Longreach Trip Overview
Enjoy an adventure to the heart of outback tradition and legend.
Starlight’s Cruise Experience provides you with a choice of cruising on the only paddlewheeler west of the Great Divide or the equally charming Thomson Princess Riverboat. Cruise down the splendid Thomson River at sunset with drinks (BYO alcohol) and nibbles, watch the birds come home to roost on the riverbanks and learn about the local flora, fauna and history.
As darkness falls, the boat moors at the Kinnons’ bush campground for a 2-course stockman’s dinner around the campfire. Local barefoot bush poet, Scotty, charms the crowd with his bush ballads. After dinner watch the ‘Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture Show’ – a movie in the open-air riverbank theatre. This exclusive movie was commissioned by the Kinnons to celebrate the tale of Captain Starlight. Finally, enjoy tea and damper by the campfire under the stars.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Starts: Longreach, Australia
Trip Category: Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours >> Water Tours
Explore Longreach Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Longreach, Queensland, Australia
Enjoy an adventure to the heart of outback tradition and legend.
Starlight’s Cruise Experience provides you with a choice of cruising on the only paddlewheeler west of the Great Divide or the equally charming Thomson Princess Riverboat. Cruise down the splendid Thomson River at sunset with drinks (BYO alcohol) and nibbles, watch the birds come home to roost on the riverbanks and learn about the local flora, fauna and history.
As darkness falls, the boat moors at the Kinnons’ bush campground for a 2-course stockman’s dinner around the campfire. Local barefoot bush poet, Scotty, charms the crowd with his bush ballads. After dinner watch the ‘Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture Show’ – a movie in the open-air riverbank theatre. This exclusive movie was commissioned by the Kinnons to celebrate the tale of Captain Starlight. Finally, enjoy tea and damper by the campfire under the stars.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Thomson River, Longreach QLD 4730, Australia
Enjoy a gentle sunset cruise down the majestic Thomson River, where birds flock home to roost on the riverbanks. This is Longreach’s original Thomson River Cruise and still a must-do for every visitor to Longreach. There are endless photo opportunities and an insightful commentary as you pass natural features.
Subject to availability, you may be cruising on the original paddlewheeler or on the Thomson Princess, which has riverside seats all around and lets you capture photos of the photogenic paddlewheeler at sunset. (In the quieter season, we only use the paddlewheeler.)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Thomson River, Longreach QLD 4730, Australia
We go ashore for a traditional stockman’s camp-fire dinner. This is the real outback experience with inspiring and humorous traditional entertainment featuring our barefoot bush poet and your Kinnon family host.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Thomson River, Longreach QLD 4730, Australia
Next, the bush is illuminated by the Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture Show – a unique big-screen presentation featuring the Kinnon family and locals in the amazing adventures of the notorious cattle thief known as ‘Captain Starlight’.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Thomson River, Longreach QLD 4730, Australia
Finally, in the atmospheric surroundings of the bush at night, enjoy the timeless favourite – billy tea and damper.
Duration: 30 minutes
