The Extra Mile

Outback Tracks & Corner Country June 26 - July 9 2012

2012-01-27T04:14:19+10:00

Corner Country stretches toward the famous Corner Post where Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales meet. It's a place of wide-open spaces and big blue skies, a landscape that remains much the same as when the first explorers arrived more than 150 years ago. From the wild dog fence, remnants of remote homesteads and historic mining towns to the remarkable plants and wildlife, Corner Country is a place like no other.

Day 1 Toowoomba to Moree

Westward Ho we go to Goondiwindi on the Macintyre, home of 'Gunsynd' and the heart of the Border Rivers region. Then its over the border and down the Newell Highway into the Gwydir Valley. Moree, known for its Hot Mineral Baths is todays final stop. (LD)

Day 2 Moree to Bourke

We head off, the morning sun at our backs, making tracks for Bourke. Once a major inland port on the mighty Darling River, it’s known as the gateway to the outback. The editor of ‘The Bulletin’ sent a young writer by the name of Henry Lawson out this way in 1892, to give him a taste of outback life. As Lawson later wrote, ‘if you know Bourke, you know Australia’. It’s where the REAL outback begins. (BLD)

Day 3 Bourke to Tibooburra

Tonight we lodge in the capital of the Corner Country - Tibooburra. They say you haven’t really understood the outback until you visit Tibooburra. Gold was first found in these parts in 1880 and the area used to be known as ‘The Granites’. The town’s name is believed to come from an aboriginal word for ‘heap of boulders’. This part of the world seems so isolated but you’ll be surprised just how full of friendliness it is. (BLD)

Day 4 Tibooburra

Charles Sturt visited out here back in 1844 and Pioneer Park is where you’ll find a replica of his 27ft long whale boat. He carted it by wagon north-west to Lake Pinaroo as he searched for the fabled ‘inland sea’. The Tibooburra ‘Keeping Place’ museum houses an interesting collection of the remains of Aboriginal tools and artefacts found around the district. The Outback School of the Air is the most geographically isolated school in the state and the only dual mode school in the country. The 450 million year old granite tors that surround the town are part of the southern boundary to Sturt National Park. Its north-west boundary is the iconic Cameron Corner, where the NSW-QLD border intersects with the NSW-SA border. (BLD)

Day 5 Tibooburra to Innamincka

Today we’ll head on up the track a way to a former ghost town - Innamincka - which has seen an increase in travellers to the area since oil and gas were discovered in the 60’s. It’s a tiny settlement on the banks of the Cooper Creek and is surrounded on all sides by the Strzelecki, Tirari and Sturts Stony deserts. (BLD)

Day 6 Innamincka

A few kilometres to the east of town you’ll find a monument marking the site where Robert O’Hara Burke, leader of the ill fated Burke & Wills expedition, died. Further east is Nappa Merrie station, where the famous ‘Dig Tree’ can be found. (BLD)

Day 7 Innamincka to Marree

We follow the Strzelecki Track and then the Oodnadatta Track, wending our way south and west, heading for Marree. There’s Lyndhurst, with its red ochre cliffs and the red dust coloured stone ruins of ghostly Farina on the way. Marree is an old settlement on the edge of the vast desert inland, it’s where the Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks meet. (BLD)

Day 8 Marree

Marree started life as a camp near Hergott Springs, built to support the Overland Telegraph Line workers back in the 1870s, and was called Hergott Springs until about 1916. The oldest stone building in town is The Great Northern Hotel, built around 1883. The railway station’s huge concrete platform looks out of place in such a small town and you’ll find old locomotives and railway carriages spread about the town. Marree’s population dwindled when diesel engines replaced the 'romance' of steam, and the railway line was rerouted to a waterless area to the west. (BLD)

Day 9 Marree to Birdsville

We take the Birdsville Track north, out of Marree, across the Tirari Desert and Sturts Stony Desert, to Birdsville in far south-western Queensland. The track started life in the 1860s when it was used to bring cattle from northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, to the railheads at Port Augusta and Maree. It crosses the driest part of the country, a very barren and isolated area. It’s now a popular route for tourists and stock trucks carrying livestock. (BLD)

Day 10 Birdsville

The town was originally called ‘Diamantina Crossing’, but the name was changed to Birdsville in 1885. Some say that a local identity named it as a compliment to the abundant birdlife in the area. It’s best known for its famous pub and the annual race meeting, the Birdsville Races. (BLD)

Day 11 Birdsville to Windorah

We wander our way across far western Queensland, to a place in the heart of ‘Channel Country’ - Windorah - set amongst giant red sand hills beside the multi-channeled Cooper Creek. It gets it name from the local Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of large fish’. (BLD)

Day 12 Windorah to Thargomindah

We head further east across South Western Queensland bound for Thargomindah. This town's one claim to fame is it's artesian bore. They used the water pressure from the bore to drive a generator to supply the town with electricity. This hydro-electric scheme operated successfully until 1951, when it was replaced with a diesel powered generator. (BLD)

Day 13 Thargomindah to Cunnamulla

Eastward Ho as we continue our trek across South Western Queensland. On the way we'll pass through the small town of Eulo, on the banks of the Paroo River. The it's on through to Cunnamulla, the home of the 'Cunnamulla Fella'. (BLD)

Day 14 Cunnamulla to Toowoomba

We head ‘back east’ today, leaving the ‘Big South West’ and wending our way back to the Darling Downs, finishing up in Toowoomba. (BL)

Stonestreet's 14 day 4x4 adventure tour features mostly 2 night stops in key locations: Tibooburra, Innamincka, Marree and Birdsville. This gives our travellers more of a feeling for life in the Outback.

