Craig Giles is one of Australia’s most popular entertainers. His rich singing voice, dynamic stage presence, and friendly personality have earned him a place as one of the top artists in Australian country music, rock ‘n’ roll, and rockabilly. He performs Australia wide, and has performed in America, Europe and New Zealand and on many music cruises. He has many successful albums, hit singles, and music industry awards to his credit. www.craigiles.com
John was a secondary school music teacher for 25 years (taught Kylie Minogue). He and his twin brother, Graeme, perform as The Howie Brothers. John has been leading successful music tours & music cruises for 30 years.
Dave Prior is an outstanding Country singer, songwriter and comedian, from South Australia. For many years he worked in the commercial radio industry, as an announcer, program director and station manager. However, a mid-life career change saw him working as a singer/comedian, including touring with Adam Harvey, Doug Walters (cricketer), and Rodney Vincent. Dave has released many CDs, including an outstanding Merle Haggard tribute CD, Silver Wings and Haggard Things.
Graeme Hugo (guitar/vocal) is one of Australia’s most popular, hard working and successful country music artists. He started his music career in 1972, at the age of 18. He and his wife, Lynne, live in the Yorke Peninsula area of South Australia. For over 50 years Graeme has performed all over Australia, including the Sydney Opera House & various clubs in and around Sydney. Graeme is looking forward to entertaining us at our Farewell Dinner in Adelaide.
The Broken Hill Civic Orchestra was established in 1975 and had 25 members for its first performance. The orchestra has continued with an annual program of concerts since that time. Like most community orchestras, BHCO consists of a string section, woodwind section, brass section and percussion section. The orchestra plays a wide range of music including classical and well-known popular music. The current conductor of the orchestra is Mark Curtis.
Über Oompah is an outstanding German Oktoberfest-style band, from the Adelaide area. Many of Adelaide’s early settlers were from the German region, in Europe, and places like Hahndorf and the Barossa Valley reflect this German heritage, with beautiful Lutheran churches and bands that include accordions and brass instruments. Über Oompah will perform for us, as a 3-piece or 4-piece band, in Nuriootpa (Barossa Valley). They describe themselves as ‘a bunch of fun German entertainers’
VIEW ITINERARY DAY 1 Tuesday May 12, 2026 Mildura
Depart Melbourne and travel by coach to Mildura,
stopping in Bendigo for morning tea. On arrival in Mildura,
short panoramic tour. Evening: Dine at your leisure. Lots
of excellent restaurants right next to our hotel. Overnight:
Quality Hotel Mildura Grand.
DAY 2 Wednesday May 13, 2026 Mildura
Today you have a choice of (1) visiting the World Heritage
listed Mungo National Park, famous for its lunar-like
landscapes and aboriginal heritage, or (2) spending
the day in Mildura. The Mungo N. P. day trip and the
activities for those who stay in Mildura, are optional (more
information, back page). Evening: Dine at your leisure.
After dinner you are invited to an informal ‘music session’
with local acoustic/folk musicians. (B)
DAY 3 Thursday May 14, 2026 Broken Hill
Travel north, to Wentworth, NSW, where the Murray and
Darling rivers meet. Sightseeing coach tour of Wentworth,
including the river junction, Perry Sand Hills (ancient sand
dunes), and Possum’s Statue (Possum was a famous hermit
who lived along the banks of the Murray). After morning
tea in Wentworth, head north to Broken Hill, stopping
for lunch along the way. Afternoon: On arrival in Broken
Hill, sightseeing tour of this fascinating outback mining
town, with local guide. Visit The Big Picture (excellent
art gallery/retail establishment), and the Living Desert
Sculpture Symposium (12 giant sandstone sculptures) on
the outskirts of the town. Evening: Enjoy dinner at one
of Broken Hill’s best restaurants, then attend an outback
concert, featuring the Broken Hill Civic Orchestra. After
the concert enjoy supper with the performers. Overnight:
Comfort Inn Crystal Motel, Broken Hill. (B,L,D,Supper)
DAY 4 Friday May 15, 2026 Silverton/
Broken Hill
Morning: After breakfast visit White’s Mineral Art & Mining
Museum, where you will learn about Broken Hill’s mining
heritage. Then visit Broken Hill’s famous Royal Flying
Doctor Service base. Morning tea at Bells Milk Bar and
Museum (1950s milk bar, famous for its milkshakes, sodas,
spiders, etc.). Afternoon: Travel to the fascinating old mining town of Silverton, now virtually a ghost town. Visit
the famous Silverton Hotel, which has featured in various
