Frequently asked questions
Planning your Longreach holiday
What is the best time to visit Longreach?
What is the best way to get to Longreach?
How long should I plan to stay in Longreach?
Do I need to book tours before I arrive?
What do I need to bring for the tours?
Comfortable clothes, hat and sunscreen for daytime tours; jacket and insect repellent for the Starlight’s Cruise Experience. And don’t forget your camera!
Are the tours suitable for children?
Cancellations
What happens if I need to cancel my Outback Pioneers holiday or experience?
You can cancel up to 24 hours before an experience. Holiday cancellation conditions may vary depending on whether you are travelling with a group or independently. Please check with our reservations crew.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We will offer you an alternative day or a modified experience, depending on the weather problem. If this doesn’t suit you, we can refund your money.
Special dietary needs
Can you provide for special diets?
We regularly cater for vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free or gluten free. Please let us know when you book. If you have other special dietary requirements or allergies, please ask us when you book or at least two weeks in advance.
Experiences
Where do I pick up my experience tickets?
If you have booked online or over the phone, please pick up your tickets at the Outback Pioneers Booking Office at 128 Eagle Street (The Welcome Home building – see the Contact page for opening times) when you arrive in Longreach. We can then give you any updates and take note of your accommodation for pick-ups, if we have not already done so.
Where do the experiences and tours depart from?
The Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience starts at the Cobb & Co Courtyard (enter through The Station Store at 126 Eagle Street).
The Nogo Station Experience, Starlight’s Cruise Experience, and Winton Discovery Day Tour all pick up from Longreach accommodation and from the Outback Pioneers Booking Office at 128 Eagle Street. Please make sure we have your accommodation details for pick-up and drop-off.
What time are the experiences?
Please see your booking confirmation for departure times.Times on this website are a guide but may vary according to seasonal or operational changes so your booking confirmation is your best reference.
See further questions under disability access below and at the foot of the specific experience pages.
The Staging Post accommodation
What is the difference between The Stables rooms and The Coach Inn rooms?
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 3.00pm and check-out is by 10am.
Does the accommodation have room service?
Eating at The Welcome Home
Do I need to book for breakfast at The Welcome Home?
If you are on one of our inclusive holidays, your breakfast is booked and included. For independent travellers and locals, it helps us to know how many to cater for if you book but normally we can fit in individuals, couples and small families without a booking. Please book for larger groups.
Do I need to book for lunch at The Welcome Home?
We don’t take lunch reservations. Please just come along and find a table.
Do I need to book for evening dining at The Welcome Home?
Yes, please book for the Stonegrill Experience and the Country Classics Dining. You will find the booking form here.
Can we buy alcohol at The Welcome Home?
No, we have soft drinks available and you can BYO for the evening dining options.
What are the opening hours for eating at The Welcome Home?
The Welcome Home dining and café is open in the winter April-October season. Breakfast is from Monday-Saturday 6.30am–9.00am.
The Welcome Home Café & Tearoom is open for lunches and snacks Monday to Friday 9.00am–3.00pm.
Evening dining is 6.00pm–9.00pm.
Note: Due to staff shortages, the café and tearoom is temporarily closed and evening options are only available to inclusive holiday guests and group clients. Please check with us for updates.
Disability access
Is the Cobb & Co stagecoach ride suitable for someone with a bad back/neck?
The stagecoach ride is 45 minutes and most of the time it is travelling at a gentle pace through town and bush, but the experience does include a short gallop along a dirt track. It is surprisingly comfortable and not as bumpy as you might imagine. Many older people have enjoyed the ride but please discuss it with our reservations crew if you have a sensitive condition or would like further advice.
Is the Starlight’s Cruise Experience accessible for a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility?
If you can get onto the transfer bus, there are ramps onto the boats. If you cannot transfer out of the wheelchair for the bus, the best option is to come to the river by your private transport and use the ramps to board. Please let our crew know in advance that this is what you will do. Toilets at the rivercamp have disabled access.
Is the Nogo Station Experience suitable for a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility?
If you can get on and off the bus, you will be able to enjoy the experience. Minimal walking is needed. Unfortunately the buses do not have wheelchair access.
Is the Winton Discovery Day Tour suitable for a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility?
If you can get on and off the bus, you will be able to enjoy the experience. Minimal walking is needed. Unfortunately the buses do not have wheelchair access.
Is the Harry Redford Old Time Tent show suitable for a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility?
Yes. Please let our crew know in advance if you need wheelchair access or help to get seated.
Does The Staging Post Accommodation have disability access?
Our current (first phase) rooms do not have wheelchair access. We plan to include a wheelchair accessible room in the next phase of development so hope to welcome you in future.
Is there disability access for dining at The Welcome Home?
Doorways and toilets at The Welcome Home are wheelchair accessible.
Are assistance dogs allowed?
We welcome trained and certified assistance dogs displaying certification as specified under Queensland legislation. However, please be aware that the nature of the experiences could present some challenges.
The Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience has a team of horses and a dog. Our animals are well-trained to RSPCA standards for dealing with the public but it is your responsibility to ensure your dog does not approach the horses or other animals. The stagecoach itself is a small enclosed space with passengers aboard (not as spacious as modern transport!) and you need to be confident that you and your dog will be comfortable in this situation. The Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show also has animals.
Similarly, on the Nogo Station Experience, we encounter a number of other dogs, farm animals and feral animals. We believe a certified assistance dog should be able to handle this, but please be aware of the potential distractions.
The Winton Discovery Day Tour is a long day with a two-hour coach ride each way.
Transport, parking and taxis
How do I get from the airport/station to my accommodation?
Is there somewhere we can park a car and caravan or motorhome while we do the experiences?
Does The Staging Post accommodation have parking?
Are there taxis in Longreach?
Can we hire a car in Longreach?
Do all the experiences include pick-up and drop-off at our accommodation?
Toilet facilities
What toilet facilities are available on the experiences?
There are toilets available for all experiences, including at the Nogo Station shearing shed and the bush camp there.
COVID safety
Do guests need COVID vaccination proof?
For everyone’s safety, we require all guests to be fully vaccinated (at this time, that means at least double-vaccinated with approved vaccines). We may ask you to show proof of vaccination so please bring your vaccination certificate or have this information accessible in a digital format. If you have a medical exemption, you must bring your approved exemption certified by an authorised medical practitioner.
Do guests need to wear masks?
We follow the latest government regulations for social distancing and mask-wearing as they apply to our tourism and hospitality facilities. We suggest you bring masks in case they are needed.
What precautions does Outback Pioneers take for COVID protection?
We have additional cleaning and social distancing procedures to comply with government regulations. Our staff also follow a COVID code of conduct to protect our guests.
What if I have cold or flu symptoms?
Please do not join our experiences or enter our buildings with cold or flu symptoms or have arrived from a COVID hotspot without the specified period of isolation. We may ask you to leave if you have any symptoms that could be COVID-related. We can offer you an alternative date for your experiences or you can claim on your travel insurance for a refund.