Waltzing Through Outback Queensland (4x4) May 6 - 12 2012

2012-01-23T04:30:11+10:00

Australia’s Outback is at the heart of our nation’s character. With startling raw landscapes, endless horizons and an atmosphere ‘to die for’, it’s there for us to explore - in relative comfort and safety! Come and revel in its simple elements and hard colours, and meet the laconic scattered people who, it must be said, stand out from the plain. The Outback will win your heart too. On this unhurried 7 day adventure tour by 4x4 coach, we’re exploring the diversity that is South West Queensland – from the prehistoric to the present. This is quirky country full of surprises. This is also an ideal tour if you haven’t been Outback before nor travelled on a 4x4 coach and would like to try it out.

Day 1– West to Charleville ‘grab your swag, so to speak!’ Swag or no swag, we’re waltzing into the Outback in our four wheel drive coach. Travelling the Warrego Highway across the Darling Downs, we pass through Chinchilla and Miles, pause in Roma and head onto Charleville, the ‘Gateway to the Outback’. Tonight over dinner we’ll get acquainted.

Day 2 – Channel Country, Windorah ‘budgies in the bushes’ Tour the local sights of Charleville, then we push further west through Cheepie to a place of fiery colours - Quilpie. On the Bulloo River, its key industries are opals, oil and gas. Watch for ‘Oil Donkeys’ on the drive to Eromanga, the furthest Outback town from the sea. Next we travel to Cooper Creek in the Channel Country where lies sleepy Windorah village.

Days 3-4 – Lark Quarry, Carisbrooke ‘meet your hosts’ Someway up Cooper Creek stands the tiny settlement of Jundah. We’ll drop in to say hello then keep up the track to Lark Quarry where a guide will try to explain how once some jolly dinosaurs stampeded by the billabong. At Carisbrooke Station Charles and Penelope look forward to welcoming us onto their property for the next two nights. Spend a day exploring with Charles. Here sheep and cattle share the land with wildlife and native vegetation. We can also fossick in the old opal mine. Altogether experience some famous outback hospitality, tea from the billy boiled - and tuck into scrummy homemade cooking.

Day 5 – Waltzing Matilda & the ‘Muttaburrasaurus’ We bid our hosts farewell and travel to Winton where ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was first performed at the North Gregory Hotel. Muttaburra was once a vast inland sea and is now famous for the Muttaburrasaurus, one of Australia’s largest dinosaurs. Onwards to Aramac, Jericho and we wind up today in Blackall on the Barcoo, said to be the home of the original ‘Black Stump’.

Day 6 – Carnarvon Range ‘teddies like tour travellers’ Stop by the oldest town in Western Queensland, Tambo, home of the ever popular ‘Tambo Teddies’. Travelling the dirt road east to Springsure the scenery is beautiful. Next we journey south through the Carnarvon Range, home of the impressive Carnarvon Gorge. Injune is the final night stop of our tour..

Day 7 – Roma, Surat and home ‘what a wonderful week!’ We return to Roma briefly and continuing down to Surat, where we turn east for home. We arrive back in Toowoomba about 4:00pm, Brisbane 6:00pm.

Cost of Tour: Twin/Double Share $2099 Single $2579

Join us on this adventure to explore the Outback of the state of Queensland. Phone Stonestreet's Coaches on 1 300 555 899 or 07 4687 5555 for bookings and enquiries.

An Evening At Velvet Waters

2012-01-23T04:02:48+10:00

AN EVENING AT VELVET WATERS
Great Music, Great Food & Accommodation

Saturday March 24 - Sunday March 25

Welcome to Velvet Waters. Located in the main street of Caloundra on Queensland's beautiful Sunshine Coast, Velvet Waters offers a unique dining, dancing and live entertainment experience. Show nights are on every Saturday from 7 pm, with a delicious Dinner Show and live entertainment.

Join the Velvettes and the Velvet Waters Live Band and re-live the good old days of “Rock ‘n’Roll” with all the hits of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s with the songs of Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Bobby Darin, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, June Carter, J.O.K and many more of your favourites.

Next morning take a relaxing stroll through the Caloundra Markets or along the beach before returning home.

Departs 2:00pm Depot - 78 Warwick St , 2:10pm Interchange - Neil St, 2:20pm Range - James St

Cost: $245 pp Includes coach travel, dinner show, accommodation and breakfast.
Phone 4687 5555 for bookings and enquiries.

Stonestreet's Destinations 2012

2012-01-17T07:25:34+10:00

STONESTREET'S DESTINATIONS 2012 TOURING CATALOGUE
The new catalogue is chock full of exciting tours and 4x4 adventures - From Tip to Toe, East to West and lots of great places in between.

Whether it's the Queensland Coast, Cape York, the Red Centre, Top End, North West, WA's South West, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Canberra and New South Wales there's a tour to get you 'out and about' Australia.

Browse Destinations to discover where we're heading in 2012

Australia Day at Australia Zoo
Thursday 26 January 2012

Crikey! It as wild as life gets at Australia Zoo's new open-range exhibit - Africa! Step on board the Africa Safari Shuttle to experience giraffes and zebras, and keep your eyes peeled for the brand new baby rhino! Afterwards take a stroll through the zoo from the Tiger Temple and Asian Elephants to the Billabong and Outback. Be sure to check out all of the animal action in the Crocoseum and watch a crocodile launch from the waters edge. Australia Zoo is the ultimate wildlife adventure with so much to see you may want to plan ahead.

Price pp: $95 Ad $84 Con $74 Ch (3-14)
Includes return coach travel and entry.
Departs: 7:00am Depot - 78 Warwick St, 7:10am Interchange - Neil St, 7:20am Range - James St

For bookings & enquiries phone 4687 5555..

Lost City River Cruise
Thursday 2 February

Enjoy a relaxing smooth water morning tea cruise in the precincts of the Coomera River, followed by lunch and dessert at the imaginatively themed Lost City Tavern. Promises to be a great day out!

