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Enjoy an outback school excursion in Longreach

Price

$195 per person

Duration

7.5 hours

Departure

Monday - Friday, April - October

Experience life as a pioneer

A school excursion with Outback Pioneers is entertaining, educational and fun. Students live the real outback and absorb memorable insights about pioneers and station life today. The iconic outback is part of our cultural past and present that every Australian child should experience at least once. Do something different and open their eyes and imaginations to the stories that dwell far from the city.
Smiling 12 year old girl
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Excursion highlights

  • Educational and entertaining experience for Years 5–9 (adjusted to age group)
  • Cobb & Co stagecoach story including stagecoach ride on old mail route
  • Pioneer shopping story with insight into outback products and supplies
  • Outback station visit to working Nogo Station with merino wool story in the historic shearing sheds
  • Captain Starlight’s story at his ruined stockyards
  • Campfire dinner with stockman’s stew, outback yarns and star-spotting
Serving stockman's stew to students in a bush setting
View of dusty bush track as seen from the roof of a Cobb and Co Stagecoach
Sarah and Marisse Kinnon standing at the front door of The Station Store, Longreach
Merino sheep standing around a water point on Nogo Station
Young boy helping with a sheep shearing demonstration
Students standing together on an outback ridge at dusk
Stoking the camp fire in the black of night

Things you'll love

Your entertaining hosts who are real outback graziers and horse trainers
The thrill of the stagecoach ride out into the bush with a 5-horse team
A pioneer shopping emporium with tour by the storekeeper
Discovering the iconic Australian life on a remote station – past and present
Getting up close to the merinos and learning about a shearer’s life
Seeing the spot where Captain Starlight branded his stolen cattle
A crackling campfire and hearty stew under a starlit sky

Things to know

  • The experience starts at 1.30pm and finishes at around 9pm – Monday to Friday.
  • It is available April–October season
  • One school per day so book your place well ahead
  • Suitable for groups 25–84 people (or modified itinerary for up to 100)
  • Travel with your usual coach company or ask us for recommendations
  • Let us know when you book for gluten-free, vegetarian or other dietary needs.
  • $195 per person. Teachers and parents at student prices

Itinerary

Note: Times are approximate.

Cobb & Co Stagecoach story
Your students will discover another world in the Cobb & Co courtyard. Our horse trainer and stagecoach driver will tell stories of pioneer history, Cobb & Co and his own outback life that will engage all ages. A demonstration of outback items and memorabilia will help bring the past to life. The Cobb & Co stagecoach ride itself is a highlight for everyone. The story of pioneer travel becomes real as students take their seats and imagine what it would be like to cover long journeys by stagecoach at a time before cars and planes. They learn how Cobb & Co opened up the outback and who typically travelled. They can’t stop talking about their ride out into the bush with the impressive horses on the old mail route!
Pioneer shopping story
Students will discover shopping as it used to be at The Station Store, our emporium that is set up like a traditional store. Long before online shopping, pioneers on remote stations looked forward to an exciting day out visiting a store that sold everything they needed. Our store-keeper will demonstrate outback items and tell the stories of their origins. From wool garments to stockman’s supplies, from opals to outback crafts, there’s plenty to discover. There are also outback souvenirs to buy for those who want a gift to take home!
Outback station stories
Students will board their coach for a trip out to the Kinnons’ Nogo Station. They’ll see more of the town and then the outback bush landscape along the way. Groups will visit the historic shearing sheds to discover more about the merino wool story and station life. They’ll get up close to the merinos waiting for shearing and learn fascinating facts about the shearers’ lives and work through the decades. Out in the open expanses of the station, as the sun sets, they’ll see the ruins of the stockyards used by cattle duffer, Harry Redford (aka Captain Starlight). His amazing story sparks the imagination of young and old.
Campfire dinner and yarns
After dark, we have a campfire dinner with a delicious stockman’s stew and dessert. Students hear more yarns around the fire. They have time to gaze at the outback sky and learn how the stars inspired ancient stories and allowed people to navigate vast distances. At 9pm, board your coach for the trip back to Longreach.

Enquire now

Contact our group manager for assistance with booking a school excursion itinerary.

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Name*
Please enter a number from 25 to 100.
Our standard itinerary is suitable for groups of 25–84 people. A modified itinerary is available for groups up to 100 people.

FAQs

Do you have multi-day itineraries?

No, our Outback Pioneers highlights are all concentrated in the one-day itinerary but there are additional Longreach attractions, such as the Qantas Founders Museum and the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, which give you the opportunity to extend your stay. We can also put you in touch with our trusted travel partners who can help you plan a longer itinerary in the outback.

Can we just do a part of the itinerary?

Sorry, we cannot offer individual parts. The whole itinerary is designed to give educational experiences that complement each other and give a real understanding of pioneer times and the outback way of life.

Can we do the itinerary at a different time of day?

We offer the itinerary at this time of day to allow us to keep students separate from other tourism guests. Unfortunately we cannot change that around but if you need a morning activity to complete the day, the Qantas Founders Museum or Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame also welcome school groups and complement the theme of the visit.

What is the minimum and maximum number of students per excursion?

This excursion is suitable for groups of 25–84 people. Groups over 84 can do the same itinerary over two days – please ask for details. The maximum group size is 100.

Do you have overnight accommodation for students?

We do not offer our own accommodation but our Groups Manager can advise on suitable venues in Longreach.

Are meals and refreshments included?

The two-course evening campfire meal and soft drinks are included in the excursion.

Are transfers included?

Normally, your coach would bring students to Outback Pioneers booking office for the first part of the experience then out to Nogo Station, returning to the accommodation at the end of the evening. If your coach and driver will not be available in Longreach, please discuss options with our Groups Manager.