There’s just something special about a sunburnt country. The best way to experience the real bush life is by a road trip! Stephen and I are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, to Angel Flight Outback Trailblazer 2015. What is it, you ask?
Outback Trailblazer
It’s a one-of-a kind 4WD adventure showcasing Queensland’s inland, for seven days during April 18-25. The red soil country will come alive with a convoy of colorful 4WD vehicles from each team. Teams will engage in a wealth of unique bush experiences and fun challenges as they travel the back country. Even better, it raises fund for Outback Angels whilst having fun.
Visit Outback Queensland’s website for more information about the region: Outback Queensland.
About Angel Flight
Angel Flight is a vital service for people of outback region. They flies country people who are suffering the triple trouble of bad health, poor finances, and huge distance, free of charge. The entire operation runs by donation, and eighty-five percent of revenue is spent on the actual co-ordination and delivery of its service. Can you imagine not being able to get to the hospital in an emergency? The owner of Woolabra Station near Charleville, Kevin, said “When we break a leg, we pray to God.” Angel Flight is there to provide service to the people of Australia’s backcountry. The funds raised through this event will help a lot of people who are doing it very tough and enable Angel Flight to keep operating. You can donate money for this good cause here.
Runaway Juno Media in the Outback!
I will be tweeting, Facebooking, Instagramming, and blogging throughout this event. Please follow #OQTrailblazers for the event update, and #OutbackQueensland & #thisisQueensland!
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The Itinerary
I’ve only visited a fraction of this vast land. The Trailblazer team organized such an exciting itinerary! I “Packed my swag” for “the adventure of a lifetime” from Quilpie to Longreach.
Saturday 18th April – Tee-off in Quilpie
Rendezvous in boulder opal country for RACQ scrutineering and registration. Meet fellow ‘Trailblazers’ during a spot of barefoot bowls and night golf.
Day 1: Sunday 19th April – Official start and an Outback Fair
The flag drops at Baldy Top Lookout and it’s off to Eromanga, Australia’s furthest town from the sea. Enjoy the Eromanga Outback Fair and BBQ lunch. Then venture further west to the Cooper for a special Creekside Civic Welcome to Barcoo country and our ‘getting to know you dinner’. Overnight Windorah.
Day 2: Monday 20th April – Beetoota to Birdsville and meet the high-flyers
Spectacular Deon’s Lookout, the last building standing in Australia’s smallest town, a giant Dreamtime Serpent and lunch at the famed Birdsville Bakery. Sipping at sunset on the Big Red sand dune at the edge of the Simpson Desert is a powerful prelude to the official 2015 Angel Flight dinner hosted by our Patron Tania Kernaghan. Overnight Birdsville.
Day 3: Tuesday 21st April – ABBA-solutely fabulous fun in two states
Brekky with the only four pupils at the Birdsville school, before vying for a ‘huge’ prize in our observation rally. You’re briefly bound for South Australia, in Pandie Pandie country and on the Birdsville Track. Then it’s a parade behind ‘Pricilla’ the bus, some ‘drag’ racing antics and a night of wild ABBAndon at the iconic Birdsville Pub. Overnight Birdsville.
Day 4: Wednesday 22nd April – Caves, customs, Kidman and a claypan
After a Dingo Caves breakfast, you’ll be asked to uphold a couple of very unusual Outback traditions. Kitchen appliances and footwear essential!! (That’ll keep you guessing). See what extreme drought did to Sir Sidney Kidman’s homestead, then chill out at the ‘desert oasis’. The world’s largest claypan, sunset fishing on a crystal lake and a bonza bush dinner. Overnight Bedourie.
Day 5: Thursday 23rd April – Par for the course. Lights, camel, action!
Better be early for bush golf on the Par 1 hole. $1000 cash for the first hole-in-one and forget birdies and eagles. There’s $100 for the first to get a goanna. This arvo, see the multi-award winning Min Min Encounter show before you head off in search of this mysterious light phenomenon. Later, enjoy dinner and a unique camel race in Australia’s camel racing capital. Overnight Boulia.
Day 6: Friday 24th April – All stations, Diamantina to dinosaur country
Enter a vast national park where the many braided channels of the Diamantina River converge at Diamantina Gates and the ranger occupies the old station homestead. Next stop Old Cork Station, then onto Carisbrooke Station, site of the 1942 emergency landing of a US warplane carrying Congressman (later President) Lyndon B Johnson. End of the line today is the dinosaur capital, Winton. Tonight, a very special Kernaghan Campfire Singalong dinner at Bladensburg National Park. Overnight Winton.
Day 7: Saturday 25th April – ANZAC DAY 100yrs since Gallipoli Landing
A day…and night…you’ll never forget. Mark 100 years to the day since the Gallipoli landing at a truly moving dawn service, followed by breakfast at the RSL and Winton’s biggest ever Anzac Day March. Later, explore the town, meet the locals, and prepare for an exceptional farewell finale. You’ll be dancing where Matilda learned to waltz! Begin at the Waltzing Matilda Centre, the world’s only museum dedicated to a song and move to the North Gregory Hotel’s pianola, where Banjo Paterson’s classic was first sung in public. Finally, you’ll wind up at Winton’s Shire Hall for a huge Outback R&R party. Swing along as our big band belts out all the Glenn Miller classics, and tributes to The Andrew Sisters and Dame Vera Lynn. A swinging sensation to say farewell to Trailblazer 2015. Overnight Winton.
If you want to know more about the Outback, please see my previous posts:
