Outback Queensland
Australia Photo Tours & Packages

Outback Desert Photographic Odyssey

Outback Queensland, Australia Photography Tour

21st-29th October 2012

Join Bluedog Photography into the Outback: an ancient land filled with nostalgia, fantastic characters and never ending skies.

Danielle Lancaster will take you on a journey to places and faces in her beloved Outback Queensland on our second Outback Desert Photographic Odyssey tour designed specifically for photographers and partners.

All you need to pack is your camera gear for this tour is a fully catered tour: each night our beds made and all our meals prepared! We travel in our own Aussie Outback Tours 4WD vehicle with Alan Smith, a born and bred outback character with a wealth of knowledge at the helm. We stay at the iconic Birdsville Hotel and much more...

Highlights will include:
Exploring the outback desert landscapes of the Channel Country;
Real Outback hospitality in Windorah, Boulia, Winton and Longreach;
Unforgettable characters at the Birdsville Hotel and other watering holes;
Awe inspiring sunsets across the Simpson Desert from dunes such as Big Red (Australia's largest sand dune);
A chance to unlock the mystery of the famous Min Min Lights;
A themed Drover’s Awards Dinner with Bush Poet Bare Foot Scotty;
All meals, entries and motel accommodation - just bring your camera gear and clothes;
Presentations and tutorials during the tour on numerous aspects of photography;
Photography tuition and for those who wish photography assignments and exercises to push your creativity and photographic prowess;
The opportunity to travel and photograph with Danielle through a unique outback landscape that won her photographic heart.
Non-photography partners are welcome.

View some of our images and those that joined us on this tour in April 2011 in our album on the
Bluedog Facebook Page and our Blog during the April 2011 trip at the Bluedog Photography and Travel Blog

Star Trails and Light Painting at Carcoory Ruins April 2011

Sunset shoot in the outback April 2011

Jimmie Crombie by Sue N. April 2011

Playing outside the Birdsville Hotel April 2011

Please see below:
Planned itinerary, prices, inclusions, what to bring for camera and personal items, testimonials,
how to get to Longreach and links for more info on Queensland's outback.

Outback Desert Photographic Odyssey Example Itinerary

Day 1: (D)
Arrive Longreach via Qantas Link or the Spirit of the Outback rail journey.
Enjoy a welcome dinner and tour briefing at your motel.
Overnight Longreach

Day 2: (B, L, D)
This morning depart for Windorah!
Heading southwards we follow the mighty Thomson River flood plain and Mitchell grass lands to Stonehenge and Jundah where the red Mulga country and the sand dunes begin and the colours of the outback come alive.
During the trip see an inspiring presentation on images taken, hear how they were taken by Danielle of some of the places you will be visiting plus her top tips.
Overnight Windorah

Day 3: (B, L, D)
Today we begin with a sunrise photo shoot on the Cooper Flood Plain followed by a range of landscapes from the mighty Cooper Creek channels and flood plains to the very red sand dunes. Meet local and characters in and around town and visit the Western Star Hotel.
7.00pm Danielle presents her top 10 images from "Out Around the Bulloo."
Overnight Windorah

Day 4: (B, L, D)
Explore the famous Cooper’s Creek catchment, the famous 'Kings in Grass Castles' country following the footprints of the amazing pioneering Durack family. We travel along vast gibber ridges to Deon’s Lookout for picnic refreshments and vast views of the Diamantina Shire.
Time to take in the classic old 1880’s abandoned Betoota Hotel and its landscape littered with memorabilia. Overnight Birdsville - yes at the iconic Birdsville Pub!!

Day 5: (B, L, D)
Enjoy an easy day discovering the icons of Birdsville. Check out the Burke and Wills Tree on the Diamantina River and visit the famous Birdsville Race Track prior to lunch. After lunch enjoy some leisure time to focus on tracking down that iconic Birdsville image or take a break. Mid afternoon we head out for happy hour on the amazing red dunes at Big Red - the Edge of the Simpson Desert National Park. Be a part of the experience and feel the very soul of Australia as the sun goes down over the heart of the Outback.  Poeppel’s Corner, where the three states meet, sits quietly protected beyond the horizon by these vast and timeless sand dunes of the Simpson Desert. Back to Birdsville’s Hotel for dinner. Overnight Birdsville.

