Songs Beneath the Southern Sky

Wednesday 12th May to Tuesday 19th May 2027S

Experience the magic, music and unmistakable spirit of the Australian outback on this unforgettable 8-day journey to Longreach. Travelling through country towns, wide-open landscapes and welcoming communities, we’ll uncover some of Queensland’s most treasured outback stories, from the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and QANTAS Founders Outback Museum to cattle stations, local characters and classic country hospitality.

A true highlight will be the spectacular Festival of the Outback Opera, where soaring voices, live orchestral music and a breathtaking outback sunset combine for a performance unlike any other. Add a Thompson River sunset cruise, Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show, Tambo Teddies, Riversands Winery and plenty of memorable touring along the way, and this is one journey filled with music, stories, laughter and the very best of the bush.

Day 1 (MTLD) PORT MACQUARIE TO MOREE

Wednesday 12 May 2027

Welcome to our Outback tour featuring the Festival of the Outback Opera. Sit back and meet your fellow travellers as we leave the coast and head into the New England Ranges. Our travels take us through Walcha and onto Uralla where we’ll stop to purchase lunch. This afternoon we continue via Inverell and on to our destination of Moree.

Dinner in motel | Lunch at Alternate Root, Uralla

Artesian Spa Motel | 1 night

Day 2 (BMTD) MOREE TO MITCHELL

Thursday 13 May 2027

Today is a travel day as we make our way across the border into Queensland and start heading into the outback. We travel through Mungindi on the Carnarvon Highway before continuing our journey to St. George to purchase lunch and visit The Unique Egg. This is a genuinely impressive and interesting collection of hand-carved emu eggs, illuminated from within. Created by Steve Margaritis over a period of more than 40 years, they have been displayed at World Expos but are on permanent display in a sports store in St. George! This afternoon we express to Mitchell and check in to our accommodation.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch own arrangements and cost

Cambridge Motel, Mitchell | 1 night

Day 3 (BLD) MITCHELL TO LONGREACH

Friday 14 May 2027

This morning we leave the Warrego Highway and meet up with the Landsborough Highway to continue our journey north. Stopping for breaks and our picnic lunch, we make our way through Longreach where this is our base for the next three nights. Tonight we are in for a treat on our sunset cruise down the majestic Thompson River. As the sunset fades into starlight, we dock at Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show for a night of great food and live entertainment under the stars.

Breakfast at motel | picnic lunch included | Smithy’s outback dinner and show

Longreach Motor Inn | 3 nights

Day 4 (BD) OUTBACK LEGENDS AND SINGING IN THE

NIGHT OPERA Saturday 16 May 2027

We have the morning at leisure before visiting the iconic Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame to experience the Outback Stockman’s Show. The show encompasses the modern-day aspects of being a stockman, as well as telling the tales of the past. From here we uncover some national treasures at the QANTAS Founders Outback Museum. The historic photographs, memorabilia and multimedia displays bring the inspirational stories of one of the worlds pioneering airlines to life.

This afternoon it’s all about Singing in the night*. This majestic concert takes place on an 18,000-acre working cattle station with 360-degree views of uninterrupted horizon, which has played host to everyone from the country’s first stockmen to Queen Elizabeth II. On this very special evening some of Opera Queensland’s finest singers perform under the stars, accompanied by an orchestra joined by musicians from the University of Queensland. As the sun sets over the desert horizon, the performers are illuminated by the spellbinding colours of the outback complemented by Bernie Tan-Hayes' spectacular lighting. A night to remember.

*Port Bus to purchase singing in the night tickets

Breakfast in motel | lunch own arrangements and cost | early dinner at Wellshot Hotel

Day 5 (BLD) MEETING THE LOCALS – LONGREACH

Sunday 15 May 2027

This morning offers a wonderful opportunity to experience Longreach through the eyes of the people who call the outback home. We begin with a visit to Rosebank Station, where we meet the owners of this working local property and gain a fascinating insight into life on the land. Hear firsthand about the day-to-day operation of grazing property, the importance of livestock and pasture management, and the resilience required to deal with the challenges of drought, changing seasons and the vast distances that are simply part of outback life. It is a chance to hear genuine stories from local graziers and better understand the determination and resourcefulness that have shaped generations of pioneering families in the region. Returning to Longreach, we visit Kinnon & Co, a family business that celebrates the characters, stories and traditions of the Queensland outback. Their atmospheric Station Store is filled with traditionally crafted leather goods, gifts and memorabilia, with every corner seeming to hold another reminder of the region’s pioneering past. We enjoy lunch here before having time to browse the store and soak up its wonderful old-world country character. This afternoon we discover a very different side of outback life with a visit to the Longreach School of Distance Education. Often described as one of the largest classrooms in the world, the school provides education to students living on remote properties across an enormous area of Queensland. Learn how the famous correspondence lessons of earlier years have evolved into modern online classrooms, allowing teachers and students separated by hundreds of kilometres to connect using technology. It is a fascinating insight into how families in some of Australia’s most isolated communities ensure their children receive a quality education, and a wonderful way to round out a day devoted to the people, stories and spirit of the outback.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at Kinnon and Co