Price pp: $90 Includes coach travel, morning tea cruise and lunch

St Valentine’s at St Bernard’s
Tuesday 14 February
St Bernard's Hotel sits on the edge of an ancient volcanic escarpment overlooking Guanaba Gorge, Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast skyline and the Pacific Ocean.Come and enjoy some country hospitality, with spectacular sea views and the invigorating air of Mt Tamborine. Oh! And while you’re there you may just bump into Leo and baby Molly.

Price pp $75 Includes coach travel, morning tea and lunch at St Bernard’s.

Chasing The Queen - Evening Dinner Cruise
Thursday 16 February
We'll board the MV Calypso to follow the Queen Mary 2, one of the most magnificent ocean liners ever built,as it sails up the Brisbane River. Witnessing the arrival of the QM2 from onboard the MV Calypso should make for a memorable trip.

Price pp $125 includes coach travel and BBQ dinner cruise.

Green, Green Grass of the Gabba
Thursday 23 February
In 1895 a small patch of land was set aside as the location for what is now one of the world’s most famous sporting arenas. Since then the iconic Brisbane Cricket Ground has been affectionately known as the Gabba. Join us on this fantastic tour for a guided tour of this ground where many Australian sporting legends have made their mark on history.

Price pp $69 includes coach travel, morning tea, tour and lunch.

Concert Connect Latest News

2011-12-14T04:55:02+10:00

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK SPECTACULAR
SPIRIT OF THE HORSE
Saturday 28 January 2012
There is no place on earth like the Australian outback... and no show on earth like Australian Outback Spectacular. The all new show, ‘Spirit of the Horse’ celebrates the courageous spirit of the Australian horse and commemorates the legend that is Phar Lap. It features an amazing cast of larger than life characters as well as magnificent animals including the spirited Australian stockhorse. The stunning special effects will have you on the edge of your seat;

It’s more than a night out – it’s an experience steeped in courage, tradition, a daring spirit and a unique, laconic sense of humour.

You'll be treated to a stirring musical score composed exclusively for the show, as well as popular music composed and written by country music legend Lee Kernaghan.

Ticket price includes coach travel, show & 3 course Aussie BBQ dinner.
Adult $162 - Concession $153.50 - Child $136.50
Call Stonestreet's on 4687 5555 to book.

TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL
Sunday 25 March 2012
The long-awaited Tim McGraw & Faith Hill tour kicks off in March and we have tickets available for their third concert at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on March 25.

The tour will be the first time the country music superstars have toured together outside of North America, will be Hill's first time touring Australia and will include them performing separately and together.

It will feature their massive hits including McGraw's Live Like You Were Dying, Everywhere, Real Good Man and Hill's Breathe, This Kiss and The Way You Love Me, as well as duets It's Your Love, Let's Make Love and I Need You.

Don't miss Tim McGraw and Faith Hill touring together for the first time in Australia.

Cost: $200pp for tickets & travel. Call Stonestreet's on 4687 5555 to book.

Get in the Spirit with Stonestreet's

2011-11-25T04:40:57+10:00

Christmas is just around the corner...we're only one month away from the last shopping day, Christmas Eve.

Are you looking for gift ideas? A Stonestreet's Coaches Gift Certificate is a unique and practical idea that lets you give something special - the experience of travel.

Or maybe you'd like to give someone a big hint and get something you'll love!

Certificates are available in numerous denominations and are easily redeemed.

To learn more phone 4687 5555 or drop by the office at 78 Warwick Street, Toowoomba.

BRAND NEW ANNUAL TRAVEL CLUB NEWS OUT SOON

After 14 years of publication the Travel Club news is changing to an annual publication that will provide you with a full list of Extended Tours and Day Trips for 2012. And we have lots of exciting new tours and trips instore for you. We'll also be sending out regular communications with all sorts of specials, additional tours and information throughout the year so you will be kept well up to date.

Watch your inbox... it's coming soon.

Morning Melodies at Boonah
Trevor Knight sings John Denver
Friday 9 December 2011 $55
From the opening chords of ‘Rocky Mountain High’ to the soaring grandeur of ‘The Eagle and the Hawk’ and on to the deep romance of ‘For You’ and ‘Lady’ the songs just keep on coming. ′I closed my eyes and it was John Denver on stage.’ ‘He made me laugh, he made me cry, a wonderful experience’. ‘I just loved his stories.’‘Beautiful songs and so much fun’. Includes return coach and show entry.

For bookings & enquiries phone 4687 5555..

Travel Club Christmas Party At Lone Pine Sanctuary
Thursday 15 December 2011 $99
It’s that time of the year again when we’ll all gather together to share our memories with our Travel Club friends from the year just gone by. Enjoy a delicious lunch and maybe a drink or two at a fabulous location. This time we’ll be heading Lone Pine Sanctuary. Enjoy a great day out. Tickets are selling fast - book now for the party of the year. Includes lunch and entry.

For bookings & enquiries phone 4687 5555.

The Colour of Christmas - Christmas Lights Toowoomba
Each Evening, 12 - 16 December 2011
$15 Adults $10 Child Family - Adults at children's prices
Every year more and more people are dressing up their homes with colourful Christmas Lights. This year is looking like it may be better than ever. Come along on our special Christmas lights bus and see the beautiful lights for yourself. It’s much more fun and relaxing than trying to drive around looking for them and having to contend with parking.

For bookings & enquiries phone 4687 5555.

Beautiful Brisbane Christmas Lights
Wednesday 21 December 2011 $65
You thought the Toowoomba Christmas lights were fantastic, didn’t you? Well, you should see the lights in Brisbane - magnificent! Let us take you to the best of the Christmas Lights in Brisbane. Last Year whole streets were decorated. This year should be equally spectacular. Limited places. Book now! Includes light dinner.

For bookings & enquiries phone 4687 5555.

Experience the Red Centre - On Tour 6 - 26 May 2012

2011-09-28T03:34:46+10:00

The heart of Australia beats somewhere out near Uluru—the Red Centre. Come on tour with Stonestreet’s through this ancient land’s big red heart. Meet some of the characters who make the outback their home, marvel how creatures survive in the harsh climate and admire the unique beauty of the most spectacular desert country in Australia.

