3-day Outback 2 Reef Adventure

Day 1: Gold Coast or Maroochydore → Charleville → Birdsville

Checking into the Gold Coast Seair hangar at 6:15am, your departure sees the sun rising as you head for Maroochydore. Guests departing from Maroochydore arrive at the Airport at 7:00am for a 7:15am departure. From here you’ll fly west over stunning farmlands, rivers and channel country for Charleville. This central Queensland town is home to the Royal Flying Doctor Service base and museum, you’ll have a chance to visit it after landing at around 10:00am.

After refuelling, continue into the Outback, crossing over the famous Cooper Creek and its remarkable channel country arriving into the historic town of Birdsville around 1:00pm where lunch will be waiting at the iconic Hotel.

Regrouping at 4:30pm, climb into an air-conditioned vehicle and head west into the Simpson Desert to enjoy drinks on Big Red, the first major dune as you enter the desert.

After sunset, return to the Birdsville Hotel for dinner and drinks at their heritage listed front bar. Afterwards settle into your first nights’ accommodation.

Day 2: Birdsville → Longreach

Day two starts with breakfast at the Birdsville Hotel, before departing for Longreach. Fly north following the Diamantina River arriving into Longreach at 10:00am. Enjoy a quick tea and coffee break before heading to the Qantas Founders Museum where you will learn the story of Australia’s national airline from its early days in Outback Queensland. At 11:00am join a private guided tour of the airpark, home to a Boeing 707, Boeing 747, Super Constellation and DC-3 followed by lunch at the museum.

Settle into your charming accommodation at Saltbush Retreat before joining the Outback Pioneer Bush by Night Experience at 5:00pm. Aboard their double decker bus, head into the bush and enjoy poetry, tales of local legends and of course the magnificent dome of stars that you can only see far from city lights.

After a 2-course dinner by the campfire, you will return to Salt Bush Retreat around 9:00pm where you will settle into your accommodation for the evening and let the gentle sounds of the outback rock you to sleep.

Day 3: Longreach → Lady Elliot Island → Gold Coast or Maroochydore

After an in-room continental breakfast, depart Longreach and fly south-east over the Central Highlands and Coalfields. Looking down at rich farming lands contrasted against open cut coal mines towards Gladstone for a quick fuel stop. Your journey continues south for a spectacular scenic flight over the amazing Southern Great Barrier Reef taking in the spectacular Heron Island and Lady Musgrave Island.

Swap your boots for reef shoes as you land on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, arriving at Lady Elliot Island at 11:40am. Enjoy lunch with Lagoon views before getting ready to join an afternoon private glass bottom boat/guided snorkelling tour. Spend the afternoon exploring the Island’s surrounds or take a reef walk at low tide (tide dependent) before departing. The trip home concludes with a beautiful flight returning to Maroochydore or the Gold Coast.