movies and TV commercials. Return to Broken Hill, where
we visit the Pro Hart Gallery and the Broken Hill Miners
Memorial. Evening: Enjoy a special concert… Craig Giles
Live in Broken Hill! (B)
DAY 5 Saturday May 16, 2026 Wilcannia/
White Cliffs
Depart Broken Hill and head north-east to the opal-mining
settlement of White Cliffs, where the thousands of shafts
dug since the 1880s have created an eerie, pockmarked
landscape. On the way visit the historic Darling River town
of Wilcannia, where we will go on a short tour with local
guide. Morning tea at the Wilcannia Club Hotel, where
John Howie is planning to have a short music session with
some of the local aboriginal musicians. On arrival in White
Cliffs, lunch at our accommodation. Afternoon: Tour of
White Cliffs with local guide, including visits to the opal
fields, an underground home, and an opal shop. Evening:
After dinner John Howie and Craig Giles will lead a funfilled
informal music session. We will invite local musicians
to join us. Overnight: the famous White Cliffs Underground
Motel. (B,L,D)
DAY 6 Sunday May 17, 2026 Tibooburra
Morning: Depart White Cliffs and head northwest to
Tibooburra. On the way visit Milparinka… virtually a
ghost town these days. After lunch we visit Depot Glen,
a shaded waterhole on Preservation Creek – one of the
most famous exploration sites in Australia. It was here
that explorer Charles Sturt and his party were marooned
for 6 months, in 1845, on their epic search for an inland
sea. Second in command James Poole perished here;
we visit his grave. Then proceed to Tibooburra, a true
outback town in the ‘corner country’ of far western New
South Wales. You will have time to explore the town. The
interior walls of the Family Hotel boast a mural of artwork
by famous Australian artists, including Clifton Pugh and Russell Drysdale. Evening: John Howie and Craig Giles
will lead a fun-filled singalong session, on the porch of the
Family Hotel, with, hopefully, some of the locals and some
tour group members joining in. Then enjoy an excellent
dinner at T.J’s Roadhouse or the Family Hotel. Overnight:
‘The Granites’ Motel. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 Monday May 18, 2026 Innamincka
Today we travel northwest to Innamincka. Visit Fort Grey,
where Sturt established his last base camp in 1845 before
pushing on to the Cooper (Cooper Creek). Then proceed to
Cameron Corner, where the borders of NSW, Queensland
and SA meet. See Australia’s famous Dingo Fence. Have
lunch at the Corner Store. Proceed to Innamincka, which
is situated on Cooper Creek close to where the ill-fated
Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-61 came to its tragic
end. Evening: After dinner spend a relaxing evening
around our wonderful outback hotel. Overnight: The
Innamincka Hotel. (B,D)
DAY 8 Tuesday May 19, 2026 Innamincka
Morning: Visit Burke’s Grave and the beautiful Cullyamurra
Waterhole, both a few kilometres east of our hotel. The
scenery along Cooper Creek, in the vicinity of Innamincka,
is stunning. Beautiful water holes, fabulous gum trees,
and lots of colourful Australian birds. Then visit the famous
Dig Tree, where on May 22, 1861, Burke, Wills and King
probably realised they were doomed. Afternoon: You
will have some free time. You may like to visit the former
Australian Inland Mission Hospital building, now a National
Parks office and museum, located right next to our hotel.
Late Afternoon: Further exploration of Cooper Creek.
Travel to the west of our hotel, including a visit to King’s
Marker (marks the spot where King was found alive by a
search party following the Burke and Wills expedition).
Evening: Enjoy a fun-filled Aussie Campfire Singalong, in
the beer garden of our hotel. We will invite the locals to
join us. (B)
DAY 9 Wednesday May 20, 2026 Birdsville
Depart Innamincka and head northwest to Birdsville, in far
western QLD. Picnic lunch along the way. On arrival check
into our hotel, then free time for you to meet the ‘locals’
in the main bar of the iconic Birdsville pub. Evening:
Dinner in our hotel. After dinner John Howie will host an
Aussie Bush Poetry session. Please join in and recite your
favourite bush poems. Overnight: Birdsville Hotel-Motel
(the Birdsville Pub). (B,L,D)
DAY 10 Thursday May 21, 2026 Birdsville
Morning: Tour of Birdsville, with local guide. Visit the
Birdsville Racecourse (venue for the legendary Birdsville
Races). Travel a short distance west of Birdsville to
see (and climb) Big Red, a huge sand dune at the edge
of the Simpson Desert. Also travel a short distance
north of Birdsville, to see a small stand of Australia’s
rarest tree – the Waddy Tree. Afternoon: Lunch at the
excellent Birdsville Bakery (own expense), then free time.
