TOUR INCLUDES Return flights - Sydney to Brisbane, Brisbane to Longreach, Adelaide to Sydney. All accommodation, all travel, all meals & all entries as per itinerary. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $400 HIGHLIGHTS • Fly out of Sydney to Brisbane and Longreach • Explore the Qantas Founders Museum • Travel the Diamantina Development Road to Jundah, Windorah Betoota and Birdsville • Enjoy the carnival that is the Birdsville Races 2008 • Attend the Saturday Race meeting and the Birdsville Cup 2008 • Receive a Birdsville Race Club Medallion for entry to all events • Attend the Birdsville Dance & the Birdsville Ball • Enjoy an ale at the famous Birdsville Pub • Participate in the whip cracking competition • Trek to the top of the “Big Red” sandhill • Visit the Birdsville Working Museum • Chicken and Champagne Brunch • Travel down the notorious “Birdsville Track” to Mungerannie Station • Marree and Leigh Creek • Return flight to Sydney

DAY 1 | Thurs 4 Sept 08 | Longreach . . . our journey begins! We begin our journey to one of Australia’s most famous Race Meetings, The Birdsville Races departing from Sydney from Sydney Airport and travelling to Brisbane and on to Longreach. You will be escorted all the way and guided through the fabulous QANTAS Founders Museum at Longreach. Overnight at Albert Park Motor Inn. (L,D)

DAY 2 | Fri 5 Sept 08 | Birdsville . . . the real outback! We travel southwest down the Diamantina Development Road to Jundah, Windorah, Betoota and on to Birdsville in the late afternoon (depending upon the road conditions and the traffic heading for this once a year Mecca). Birdsville, once known in its heyday to have supported three pubs, but alas, today it has only one; a welcome sight for thirsty travellers. The population of Birdsville will swell a hundred fold today ready for the Birdsville Races tomorrow. Our advance team has set up camp for us, so, as our great cook prepares dinner it’s time to relax and maybe visit the famous Birdsville Pub for some tips on tomorrow’s races. There are stalls, sideshows, a Boxing troupe, a disco with live music to visit during the evening. There will be dancing and a show at the school hall. The live music will captivate you, playing some of those Rock numbers from the 60’s and 70’s that you haven’t heard for so long. There may even be a chance to old time dance (remember the progressive dances?), to line dance or just do your own thing. (B,L,D)

DAY 3 | Sat 6 Sept 08 | Birdsville . . . winning the Birdsville Cup! This is the big day we have all been waiting for! Today we visit Big Red (sand dune # 1002 from Alice Springs), enjoy a chicken and champagne brunch before we ready ourselves for the races, and the Birdsville Cup. You’ll love the carnival atmosphere, the colour and the characters that have come from everywhere to back a winner. We’ll deliver you to the racetrack; you are free to come and go as you please using the regular shuttle that runs from town. It’ll probably be hot and dusty, so let’s trouble the bookies with our careful selections, watch the unique crowd and enjoy Australia’s premier Outback Picnic Race. What fun you’ll have, especially if you pick a winner, or two! We return to town and prepare ourselves for the night’s activities. Most passengers will attend the Birdsville Races Ball after a visit to the Pub or Boxing Tent. Listen to the spruiker drum up business (this is Australia’s last boxing troupe - remember the Jimmy Sharman Troupe from the Royal Easter Show of years past?? Dance the night away on the edge of the Simpson Desert. (B,D)

DAY 4 | Sun 7 Sept 08 | Leigh Creek . . . following the cattle drives! Up early, we leave our camp and head off, travelling south along the notorious “Birdsville Track”. This track was once used by Afghan camel drivers following the cattle routes from north west Queensland to Marree in the south. It is desolate but beautiful country with the Sturt Stoney Desert on our left and the great expanse of the Simpson Desert on our right. We steadily make our way past Mungerannie Roadhouse over the sand hills that make the track so famous, reaching Marree in the early afternoon. Remote Marree is the graveyard for the Great Ghan rolling stock, its history will interest everyone. The Marree Hotel is worthy of attention before we make our way to Leigh Creek for our overnight stay at the fabulous Leigh Creek Tav Motel. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 | Mon 8 Sept 08 | Sydney . . . out of the outback! We travel south to Hawker with time to explore this fascinating town rich in art and history, then on to historic Quorn before reaching Adelaide. Your Qantas flight is booked for your return flight to Sydney. (B,L,D)

You’ll return with new friends & many fond memories. Thank you for travelling with... CENTRE ONE TOURS AUSTRALIA