Our journey takes in the iconic landmark of Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and much more. Join us for a three week tour through the Red Centre—where the sky is big, the land is vast and the adventures endless.

Day One (LD)
Toowoomba - Mitchell
It’s all Warrego Highway today as we make tracks for the big South West. We’ll pull up for morning tea in Chinchilla, known as the Melon Capital of Australia, which is celebrated during the biennial ‘Chinchilla Melon Festival’ in February. Motoring further westward, we come to ‘the place of water lilies’, where we’ll stop for lunch at the Yuleba Hotel. Pub lunch put away, we keep going through the western Darling Downs, to Roma. We’ll pause for a while at the Roma Visitor Centre. A bit further along the road brings us to Mitchell, the gateway to outback Queensland. We’ll spend an hour or so here relaxing and revitalising at the Great Artesian Spa.

Day Two (BLD)
Mitchell - Barcaldine
Today we’ll head west for a while, veering north-west at Morven and head into ‘meatant’ country, stopping for smoko in Augathella. We’ll continue up the Matilda Highway to Tambo, central western Queensland’s oldest town. Here we pause for lunch and pay a visit to Tambo Teddies. You’ll meet a colourful range of teddy bears all made from wool and they’ve made Tambo the ‘Outback Teddy Capital of Australia’. We then head on up to Blackall, where Jackie Howe sheared a record number of sheep back in 1892. After a short tour of the town, we keep touring on up the highway toward the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party - Barcaldine. It was here that the striking shearers met under the Tree of Knowledge in 1891. We’ll drop into the Visitors Centre and go see that historic tree before checking into our motel for the night.

Day Three (BD)
Barcaldine to Winton
We continue our trek westward today, stopping for smoko in the town of Ilfracombe. Here we’ll walk a mile - the ‘Great Machinery Mile’ - which shows the development of machinery used in the pastoral and transport industries over time. Further west we go, to a town situated on the ‘long reach’ of the Thomson River. Here we’ll immerse ourselves in the rich outback heritage on display at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. After lunch we track north-west heading for a town once known as Pelican Waterhole and where ‘Banjo’ Paterson penned ‘Waltzing Matilda’ in 1895. So it’s only fitting that we spend some time at the Waltzing Matilda Centre. Also while in Winton, admire the unique ‘bricks’ used in the building of ‘Arno’s Wall’ and strike a chord with the ‘Musical Fence’. Afterwards we check in to our home for the night with time to freshen up before dinner.

Day Four (BLD)
Winton - Mount Isa
We continue our ‘waltz’ along the Matilda Highway, bound for Kynuna. Near this one pub town is Combo Waterhole, said to be THE billabong referred to in Waltzing Matilda. Trekking onwards brings us to a town from which the first flight of the Royal Flying Doctor Service took off in 1928 - Cloncurry. After a not too speedy lunch at the Road Runner Roadhouse, we head for our final stop for the day - Mount Isa. We’ll spend a good part of the afternoon touring Mount Isa Mines, one of the most productive single mines in world history, producing lead, copper, silver and zinc.

Day Five (BLD)
Mount Isa - Tennant Creek
Our trek towards the heart of this big land continues, stopping for smoko in Camooweal before crossing over into the Northern Territory. Then it’s a long haul across the flat red earth heading west toward the Barkly Homestead - ‘an oasis in the desert’. This place has everything - motel units, a campground, fuel, gas, ice, souvenirs, a licensed bar and restaurant and there’s even an airstrip out the back and somewhere to park your plane. The afternoon is spent making tracks for the ‘Golden Heart of the Northern Territory’ - Tennant Creek - the site of Australia’s last major gold rush in the 1930’s.

Day Six (BLD)
Tennant Creek - Alice Springs
We spend some time at the local Culture Centre this morning before setting off to see the Rainbow Serpent’s fossilised eggs - Karlukarlu or the Devils Marbles. We trek southwards across the desert toward the tiny township of Ti Tree, where we’ll pull up for a roadhouse lunch. Then the afternoon is spent heading for ‘The Alice’ our home-away-from-home for the next three nights.

Day Seven (BLD)
Alice Springs
After breakfast on our first day in ‘The Alice’, we’ll learn the secrets of the Central Australia deserts at Desert Park. Discover Desert Rivers, Sand Country, Woodland Habitat and see birds of prey flying free in the Nature Theatre. Then we head a bit further out of town for a scenic lunch in a red sandstone river gorge millions of years in the making - Angkerle. From Standley Chasm we head over to one of the most prominent gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges - Simpsons Gap. Here we may be fortunate enough to encounter some of the black footed ‘locals’. We spend the rest of the afternoon at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve. Operational in 1872 and part of the Overland Telegraph Line, it marks the site of the first European settlement in the area. Tonight we’ll take a visual and musical journey through Australia’s outback.

Day Eight (BD)
Alice Springs
After a leisurely Sunday morning breakfast, it’s Todd Mall Markets Day - there goes the whole morning. After lunch we’ll be ‘transported’ through time when we immerse ourselves in Australia’s road transport heritage at the Road Transport Hall of Fame. Afterwards, we spend some time in the dreamtime when we visit Emily and Jessie Gaps, just a little way out of town. Spiritually important to the Eastern Arrernte people, they are both associated with the caterpillar dreaming trail.

Day Nine (BLD)
Alice Springs - Yulara
Back on the road again, we farewell ‘The Alice’ and head on down the highway, stopping at the desert oasis of Stuarts Well for smoko. Then down to Erlunda, where the Stuart and Lasseter Highways meet. We then travel west, stopping for lunch at the curiously named Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse, considering how flat the country is around here. Make time to appreciate the local paintings and carvings in the impressive red floored art gallery. Then we trek toward our final destination of the day - Yulara. After checking in to our cabins, we head to Uluru for the always spectacular viewing of the mighty monolith at sunset.

