering a glimpse into the ancient inhabitants that once roamed these lands.

As our convoy of vehicles, lines up for departure, we feel the thrill of setting out on the legendary Outback Way, a transcontinental journey that connects Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

The Outback Way: A Road Less Travelled

The Outback Way is no ordinary highway; it’s a 2,700-kilometre adventure through some of the most remote and stunning landscapes in Australia. The first leg takes us through the vastness of the Queensland Outback, where the horizon seems endless and the sky, a canvas of colours during sunrise and sunset.

Days are spent traversing dusty roads, passing through quirky Outback towns, and discovering hidden gems like the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, and a night at Kings Canyon.

Uluru: Sacred Monolith of the Red Centre

Our journey brings us to the heart of Australia – Uluru. The sight of this sacred monolith rising from the red earth is nothing short of awe-inspiring. You will have free time to explore the base and can learn about the cultural significance of this ancient landmark, and witnessing the shifting colours that paint Uluru during sunrise and sunset. The Field of Lights is included during your stay and sure to impress.

Beyond Uluru we travel the Great Central Road (part of The Outback Way) and stay in some very remote indigenous communities like Warakurna (home of the Giles Weather Station), Warburton and Meekatharra via a lunch stop at Wiluna, the beginning of the Canning Stock Route and and Gunbarrel Highway. Gwalia is a former gold-mining town located 233 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie and today, is essentially a ghost town having been largely deserted since the main source of employment, the Sons of Gwalia gold mine, closed in 1963.

The Pilbara: A Tapestry of Rich Colours

Further along on our trip, we leave the Red Centre behind, the landscape transforms into the rich, rusty hues of the Pilbara region. This is a land of contrasts and rich in vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore that we’ll learn more about at Newman, and Port Hedland. Our visit to the Pilbara also includes a night at Karijini National Park, where you’ll have time to walk into a couple of the gorges and explore their beauty.

The Kimberley: one of the world’s last wilderness frontiers

After Port Hedland, we travel up the Great Northern Highway and enjoy two nights staying right on Eighty Mile Beach before we head onto Broome. Along its Indian Ocean coastline, the white sands of 22km-long Cable Beach offer a dramatic backdrop for sunset camel rides. At Gantheaume Point nearby, dinosaur tracks are revealed in the beach’s red rocks during low tide. Broome’s historic Chinatown overlooks Roebuck Bay, a jumping off point for cruises to local pearl farms.

A highlight of this trip is our travels towards Cape Leveque and to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm where we will stay for two nights and experience their Waterfall Reef and Giant Tides Sea Safaris and learn about pearl farming.

Venturing further into the Kimberley, we stay at Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and your journey is a tapestry woven with ancient gorges like The Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park. The Bungle Bungles are orange and black striped domes that rise like beehives against a backdrop of blue skies.

Kununurra: Journey’s End

Our 28-day odyssey concludes in Kununurra, Western Australia, a town initiated to service the Ord River Irrigation Scheme and nestled near stunning Lake Argyle. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Kimberley, Kununurra serves as a fitting end to our epic journey and where you’ll experience a Triple J cruise/tour.

As we bid farewell to newfound friends and reflect on the countless memories created during this motel accommodated tag along tour, one thing becomes clear – the vast and untamed beauty of Australia is best experienced on the road less travelled, with every turn offering a new adventure, and every mile revealing the true essence of the Outback.

This fabulous, guided tour is only offered every two years, so don’t put it off join us in Winton on 4 July 2024 and tick this off your bucket list. View all tour details – click here…