Tour One – Dalby to Spring Creek

Day 1 – Overnight in the Dalby Caravan Park

Meet up with the rest of the group over dinner at the Criterion Hotel.

Day 2 – Dalby to Dulacca.    Stop for lunch at Chinchilla

Nearby Warra visit a coloured cotton farm and insectary where predatory and beneficial insects are bred for use in agriculture.   Back on the Warrego and you pass the little towns of Brigalow and Boonarga before entering Chinchilla.

Day 3 – Dulacca to St George.   Stop for lunch at Surrat.

Steeped in history with links to Cobb & Co and the ‘boom time’ of the wool-growing industry, Surat is a ‘must-see’ for any history buff. 

Check?? Did someone say Queensland’s oldest pub?   Established in 1864, the Nindigully Pub 42km northwest of St George, has held the longest continuing licence in the state. This old-style one- storey hotel has plenty of salacious stories (there’s even talk of a ghost or two from those who’ve stayed the night and lived to tell the tale). Come here to try a local Gully Gold or Moonie Mud straight off the beer tap.

Day 4 – St George to Hebal.  Stop for lunch at the Thallon Sylos

The Thallon Sylos  were the first of their kind in Queensland and are officially the 10th painted silos to be included in the Australian Silo Art Trail Collection. Titled ‘The Watering Hole’ the mural portrays the Thallon district and its surrounding area to perfection.

Step back in time in the remote border town of Hebel, where the past lingers and stories of olden days echo through the street.   First known as Kelly’s Point, local rumour has it that members of the infamous Kelly Gang, Dan Kelly and Steve Hart, are said to have lived here in secret.

Day 5  & 6 – Hebal to Lightning Ridge.   
Two nights in the Big 4 Opal Caravan Park

The road to Lightning Ridge loops around the Grawin where we can view the war memorials.    There are plaques to diggers past and present, to Aboriginal servicemen, to Vietnam Vets, to those who served from 1914.    Next to the war memorial we will visit another famous Grawin landmark – Nashys Thong Tree. 

Located about 70 km from both Lightning Ridge and Walgett in the northern NSW opal fields, Sheepyard Inn is a hotel, store, café, campground, and more all rolled into one.   It started life in 1985 and developed into a quirky outback pub before burning down.   It was then rebuilt in 2010 and continues to be a unique place to visit.

Explore the many experiences Lightning Ridge has to offer:
Big Opal Underground Mine Tour.   An Underground Tourist Treasure Mine perfect adventure for family and kids, young or old!

Pubs in the Scrub Tour.   Visit all 3 bush pubs – Sheepyard Inn, Glengarry Hilton, and the Club in the Scrub with its unique golf course.

Visit the Lighting Ridge Artesian Pools.    Only 100 metres from the caravan park.

Car Door Tours.   
The four tours are demarcated by colour coded and numbered car doors:

Blue Car Door Tour –Highlights of the Blue Car Door Tour include the Walk-in-Mine which offers self-guided tours down an opal mine and Bevan’s Black Opal & Cactus Nursery with over 2300 species of cacti.

Red Car Door Tour –The Red Car Door Tour will take you through a number of opal fields including Hatter’s Flat, Pony Fence and the Telephone Line fields.   The tour also includes Amigo’s Castle and Kangaroo Hill.

Green Car Door Tour –This tour will take you through various opal fields, including the multi-billion dollar Coocoran Opal Fields (mined 1988 to 1996).

Yellow Car Door Tour –This tour allows the visitor to see first-hand various pieces of opal mining equipment as you drive through the various opal fields which include the 3 Mile Opal Field and Lunatic Hill.    There are many rusting relics to be seen on this tour. Without doubt, the highlight of this tour is the ‘Chamber of the Black Hand.’ This is both an opal mine and a sculpture gallery.

Day 7 –Lightning Ridge to Goondiwindi.  Stop for lunch at Moree.

The Amaroo Tavern is settled in lush green fields just off the A39 Newell Highway, on the Southern approach to Moree. The tavern can be spotted immediately as the entry is home to an incredible war plane dating back to the 1940’s

Goondiwindi has plenty to offer, too.  Starting at Bowen Lane in the town’s CBD, you can see the brushstrokes of local and interstate artists, like Kate Owen, along the streetscape.   You can also follow the street art, sculpture, and silo trail through Goondiwindi.

Day 8 –Goondiwindi to Spring Creek.  Stop for lunch at Leyburn.    

Visit Millmerran’s Historical Murals.   A series of 6 larger than life murals located around the township of Millmerran depicting various stages of the district’s history.   Home of the Australian Camp Oven Festival, Millmerrin is a great place to visit and stay.     

Take in the sights at Noby and Cliffton.   Noby is know for its association with Steele Rudd (author) and Sister Elizabeth Kenny (effective treatment of polio using physiotherapy)

Dating back to 1875, the classic little town of Clifton halfway between Toowoomba and Warwick has been used in a number of Australian movies including The Thornbirds.   To truly experience the town, the Clifton Heritage Walking Trail is a must.    Dinner tonight at Alora.

Overnight in Spring Creek where the Tour ends.