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Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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362<br />

CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF<br />

By Train Queensland Rail Traveltrain (& 13 22 32) runs the train Spirit of<br />

the Outback <strong>from</strong> Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton every Tuesday and Saturday,<br />

returning on Thursday and Monday. It’s A$163 (US$106) for a seat <strong>from</strong><br />

Brisbane or A$211 to A$315 (US$137–US$205) for a sleeper. Alternatively, you<br />

can join the train at Rockhampton at 4:30am on Wednesday or Sunday. The trip<br />

takes about 24 1 ⁄2 hours <strong>from</strong> Brisbane, or 13 1 ⁄2 hours <strong>from</strong> Rockhampton.<br />

By Bus McCafferty’s Coaches (& 13 14 99) and Greyhound Pioneer (& 13<br />

20 30) run between Brisbane and Longreach daily. The trip takes 16 hours and<br />

costs A$112 (US$73).<br />

VISITOR INFORMATION The Longreach Visitor Information Centre is<br />

at Qantas Park, Longreach, QLD 4730 (& 07/4658 3555; fax 07/4658 3733).<br />

Another good source of information is the Outback Queensland <strong>To</strong>urism<br />

Authority (& 1800 247 966 in <strong>Australia</strong>, or 07/3211 4877).<br />

GETTING AROUND Rental-car companies Avis (&13 63 33 in <strong>Australia</strong>, or<br />

07/4658 1799) and Budget (& 07/4658 2322) both have agents in Longreach.<br />

Several tour companies offer tours in and around Longreach and to other<br />

Central West Outback towns. One of the best is Alan and Sue Smith’s Outback<br />

Aussie <strong>To</strong>urs (& 1300 787 890 in <strong>Australia</strong>, or 07/4658 3000; www.<br />

outbackaussietours.com.au), which runs trips taking in Longreach, Ilfracombe,<br />

Winton, and Barcaldine, as well as the Lark Quarry dinosaur site. Longreach<br />

Outback Travel Centre (& 07/4658 1776; www.lotc.com.au) has information<br />

on a variety of tours.<br />

THE TOP ATTRACTIONS<br />

<strong>Australia</strong>n Stockman’s Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre<br />

This should be the first stop on any visit to Longreach. I could spend all day at<br />

the Hall of Fame, but try to allow at least 4 hours. A tribute to the pioneers who<br />

developed the Outback, the center honors explorers, stockmen, poets, and artists.<br />

Part museum, part memorial, part interactive display, this world-class attraction<br />

is educational, entertaining, and quite amazing. Exhibits are updated regularly<br />

and give a fascinating insight into the Aboriginal and European history of <strong>Australia</strong>,<br />

blending modern technology with artifacts and relics of a bygone age.<br />

Ilfracombe Rd., Longreach. (& 07/4658 2166. Fax 07/4658 2495. www.outbackheritage.com.au. A$20<br />

(US$13) adults, A$17 (US$11) seniors, A$10 (US$6.50) children 8–17, A$45 (US$29) family. Daily 9am–5pm<br />

except Christmas.<br />

Longreach School of Distance Education <strong>To</strong>urs of this unique school system—also<br />

known as the School of the Air—will give you insight into the isolation<br />

of Outback families. You can watch a teacher conducting on-air lessons via<br />

two-way radio to students on far-flung stations. Hundreds of children in western<br />

Queensland take advantage of this form of education.<br />

Sir James Walker Dr., Longreach.& 07/4658 4222. A$3 (US$1.95) adults, A$1 (US65¢) seniors and children.<br />

Guided tours at 9am and 10am on school days only.<br />

Qantas Founders Outback Museum Anyone who’s ever flown on <strong>Australia</strong>’s<br />

first airline will be interested in this tribute to pioneer aviators. Longreach is the<br />

original home of Qantas, as the airline’s operational base <strong>from</strong> 1922 to 1934,<br />

when <strong>Australia</strong>’s first six aircraft were built here. During World War II, Longreach<br />

was used as a base by U.S. Flying Fortress bombers for their Pacific operations.<br />

The original hangar is now complemented by a A$9 million (US$5.8 million)<br />

world-class museum, with the main exhibit a full-size replica of an AVRO 504K,

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