Day Ten (BLD)
Yulara - Uluru - Kata Tjuta - Curtin Springs
After hitting the Yulara Shopping Centre first thing this morning after breakfast, we’re off to Uluru. On the unique Mala Walk Tour of the rock, we’ll learn about the Mala (Hare Wallaby) people who lived at Uluru with their friend the Itjaritjari (Marsupial Mole). Then we’ll take a spin aound the 3800 metre long rock before lunching at the Cultural Centre’s Ininti Cafe. The we head for a ‘place of many heads’ - rather large round red ones - Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). We’ll enjoy a walking tour of this spectacular natural wonder and then head back Yulara way and onto Curtin Springs. The Curtin Springs Cattle Station and Wayside Inn is our stop for the night.

Day Eleven (BLD)
Curtin Springs - Kings Creek Station
We’re off up northwards, heading for Kings Creek Station - a working cattle and camel station set amongst tall desert oaks. Situated a short distance from the magnificent ochre walled Kings Canyon, it’s here you can experience true outback station life. Out here area is measured in square kilometres - this station is made up of 1800 of ‘em. Camel Burger anyone?

Day Twelve (BLD)
Kings Creek Station - Erldunda
After a leisurely and late breakfast we head off for a walk about the spectacular Kings Canyon with it’s towering vertical walls and lush vegetation. Following lunch we bid farewell to Kings Creek Station and head back in the direction of Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse, stopping here for afternoon tea. We then motor onwards to Erldunda.

Day Thirteen (BLD)
Erlunda - Coober Pedy
We make track southwards, out the ‘The Territory’ and down into South Australia. We’ll stop for lunch in Marla, before continuing on our way down to Coober Pedy via Cadney Homestead. Coober Pedy, the ‘Opal Capital of the World’, known for it’s unique style of living - underground. The Mud Hut Motel is our resting place for the night.

Day Fourteen (BLD)
Coober Pedy - Woomera
Today we’ll embark on an extensive tour of the town that supplies the world with the majority of gem quality opal. There are underground mines, opal shops, underground churches, underground homes, art galleries and underground museums. All this underground living is due to the harsh desert temperatures in summer that can get to well over 40 degrees Celsius. The underground dwellings remain at a constant temperature, unlike buildings on the surface that need air conditioning during summer. Back on the road, we motor down to a secret town that was once closed to the outside world - Woomera.

Day Fifteen (BLD)
Woomera - Port Augusta
We leave the largest land based range in the world and head on up into the desert to ‘large waterhole’ - Andamooka. Here we’ll have morning tea, tour the opal fields and then head on back to Roxby Downs. We’ll enjoy lunch in this town, purpose built to service the Olympic Dam Mine and referred to as the outback’s most modern town. Then it’s up the road to the Olympic Dam Mine, the largest underground mine in the country. It’s a multi-mineral ore body, with copper, gold, silver and uranium all being taken from the ground here. The rest of the afternoon is spent trundling down to a town on the quiet waterways at the head of the Spencer Gulf - Port Augusta.

Day Sixteen (BLD)
Port Augusta - Renmark
We leave the crossroads of Australia and head south-west across the state, bound for the only other town in the country where three railway gauges meet - Peterborough. Then it’s on downwards into Megafauna country to the town of Burra, where the Diprotodon once roamed the land. We tour further along the road to a historic river port, one of the busiest inland ports back in it’s heyday - Morgan - situated on the great ‘Nor’ West Bend’ of the mighty Murray River. We’ll pull up here for lunch and a bit of a tour of town before making tracks to Berri. On the banks of the Murray, it boasts a gorgeous riverfront, historic monuments, floating wharf platforms and an indigenous bridge mural. We finish the day in Renmark, a town transformed by Australia’s first irrigation scheme, which came into being back in 1887.

Day Seventeen (BLD)
Renmark - Wentworth
We’ll head out of South Australia and across western Victoria, where we’ll catch up with the Murray in the town of Mildura, in an area often referred to as the Mediterranean in the outback. After morning tea and a tour of this city, we make our way over to Redcliffs. Located at the northern end of Victoria’s Mallee region, it gets it name from the 70 metre high cliffs to the east of town. After a look around town we’ll trundle on up to Wentworth, at the confluence of the Murray and Darling rivers. Once the busiest inland port in NSW, it was once considered as a possible location for the Australian capital back around the time of federation.

Day Eighteen (BLD)
Wentworth - West Wyalong
We make our way over to a town on the Murrumbidgee that started life as a mere river ford and became important river port for the wool industry back in the riverboat days - Balranald. After smoko we’ll keep heading eastward for a bit, stopping for lunch in Hay in the Riverina. Here, we’ll spend some time at Shear Outback, a centre devoted to all things involved with ‘getting the wool off’. We’ll finish the day in the historic gold era town of West Wyalong.

Day Nineteen (BLD)
West Wyalong - Dubbo
We start our trek northwards today, passing through Forbes, the site of Australia’s biggest gold robbery and onto Parkes. An important town to the scientific community, it’s here we’ll pay a visit to that ‘Dish’ of a movie star. We’ll finish up in a city that straddles the Macquarie River and whose name means ‘red earth’. Here we’ll embark on an extensive tour of Old Dubbo Gaol. Operational from 1859 to 1966, it’s provides a unique insight into 19th Century prison life. Afterwards we should have time for a bit of shopping before checking into our motel.

Day Twenty (BLD)
Dubbo - Moree
This morning we head on up to Gilgandra on the Castlereagh River and drop into the Cooee Heritage Centre. Here we can immerse ourselves in the history of the area, especially the famous Cooee March. After morning tea it’s on to Narrabri in the north west plains region of NSW. Following lunch we sightsee our way up into the Gwydir Valley to Moree, a town famous for it’s hot mineral baths. Here we’ll stop and spend some time learning about all things pecan with a tour of the Pecan Nut Farm.

