Outback Gardens and Botanical Trail

Travel west along the Adventure Way into the Outback’s classic South West country — wide plains of red earth, scattered mulga woodlands and broad horizons that capture the region’s spirit of resilience and space. Enjoy a home-baked morning tea beside Wallam Creek, hosted by the local QCWA branch — a trusted community organisation for rural Queensland women since 1922. Visit a private garden that reveals how locals in this semi-arid climate create thriving colours and productive spaces despite limited water. You’ll see how thoughtful plant choices, mulching and clever shade design bring beauty and practicality to the home garden.

Meet proud locals focussed on initiatives to rebuild Bollon into a thriving rural community. Over lunch, enjoy seasonal bush foods and native flavours plus insights into native plants and their uses for food, medicine. After an insightful fun day we continue on to Cunnamulla and the Club Boutique Hotel your base for the next six nights. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla

Begin the day exploring the Cunnamulla Bushlands Gardens, a 6-hectare site that brings the region’s unique ecosystems together in one accessible location. Stroll the walking trails through Mulga Lands, Sandhills and Wetlands, where interpretive signs highlight native plant communities, seasonal wildflowers and their remarkable adaptations to outback conditions. It’s a relaxing and informative walk that deepens your understanding of how plants survive and thrive in this environment.

Spend the afternoon visiting innovative private gardens, where creative shade planting and water-conservation techniques create beautiful respites from the outback heat. Learn practical tips for garden design, raised-bed construction, bore-water irrigation and plant selection suited to harsh climates. These visits offer inspiration for anyone interested in sustainable gardening and simple ideas to take home.

Meet expert local beekeepers who share fascinating insights into outback apiculture, the migratory beekeeping industry, and how Queensland’s native forests produce some of Australia’s finest honey varieties. It’s a sweet reminder of how vital healthy ecosystems are to both native flora and local livelihoods. (B, L, D)

Today we travel to Francvillers Station, a 50,000-acre sheep and cattle property where Sarah Dunsdon of Outback Flora shares her passion for blending hardy native plants with classic cottage favourites. Her colourful garden — featured in Australian Country Magazine — demonstrates bore-water irrigation, raised-bed techniques and the potential for cut-flower production within station life. Enjoy morning tea in Sarah’s garden and hear how thoughtful design, soil management and resilience have shaped her approach to outback gardening.

Join Judy Roberts at Warrego Riverside Tourist Park for lunch and an inspiring look at what long-term vision and persistence can achieve. Over two decades, Judy has transformed a bare riverside block into a peaceful 13-hectare green retreat, complete with shady lawns, herb gardens and fruiting pomegranate trees. Her story is one of patience, creativity and a deep love of place — a reminder that with time and care, even the toughest soils can bloom. Return to your accommodation for a relaxed evening and dinner at leisure. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla

After an early breakfast, travel north to Charleville, in the heart of Queensland’s Mulga Lands bioregion — a landscape of low woodlands, mulga scrub and wide, open plains shaped by a semi-arid climate.

Here, visit private gardens where native and ornamental plants are blended thoughtfully, supported by bore-water irrigation, rain-water collection and clever water-saving design. Then, on the return drive, enjoy scenic stops for seasonal wildflower sightings — look for the golden blooms of Native Grevillea, fields of yellow Everlastings, soft mauve Emu Bush, and delicate Native Bluebells lighting up the plains after winter rain.

Enjoy lunch in Charleville, then continue the relaxed journey back to Cunnamulla, soaking in the ever-changing colours and textures of the outback landscape. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla

Today’s adventure explores the extensive wildflower trails around Cunnamulla, Eulo, and Thargomindah. Your guide leads you through outback landscapes searching for seasonal wildflowers including Everlastings, Sturt’s Desert Pea, and Emu Bush. Routes include scenic lookouts, roadside flower patches, and natural waterholes.

Enjoy morning tea in Thargomindah before continuing to Hungerford for lunch at the Royal Mail Hotel. Travel via the Darling Track to Yantabulla then Enngonia for refreshments at the Oasis Hotel, experiencing authentic outback pub culture and hospitality.

This relaxed day covers many kilometres through outback Queensland and New South Wales, offering countless photo opportunities, changing landscape vistas, and wildflower picking possibilities. Return to Cunnamulla for dinner and evening relaxation. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla

Today your guide introduces a handpicked selection of public and private gardens that reflect the creativity, warmth and resilience of the Cunnamulla community. Each stop tells its own story — from colourful native plantings and shady backyard oases to clever water-saving designs that make the most of bore water and local soils.

Meet passionate gardeners who are happy to share their tips and tricks, from hardy plant varieties and raised-bed techniques to simple ways of creating year-round colour and a place of respite. The relaxed pace allows time for conversations, photographs and a few surprises along the way — you never quite know what hidden gems await!

Return to Club Boutique Hotel in the afternoon with time to relax before our farewell dinner, reflecting on the outback community creativity and ingenuity. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast and some free time to explore Cunnamulla at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Cunnamulla Fella statue, browse the heritage trail or art trail, or take a gentle stroll along the Warrego River Walk. Those seeking a little relaxation might prefer a dip at the Cunnamulla Hot Springs, a new favourite for travellers winding down after their outback adventure.

Late morning, transfer to Cunnamulla Airport for your Rex Airlines flight to Brisbane after discovering the beauty and resilience of the South West Outback gardens. (B)