Birdsville’s Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre is worth
visiting – it has a library, gallery space, workplace facilities
with Wi-Fi access, & a short Birdsville documentary in the
theatrette. Evening: Enjoy a special concert….Craig Giles
Live in Birdsville! (B)
DAY 11 Friday May 22, 2026 Marree
Leave Birdsville and head south along the Birdsville Track,
to the remote town of Marree, “where trains and camels
used to be”* Along the way we have lunch at Mungerannie
Roadhouse. Next to the roadhouse there are some lovely
wetlands, with lots of birdlife; you might like to go for
a ‘dip’ in the therapeutic warm waters of their Artesian
bush pool. Upon arrival in Marree enjoy a short panoramic
tour. You will also have time to explore the town on foot.
Evening: Dinner in our hotel. Also, enjoy a performance by
outstanding South Australian singer/songwriter/comedy
entertainer, Dave Prior. Overnight: Marree Hotel. (B,D) (*A
quote from the song Out in the Outback, by John Howie.)
DAY 12 Saturday May 23, 2026 Flinders Ranges
Depart Marree and travel south to Wilpena Pound, in
the spectacular southern Flinders Ranges. On the way
visit the ruins of Farina township. Proceed to the town of
Copley, where, for morning tea, you may wish to sample
one of the famous quandong pies at the Copley Bush
Bakery. Visit Leigh Creek township, then pass through
scenic Parachilna Gorge. Lunch in the historic town of
Blinman. Near Wilpena Pound, see the Cazneaux Tree,
subject of a famous photograph entitled The Spirit of
Endurance, taken by Dick Smith’s grandfather, Harold
Cazneaux, in 1937. Then proceed to Wilpena Pound… an
extraordinary natural basin measuring approximately 14
x 7 kilometres. It’s like a huge natural fortress, with only
one entry point. Afternoon: You will have the opportunity
of going on a sightseeing flight over Wilpena Pound
(optional). Or, you might like to join John Howie for a walk
into Wilpena Pound. Beautiful southern Flinders Ranges
scenery. Evening: After dinner Craig Giles will sing a few
songs for us… a short, informal after-dinner performance!
Overnight: Wilpena Pound Resort. (B,D)
DAY 13 Sunday May 24, 2026 Barossa Valley
This morning we travel south, heading for the Barossa Valley. Along the way we visit historic Burra, once a booming copper mining town. After a tour of the town you may like to sample one of the delicious local Cornish pasties, for lunch. Continue on to the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s premium wine growing regions. After a panoramic tour of the district we will visit a well-known winery. Then check into our accommodation, in Nuriootpa, one of the Barossa’s main towns. Evening: Enjoy a performance by excellent local ‘German’ band, Über Oompah. The Barossa Valley, with its German heritage, is famous for its outstanding brass bands and German flavoured bands. Overnight: Vine Inn & Vine Court Hotel/Motel, Nuriootpa. (B)
DAY 14 Monday May 25, 2026 Hahndorf/
Adelaide
Morning: Take a beautiful ‘back roads’ route from the
Barossa Valley to the Hahndorf region, in the Adelaide
Hills. On the way, visit the excellent Birdwood Motor
Museum. Free time, for shopping and lunch, in the historic
‘German’ village of Hahndorf. Afternoon: Sightseeing
coach tour of central Adelaide. Drive past the Adelaide
Cricket Ground. Visit the R.M.Williams Outback Heritage
Museum, located on the site of the original R.M.Williams
boot and leather goods factory. Evening: For our
final night of the tour enjoy a special Farewell Dinner.
Entertainment will be provided by well-known South
Australian country music performer, Graeme Hugo.
Overnight: Comfort Inn Regal Park, North Adelaide. (B,D)
DAY 15 Tuesday May 26, 2026 Melbourne
Return to Melbourne, arriving approximately 6.45pm and
the tour concludes. (B)
| TWIN FARE PER PERSON | SINGLE FARE |
|---|---|
| $6,850 | $8,045 |
This day trip is with a local company called Discover Mildura. Depart Mildura at 8am, return to Mildura at approx. 4pm. The trip includes morning tea & lunch. It’s about a 1½ hour drive, from Mildura to Mungo N.P. After morning tea, enjoy tour with local guide, including the spectacular crescent shaped Walls of China dune, which flanks part of the ancient dried up Lake Mungo. Also, visit magnificent Mungo Woolshed (1869). Approx. cost of this day trip: $110 - $120 per person (depending on how many in our group). Please tick box on booking form, if you wish to visit Mungo N.P. Travelrite will add the cost to your invoice.