Day Twenty-One (BL)
Moree - Toowoomba
The last day of the trip sees us heading to North Star, stopping for some smoko and a garden tour. A little further up the road and we cross the border back into Queensland and pull up in Goondiwindi. Here we’ll take some time to do a little shopping and have some lunch before hitting the road and heading on back to Toowoomba. After three amazing weeks you’ll arrive home with plenty of wonderful memories.

Experience the Red Centre
$4830pp* twin or dbl share
*Stonestreet’s Travel Club Member Price
Don’t be disappointed—Book today
Phone 07 4687 5555

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Upcoming Day Trips for November from Toowoomba

2011-09-28T03:11:28+10:00

Flutterbies Cottage
Thu 3 November 2011 $79

Todays tour is a delightful destination in the stunning Tweed Vallery. In Murwillumbahm, Dennis a local tour guide known for his informative and amusing commentary, will join us. We head off to Flutterbies Cottage Cafe for lunch amongst the nostalgia. Then Dennis will take us for a stroll down the main street, visiting local shops and art galleries. To top off the day we’ll take a short trip to Pinnacle Ridge lookout to experience the majestic views of Mt Warning and the Border Ranges. Promises to be a beautiful day out.

Redcliffe by the Sea with lunch at Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant
Tue 8 November 2011 $69

A relaxing day touring “Redcliffe by the Sea”. Enjoy morning tea at Pelican Park at Clontarf Beach where we can join in the daily feeding of the pelicans. We'll visit the magnificent Redcliffe Jetty and boardwalk area and the Redcliffe Museum. Lunch today will be at the famous Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant, perched over the water at Scarborough, amidst the local fishing fleet, with its beautiful northerly views across Deception Bay to the Glasshouse Mountains. Morgan’s is a perfect location for to relax and enjoy a leisurely two-course lunch. Includes morning tea, lunch and coach travel.

11.11.11 Mystery
Fri 11 November 2011 $111 (for 2)

This year we're going to experience four unusual dates, 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that's not all...take the last two digits of the year in which you were born - now add the age you will be this year, the results will be 111 - for everyone in the whole world !!! A unique date with a unique destination today.

Go Nuts in Kingaroy
Tue 15 Nov 2011 $55

Remember when peanuts came in a shell? Well they still come in a shell but now you can get them as Salted, Kurry, Hickory Smoked, Barbeque, Salt and Vinegar, Garlic, Chilli, Sugar Coated……… We’ll take a tour through the Peanut Capital, learn about the production of peanuts then visit the Peanut Van to stock up on some delicious supplies. Promises to be a nutty day with your nutty Travel Club friends.

Twenty Eleven, Twenty Eleven Mystery
Sun 20 November 2011 $62

That’s an unusual price for a day tour. How did we come up with that? Can you please add this up for me? What’s 20+11+20+11? Oh! That’s why! Anyway, this Mystery Tour will be great value and you will be impressed with the day out. These dates only come once in a lifetime so don’t miss this one.

Pre Christmas Shopping At Eumundi Markets
Sat 26 November 2011 $45

More than just a market. A visit to the Original Eumundi Markets is shopping heaven if you’re looking for something different, something handmade, something special… You’ll find original artworks, sculptures, furniture, handmade toys, homewares, and skincare, as well as cutting edge fashion and jewellery by local designers, all guided by their ethos of “we make it, bake it, grow it, sew it”.

For bookings and enquiries phone 4687 5555 or drop by the office at 78 Warwick Street, Toowoomba.

Upcoming Day Trips for October from Toowoomba

2011-09-22T04:56:42+10:00

	Morning Melodies - Twin Towns Memories of Patsy Cline & Friends Tue 11 Oct 2011 $60 The Memories of Patsy Cline Show features beautiful costumes and lots of great songs to bring back memories of the Country Music Legend "Patsy Cline". Enjoy a magical experience with Australia's very own Patsy Cline, Barbara Thompson, in a show that has delighted audiences all over Australia. Includes return coach and show entry
	Mary Valley Rattler Wed 12 Oct 2011 $80 The Rattler's spectacular journey begins at historic Gympie Railway Station built in 1913. Passing through Gympie City, its southern suburbs and the station at Monkland. The Rattler crosses the Mary River. The journey continues into the scenic Mary Valley where the railway line negotiates the steep slopes of the Mary River, offering spectacular views.
	Craft & Quilt Fair Sat 22 Oct 2011 $64 The Craft & Quilt Fair is Australia's favourite craft event. It's all about craft– seeing what's possible, learning new techniques and buying all you need for your craft projects. Whether you are a beginner, or a clever craft goddess, you'll find ideas, inspiration and a huge range of exhibitors selling craft supplies. Under one roof you can shop with craft specialists from all over Australia and find unique products for stamping, scrapbooking, knitting, embroidery, sewing, quilt making, jewellery-making and more.
	Morning Melodies - Twin Towns Back To The Tivoli Tue 25 Oct 2011 $60 MO AWARD WINNER FOR 'BEST PRODUCTION SHOW 2010’ Produced and hosted by international performer and former lead singer of the Delltones, Wayne Cornell and Jenifer Green, the concert features four performers, a live band and the gorgeous Tivoli showgirls. Includes return coach and show entry

For bookings and enquiries phone 4687 5555 or drop by the office at 78 Warwick Street, Toowoomba.

Garden Tour Seat Sale

2011-09-22T04:32:14+10:00

Sunday is the final day of Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers and it's also your last chance to visit the prize winning gardens with Stonestreet's.

If you haven't taken in the gardens yet we have a great deal for you. We're offering all Travel Club members a choice of one of two tours on Sunday 25 September for just $25pp. Regularly $40 Adult or $36 for Seniors so it's a great savings.