Day 6: (B, L, D)
This morning view sunrise with a range of subjects from the classic Birdsville Hotel to the Race Track, Burke and Wills Tree, Birdsville Billabong on the Diamantina. Through the morning visit the Waddi Trees found in only 3 places on the planet. The species is so old it has survived since the ice age.  Explore the Wirrari Centre, Wolfgang’s Art House, Birdsville Billabong and the Inland Hospital ruins. After lunch enjoy some leisure time to focus on tracking down that iconic Birdsville image or take a break. Enjoy happy hour at the Birdsville Hotel where the locals come together with a chance to meet a whole lot of characters. After dinner we wrap up the essence of Birdsville with a Flying Doctor Auction at the Birdsville Hotel. Overnight Birdsville

Day 7: (B, L, D)
Departing Birdsville for Boulia down the track, we visit Cacoory Ruins, a remnant of the first European settlement in 1870, amongst some of the toughest country in the heart of the Lake Eyre Basin, an area that covers one fifth of Australia’s land mass. Travel across the vast Cuttaburra flood plain and onto Bedourie for lunch. Moving north from Eyre creek, where the channel country meets the desert, we arrive at Boulia mid afternoon to check into our accommodation. In the afternoon we explore Boulia’s historic stone house, with reminders of our early pioneers and much more. Discover the Min Min Encounter, learning the story surrounding the myth of the mysterious Min Min Light.
Overnight Boulia

Day 8: (B, L, D)
This morning we travel east to Longreach via the vast timeless landscape of the majestic mesas set amongst the open pebbly plains at the Cawnpore Lookout, a landscape only found in 2 places on earth. Moving onto the Middleton Hotel, we catch up with the locals for morning tea. Enjoy a yarn about life amongst the famous Min Min country. Arriving into Winton, we enjoy lunch at the Tattersall Hotel and soak up the atmosphere of a classic two story timber pub with memorabilia and stories to last a lifetime before travelling onto Longreach. This evening soak up a spectacular outback sunset with the Drover’s Extravaganza Dinner. Sit back and be charmed by our outback entertainers and savour the traditional flavours of our outback themed cuisine with our fun farewell awards.
Overnight Longreach

Day 9:
Depart Longreach for your transfer home after a journey of a lifetime in Outback Queensland

Bluedog reserves the right to change the proposed itinerary if necessary.

Getting to Longreach

Fly
Qantas Link fly direct from Brisbane to Longreach
Most other domestic and international carriers fly into Brisbane.
For more visit: www.qantas.com.au

Rail
"The Spirit of the Outback"
An overnight (24 hour) journey over 1325 kilometers.
Runs twice weekly. Vehicles can also be transported for an extended stay.
For more visit:www.railaustralia.com.au/spirit.php

Drive
Longreach is on the junction of the Capricorn and Matilda Highways approximately a 13 hour drive from Brisbane, Queensland.
For more visit: Queensland Tourism

'Big Red' Australia's largest sand dune

Aleisha on a Bluedog Photography Outback Odyssey Tour.

'Thank you Danielle. I had a memorable holiday and a wonderful experience, both in practice and theory. I not only learnt so much about my camera, but more so, about the world around me.
I certainly do see things in a different light  when I look
through that lens now.

The trip Outback was a changing point in my life.
It was just a taste of the adventures I can look forward
to in the future.

Not only the photo opportunities, but the wonderful characters we met, like Jimmy and Dusty and Don and Wolfie and Neale and John & Judy and Tarpot and Lester, were all made possible because of you and I think that's  what enriched the tour for me.
Once again, thank you.' from Sue Theo

'A big thank you for planning this wonderful trip away.'
from Wendy.

'I now have a greater knowledge of my camera etc. and what it can do, and the confidence to try various things.  The tutors were splendid, with their knowledge extensive and ability to explain things clearly to a ‘hobby’ photographer like me.' from Terry

'The Outback Odyssey tour far surpassed any expectations I had. From a travelling perspective the bus was comfy, the rooms were lovely, people were great and food fantastic. I learned so much and gained plenty of confidence in my own photography and I have come away not just with new knowledge, skills and photographs but also with a wonderful experience and plenty of stories to tell people. I would recommend this tour for anyone and everyone – you will be amazed at how fantastic this tour is'. from Aleisha

Make a call from Middelton