Those who choose to stay in Mildura, Day 2, will have a free day. You may like to visit the following: historic Rio Vista Mansion (including the Mildura Regional Art Gallery…..admission is free); the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens; the Mildura Holden Motor Museum; the RAAF Memorial & Museum (at Mildura Airport); Orange World; Trentham Estate Winery.
The organisers reserve the right to change any details of the tour that they believe will enhance the safety, quality, success and smooth running of the tour. For instance, if any entertainment mentioned in the itinerary is unavailable, we need to replace that entertainment with similar alternative acts.
It is important that all tour participants have a basic level of physical fitness that allows them to take part in this activity without the need of assistance from others.
Tour Operator
Travelrite International Pty Ltd. A.C.N.
005 817 0781 (Travelrite International) is the tour operator.
Tour Costs
The tours costs are based on transport,
accommodation costs and entrance costs at 1 May 2025.
Travelrite reserves the right to alter the costs if any of these
factors change, giving any passenger that has booked the
right to withdraw with full refund of monies paid or modify
arrangements. No alterations to costings will be made
within 60 days of departure.
Deposit and Payment
A non-refundable deposit of
$500 per passenger is required at the time of booking. Full
payment will be required 60 days before departure. A 1.5%
administration charge will be added to payment by Visa,
Mastercard and American Express.
Cancellations
Cancellations within 60 days prior
to departure will result in the loss of all monies paid.
Cancellation outside 60 days from departure will result
in a refund of $500 per person. Travel insurance is
recommended to cover the costs of cancellation fees due
to illness, death in family, etc.
Minimum Tour Numbers
The tour has been costed
on the basis of a minimum number of passengers having
booked 60 days prior to departure. Travelrite reserves the right to cancel the tour, giving a full refund of all monies
paid or offer arrangements to proceed with the tour at a
modified cost if the minimum number is not achieved.
Refunds
The tour is based on arrangements which
do not allow for any refunds in respect to sightseeing,
accommodation, meals or other services not utilised after
the tour has commenced.
Baggage
All passengers qualify for 1 piece free baggage
allowance.
Tour Participation
Children under 5 years of age are ineligible on coach & cruise tours. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers with disabilities are welcome on Travelrite & Cruise Offers tours provided they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing all necessary assistance, and do not require special assistance from Travelrite & Cruise Offers personnel. Travelrite and Cruise Offers reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone if it is felt the individual cannot cope with the requirements of coach & cruise tour travel and who may require services and facilities that Travelrite & Cruise Offers cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the Travelrite & Cruise Offers responsible for any decision made by any of them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you.
Responsibility
Travelrite International Pty Ltd. is the
tour organiser. Travelrite International acts only as agents
in making of arrangements with carriers, hoteliers and
others for the tour. As a result we cannot accept liability
for any act or omission whatsoever, whether negligent
or otherwise of those carriers, hoteliers or other persons
providing services in connection with the tour over whom
we have no direct or exclusive control. We do not accept
responsibility for any injury, damage, loss, delay, change of
schedule or any other events which are beyond our direct
control, such as, but not limited to, war, flood, fire, civil
disturbance, acts of God, acts of government, or any other
authorities, terrorism, accidents to or failure of machinery
or equipment, or industrial action. The passage contract
in use by the carriers concerned, when issued, shall
constitute the sole contract between the transportation
companies or firms and the purchasers of these tours and
the passengers. Baggage is at own risk throughout the
tour. The contract shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Victoria and any legal action must
be undertaken in the State of Victoria.
How to Book:
Bookings can be made by completing a
booking form and sending it with a non-refundable deposit
of $500 per person to:
Travelrite International Pty. Ltd.
423 Whitehorse Road
Balwyn, Victoria 3103
Further information can be obtained by telephoning
Toll Free 1800 630 343
Phone: (03) 8803 6868
Email: sales@travelrite.com.au
ABOUT TRAVELRITE INTERNATIONAL:
Travelrite
International Pty Ltd (ABN 64 005 817 078) is a wellestablished
family-owned business that’s been operating
in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs for more than 40 years.
Travelrite International is a full member of the Australian
Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), is fully Accredited with
ATAS (A10538) and IATA. As such they directly represent
the major airlines of the world and all major domestic and
international hotel, tour and transport operators.
“One of the best tours we have ever done. Great program and lovely people.”
“Well organised tour that ran smoothly. Very impressed with Wayne Horsburgh, intelligent, talented and caring.”