You can choose Tour 1 - Garden Lover's departing at 10am or Tour 2 – Afternoon of Colour departing at 12:30pm from the Information Centre.

For bookings and enquiries phone 4687 5555 or drop by the office at 78 Warwick Street, Toowoomba.

Upcoming Day Trips for September from Toowoomba

2011-08-22T10:12:48+10:00

Riverfire’s Best Viewing Sat, 3 September 2011

Join Stonestreet’s Coaches for an exclusive evening at Rydges Southbank in their 12th floor Roof-top function room and enjoy the spectacle of Brisbane's favourite night of the year, Sunsuper Riverfire. Watch the night sky explode into a kaleidoscope of colours and be amazed by the visually splendid pyrotechnic display. Be entertained while enjoying a 3 course dinner, including soft drinks, beer, wine and juice. Tour includes entertainment, dinner and return luxury coach.

Stanthorpe Wines - Ladies Day A Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Sat, 10 September 2011

Join Stacey, the ’Blonde Bombshell’ on her fundraising adventure to the Granite Belt wineries. Visiting The Bramble Patch, Felzberg Winery, Ballandean Estate, Granite Belt Cheese and Castle Glen. Wow! Doesn’t that sound amazing? All you ladies will have a fun time while raising much needed funds for breast cancer research.

Morning Melodies - Twin Towns Dustier Than Ever Wed, 21 Sep 2011

Chris Cook remembers hearing Slim’s music all of his life and he grew up playing and loving it. Chris plays energetic country guitar, skilful and toe-tapping fiddle and highly polished bluegrass/hillbilly banjo. Slim Dusty recorded 3 of Chris Cook’s songs – “When the Country’s Wet” on “Ringer from the Top End” in 1992; “Diggin’ a Hole in my Guitar”. Includes return coach and show entry.

Whales In Paradise Thu, 22 September 2011

A special tour giving us the opportunity to get up close and personal with these giants of the sea. Every year, just like a lot of other ‘southerners’ the humpback whales migrate to warmer waters. New cruises have been arranged so we can visit these majestic mammals within a day from our homes. Get on board - you’ll fall in love with the whales.

For enquiries or to book your seat phone Stonestreet's Coaches 4687 5555 or drop by the office at 78 Warwick Street, Toowoomba.

Warbirds Downunder 2011

2011-08-13T03:33:31+10:00

Got a thing for those flying machines? Does the sound of an aircraft engine roaring to life turn your head? If it‘s no contest between PLANES, trains and automobiles, then Temora Tomorrow is the trip for you.

We’re off to the Riverina NSW where we’ll visit one of the best displays of historic aircraft in Australia. But wait, there's more! We’ll check out fauna at the zoo, flora in Cowra and the stars in Coonabarabran. It’s not all about ’tomorrow’ though. We’ll throw in a prehistoric adventure in Wellington, along with some bushranger lore and a few poets to mix it up for you.

The highlight of the tour is when we 'spread our wings’ and spend the day at the Temora Air Show, for Warbirds Downunder 2011. This is the biggest day of the year for Temora Aviation Museum and will showcase many superb warbirds, both old and new. Some of the planes you can expect to see include the Supermarine Spitfire, CAC Boomerang and the Curtis P40.

To see more of these magnificent men and women and their flying machines, simply go here for this very special Stonestreets Tour. For more on what goes on in Temora, visit the Temora Aviation Museum here.

Need a little more convincing? Then try this.

Jack High Bowls Tours

2011-08-09T08:25:11+10:00

One day you might spend a leisurely day exploring the historic river port of Echuca. Maybe have lunch on board one of those restored paddle steamers or peacefully meander along the Red River Gum lined Murray River. Finishing the day across the river at the Moama Bowling Club, of 'Jack High' fame.

Another day will see you in Mt Gambier, the home of the strikingly coloured Blue Lake, with an evening of "Twilight Bowls' at the Mt Gambier Bowls Club to look forward to.

There's another three days to spend in Adelaide at the Adelaide, Holdfast Bay and Lockleys Bowls Clubs for the finals of the Asia Pacific Lawn Bowls Championships.

So if bowls are your thing and you're someone who likes to 'play while they're away', then you need to head on over here to check out Stonestreet's Coaches Bowls Tours.

...and I called it Streaky Bay

2011-08-09T02:56:37+10:00

So said Mathew Flinders when he entered the bay, way back in 1802. It's generally thought that the streaky appearance of the waters in the bay are caused by oils given off by the kelp that grows there.

Streaky Bay is now a coastal town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia. It was officially proclaimed in 1872 as Flinders, but referred to by the locals as Streaky Bay. The name was finally changed in 1940.

There'a great variety of landscapes to see and explore in Streaky Bay and its surrounds. From farming country and almost untouched native scrubland to sandy swimming beaches, cliffs and surf beaches.

All this and more is to be experienced on a eight day adventure when you tour 'The Peninsular Coast'. For folks who want to to know where, when and how much - please go here.

Bound for South Australia

2011-08-04T04:17:33+10:00

It's day two and you find yourself heading up into South Australia's wine producing region and tourist mecca, the Barossa Valley

Originally settled by German Lutheran farmers in the 1830's who not only planted grape vines but also brought with them their wine making knowledge and unique and rich culture.

The region is now asserting its importance to the wine industry and it's inestimable value of its storehouse of century-old vines and historic wineries.

The Barossa Valley is one of the most famous wine regions of South Australia and, indeed, Australia.

Find yourself there in September 2011 when you embark on Part 4 of our South East Circle Tour - The Island Coast. More information can be found by going here.

If it's isolation you want...

2011-08-02T04:56:27+10:00

Then how about 1400km of isolated desert track that runs through the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia?

This 'highway' was surveyed and built under the direction of that legendary bushman Len Beadell. Len and his team, known as The Gunbarrel Road Construction Party, attempted wherever possible to make the road 'as straight as a gunbarrel'.