Day 6(BMTLD) LONGREACH TO MITCHELL | Monday 17 May 2027

What a memorable evening we enjoyed last night, with incredible talent, a spectacular outback setting and a performance that will stay with us long after the final note. Following breakfast, we begin our journey south to Tambo, where we visit the much-loved Tambo Teddies and discover the heartwarming story behind these iconic Australian bears, created by three local women to support their community during difficult times of drought and falling wool prices. During our visit we learn more about how the teddies are made, hear the story of how the business grew from a small local idea into a treasured outback success story, and enjoy time browsing their delightful range. After lunch, we reboard the coach and settle in for a relaxing afternoon journey through the Queensland countryside to Mitchell, where we spend the night.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at Tambo Teddies

Cambridge Motel, Mitchell | 1 night

Day 7 (BLD) MITCHELL TO MOREE

Tuesday 18 May 2027

Today we farewell Mitchell and continue south towards Moree, enjoying another day of changing landscapes and country scenery along the way. A highlight of the journey is our visit to Riversands Winery, where we are welcomed into the vineyard to learn more about both table and wine grape growing, from tending the vines and seasonal challenges through to harvest and the winemaking process. After gaining a greater appreciation for what goes into every bunch and bottle, we settle in for a delicious lunch and wine tasting, sampling some of the winery’s local favourites in a relaxed country setting. We then continue to Moree for our final night on tour, with time to reflect on the wonderful experiences, friendships and memories made throughout our outback adventure.

Burke & Wills Motor Inn Moree | 1 night

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at Riversands Winery

Day 8 (BMTL) MOREE TO HOME

Wednesday 19 May 2027

Day 8 marks the final chapter of our wonderful outback adventure as we farewell Moree and begin the journey home. After a fantastic week of new experiences, spectacular performances, country hospitality and plenty of laughs along the way, there is time to sit back, relax and reminisce about the many highlights we have shared together. Travelling through the New England, we make our way to Walcha where we stop for a relaxing lunch at the Apsley Arms Hotel before continuing towards the coast. We arrive home later this afternoon with hearts full, cameras loaded with memories and plenty of stories to share from our unforgettable journey through the Queensland Outback and Festival of the Outback Opera.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at Aspley Arms Hotel

TOUR INCLUSIONS

• 7 night’s motel accommodation

• 7 motel breakfasts

• 5 motel dinners and 1 out - see below and 1 own arrangements and cost

• 5 included lunches – see below

• Entry to Unique Egg

• Picnic Lunch included from Cambridge Motel

• Rosebank Station tour including morning tea

• Drover’s Sunset Cruise including Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show with Outback Aussie Tours

• The Stockmans Experience - entry to all galleries, A Stockman's Life - live show and Story of the Australian Stockman cinema show at Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame

• Self-guided tour through The Station Store and Billy Can lunch at Kinnon & Co

• Group museum entry and 747 / super constellation tour at the Qantas Founders Outback Museum

• Lunch & Tour of Workshop at Tambo Teddies

• Guided Vineyard tour (on coach) and tastings including lunch at Riversands Winery St George

• Lunch at the Apsley Arms Hotel, Walcha

CONFIRMED ACCOMODATION

• Artesian Spa Motel, Moree (1 night)

• Cambridge Motel, Mitchell (2 nights)

• Longreach Motor Inn (3 nights)

• Burke & Wills Motor Inn Moree (1 night)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Phone: 02 6583 3330

Email: admin@portbus.com.au

Website: https://www.portbus.com.au

$4,530 pp twin | + $1,285 pp single sup | $1,200 deposit pp

PLEASE NOTE

• Price is based on a minimum of 20 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 20 paying passengers, this tour may need to be recosted.

• Price is valid for above tour dates only and includes GST.

• Morning teas or afternoon teas are not included unless specified.

• The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, Port Bus reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions that may arise. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Port Bus will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.

CANCELLATIONS

Cancellation fees will be levied relative to the amount of notice given:

52 days or more—loss of deposit

39-51 days: 50% of fare plus deposit

40 days before and the Day of departure: 100% of the fare.

Contact the host of Opera Under the Outback Stars & Longreach