One of the straight bits

The initial surveying of the 'highway' was done by Len, pushing through the scrub in his Land Rover, his theodolite always within easy reach. During these surveying expeditions, there were times when Len nearly starved to death. The Land Rover broke down many times and suffered countless punctures and other mishaps, all in the searing heat of the desert. After this initial surveying was completed, a bulldozer would follow along and cut a raw level track. A road grader came along after that and finished the job. Highway making - the outback way.

'M' is for miles

The Gunbarrel Highway begins at 'Victory Downs' homestead, pushes westward to the Rawlinson Ranges, skirts south of the Gibson Desert, via the Warburton Mission, connecting to the existing road at Carnegie Station.

For THE ultimate ‘Bush Bash’ that‘ll take you from the most Westerly to the most easterly point of this wide brown land - come along with us. You’ll travel some of the straightest and the not-so-straight roads on this unique journey. Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife and genuine characters are just up the road, around the corner or over the next hill.

Fancy a spin in the REAL outback? Then you need to go here.

Upcoming Day Trips for August from Toowoomba

2011-07-21T23:31:00+10:00

Buck's Barn at Chillingham
Thu, 4 August 2011

Buck, also known as the bare foot bushman, is a salt-of-the-earth farmer as you'll ever meet, the kind of country Aussie bloke Crocodile Dundee would have a beer with.Learning all about bush tucker is only part of your day out at Buck’s Barn. Stroll around the bush tucker garden or sit at the picnic tables and enjoy the atmosphere.Banana Cabana is your one-stop shop for tropical fruit and exotic local speciality foods.

Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races
Sat, 6 August 2011

How do you take your camels? One hump or two? Well here in Australia our dromedaries have one hump and are a bundle of laughs when you watch them racing. You can experience this first hand at the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races where camels often go the wrong way during a race, or even sit down mid-run. It’s a lot of fun so join us for a fun day out west at the Tara Camel Races. Cost $40 + entry.

Eumundi Markets
Sat, 6 August 2011

More than just a market. A visit to the Original Eumundi Markets is shopping heaven if you’re looking for something different, something handmade, something special…’ll find original artworks, sculptures, furniture, handmade toys, homewares, and skincare, as well as cutting edge fashion and jewellery by local designers, all guided by their ethos of “we make it, bake it, grow it, sew it”. Cost $45.

Fathers Day Tramway Museum
Sun, 14 August 2011

The Brisbane Tramway Museum Society is a voluntary organisation that is the custodian of some twenty four tramcars and two trolleybuses. This Father’s Day you can return to the golden era of trams and ride on one of Brisbane's preserved trams in a delightful bushland setting while inspecting restored trams and other reminders of Brisbane's tramway era. A great day out for any dad. Cost $85.

Redcliffe by the Sea with lunch
at Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant
Tue, 16 August 2011

A relaxing day touring “Redcliffe by the Sea”. Enjoy morning tea at Pelican Park at Clontarf Beach where we can join in the daily feeding of the pelicans. We will visit the magnificent Redcliffe Jetty and boardwalk area and the Redcliffe Museum. We will enjoy the view across the Bay from Jamieson Park situated right at the tip of the Scarborough Peninsula. Lunch today will be at the famous Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant, which has recently been awarded one of the top three seafood restaurants in the Brisbane area. Perched over the water at Scarborough, amidst the local fishing fleet, with its beautiful northerly views across Deception Bay to the Glasshouse Mountains, Morgan’s is a unique location for us to relax and enjoy a leisurely two-course lunch. Inc morning tea, lunch and coach travel. Cost $65.

Tamborine Skywalk
Thu, 18 August 2011

Set on 30 private acres of magnificent rainforest alongside a kilometre of tumbling creek and rock pools the tamborine rainforest skywalk is a new eco-adventure exploring the beautiful rainforest canopies and habitat in a different and thrilling way. Over 300 metres of stable steel structured bridge through the higher rainforest canopy, combined with the 40 metre long Skywalk Cantilever soaring high over the creek below. It is the longest canopy walk in South East Qld. Cost $69.

For enquiries or to book your seat phone Stonestreet's Coaches 4687 5555 or drop by the office at 78 Warwick Street, Toowoomba.

Opera at Jimbour 2011

2011-07-21T01:25:53+10:00

Opera makes its triumphant return to Jimbour this year, returning to the true essence of the 'Jimbour Experience'.

You are in for an afternoon of song and fine food with a trio of opera stars singing the world's best loved arias and the masterpiece that is Carmina Burana.

Australian opera greats – leading soprano Sara Macliver, outstanding bass baritone James Clayton and award-winning counter tenor Tobias Cole – perform a selection of popular arias as chosen by the public.

More information on this not-to-be-missed afternoon at Jimbour is here. Stonestreets are running a number of buses from various locations to attend this prestigious event. Go here to find out more.

The ULTIMATE Bush Bash

2011-07-16T03:32:40+10:00

Our 4x4 tours via the Gunbarrel Highway are for all you folk who LOVE to go bush.

A straight road...corrugations at no extra cost.

These trips take you from the most westerly point to the most easterly point, or from the most easterly point to the most westerly point of this wide brown land. You’ll travel some of the straightest and some of the the not-so straightest roads on this unique journey across Australia.

Be awed by the stunning landscapes, enchanted by the unique wildlife and succumb to the charm of the genuine characters you'll find out there. They could be just up the road, around that corner or over the next hill.

Come overland and get into the REAL outback. There are still a couple of seats available for the 2011 journey... and it's never too early to sign up for next year.

Carnival of Flowers Free Bus

2011-07-07T11:00:00+10:00

To make it easier to get around to all the shows and festivals about town, Stonestreets is supplying a free bus service in Toowoomba during the Carnival of Flowers. It's available to everyone from the 16th to the 20th of September 2011 inclusive.

For details of timetables and directions to the other shows and festivals, you need to go here.