LRE (Longreach) weekend - 26-27 Sep 2026

[Dantas]

I've flagged the idea of a weekend in LRE to a few fellow AFFers at recent gatherings and now it's time to do it. I'm not sure how much interest there will be but the plan is to visit the Qantas Founders Museum on Saturday followed by lunch and/or dinner depending on what works best. The Stockmans Hall of Fame could be an option for Sunday if it is open. They are currently open on Sundays but this may change.

I don't think it would be necessary to make any reservations but it would be good to get an idea as to who is interested or actually coming. So please post with the usual status-based responses. I'll make a start:

Name	Arrival	Flight No.	Departure	Flight No.
Platinum
@Dantas	Fri 25/9	QF2544	Sun 27/9	QF2543
@jordan_tas	Fri 25/9	QF2544	Sun 27/9	QF2543

 

[markis10]

The Stockmans Hall of Fame could be an option for Sunday if it is open. They are currently open on Sundays but this may change.

It closes Sundays over Summer:

From Saturday 11th October 2025 opening hours are 9am – 2pm.
Closed Sundays & Mondays until end March 2026.

 

[Doug_Westcott]

Too early to commit, but show me as interested

 

[Lat34]

We will probably still be in Europe but flights not locked in so please show me as interested. It's def on my bucket list.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Expect Saturday 26 Sept 2026 is AFL grand final day

 

[DejaBrew]

Silver for now.

 

[RSD]

I've flagged the idea of a weekend in LRE to a few fellow AFFers at recent gatherings and now it's time to do it. I'm not sure how much interest there will be but the plan is to visit the Qantas Founders Museum on Saturday followed by lunch and/or dinner depending on what works best. The Stockmans Hall of Fame could be an option for Sunday if it is open. They are currently open on Sundays but this may change.

I don't think it would be necessary to make any reservations but it would be good to get an idea as to who is interested or actually coming. So please post with the usual status-based responses. I'll make a start:

Name	Arrival	Flight No.	Departure	Flight No.
Platinum
@Dantas	Fri 25/9	QF2544	Sun 27/9	QF2543
@jordan_tas	Fri 25/9	QF2544	Sun 27/9	QF2543

It will really screw with Qantas's minds if we all actually DO go to Longreach for once!

 

[n7of9]

Wake in Fright vibes

 

[Big John]

Silver for now.

Same here. The Qantas Founders Museum is on my bucket list.

 

[DejaBrew]

It will really screw with Qantas's minds if we all actually DO go to Longreach for once!

You mean that after all the false alarms over the years, they might actually need to allocate that one-off A380 to LRE after all?

 

[RooFlyer]

Some here may remember the Qantas-arranged charity flight SYD-LRE-SYD & visit to the museum, flown on 'Retro Roo'.

Thread 'Boarding soon, Retro Roo. Destination, Longreach!'

Sep 1, 2015

To kick off Qantas' 95th birthday celebrations, a Qantas retro-inspired charity flight is set for take-off! Destination? Longreach!

On Saturday October 31 2015, we’ll be operating a one-off joy flight from Sydney to Longreach return in support of the Western Queensland Drought Appeal.

Working with The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), all funds raised by Qantas will go directly to the Western Queensland Drought Appeal and help those experiencing difficulty as a result of the ongoing drought.

For $737, passengers will enjoy a full day out including a champagne...

• Red Roo
• Replies: 205
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 

 

[jastel]

You may need to make bookings for the Skypark tours of the planes, the wingwalks and the Luminessence show.

Tourists should be slowing down by that time but you never know.
I think the main issue is knowledgeable guides for the 747 tour.

 

[JessicaTam]

Paging @samh004 to the white courtesy phone.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Put myself and Mr LL as silver - if too many people attend will there be a problem with accommodation?

 

[samh004]

Paging @samh004 to the white courtesy phone.

Looks like it'll be just over 10 years after I did similar! The number to beat looks to be about 21, but I don't have any contacts for up there anymore, haven't been since COVID when I drove with @Mattg.

Thread 'The LRE Outback Do [29 APR - 1 MAY 2016]'

May 25, 2015

It's finally come time to post details of the next major AFF event, one that I'm sure you've all been waiting for, a visit to Longreach and the Qantas Founders Outback Museum. Of course, that's just a small part of the trip though, because Longreach is also home to the Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame, and we'll be taking a cruise on the only paddle-wheeler West of the Great Divide down the Thomson River, thanks to Kinnon & Co. The weekend promises to be a fascinating and informative trip, and with many in the outback struggling through a drought, your support of the...

• samh004
• Replies: 363
• Forum: Meetings & Social Events

• 

 

[Mattg]

I'm interested but no idea yet whether I'll be able to make it.

Put myself and Mr LL as silver - if too many people attend will there be a problem with accommodation?

I suspect the bigger problem will be seats on the flights in/out of LRE! It's usually a single Dash 8 per day. I guess there's also the option of taking a train from Emerald or Rockhampton, which I did once.

 

[luxury-lizard]

re flights - some (e.g. us) may wish to go a day earlier or later to take in Winton as well which could relieve pressure on flights.

 

[samh004]

re flights - some (e.g. us) may wish to go a day earlier or later to take in Winton as well which could relieve pressure on flights.

Just bear in mind that Winton is a fair drive further on - about 2 hours. The Age of Dinosaurs is just before Winton and definitely worth a look, but Lark Quarry is another 1-hour drive South out of Winton. And then there's the Waltzing Matilda museum in Winton. I think the ideal placement of these activities would be to drive to Winton and stop off at the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit along the way, head into Winton to stay the night, early the next morning head to Lark Quarry, and then on the way back through Winton do the Waltzing Matilda museum before heading back to Longreach.

I have my doubts you could drive to Lark Quarry first from Longreach (289KM/3 hours), have a quick stop at the Waltzing Matilda museum on the way back through and then do the Age of Dinosaurs before heading to Longreach in the evening... all in the same day.

 

[luxury-lizard]

@samh004 - many thanks - excellent information - once you fly all the way to Longreach on a Dash8 might as well spend a few days and see all points of interest nearby (hey it's the outback - nearby can be a few 100 K's) - it's probably a "once and done" sort of place.

 

[samh004]

@samh004 - many thanks - excellent information - once you fly all the way to Longreach on a Dash8 might as well spend a few days and see all points of interest nearby (hey it's the outback - nearby can be a few 100 K's) - it's probably a "once and done" sort of place.

I can't recall if @Mattg and I did a TR for our drive through the outback, but we managed to fit quite a bit into the time we had, which I think was just under a week, Brisbane to Charleville via Roma, then Charleville to Longreach via Blackall and Barcaldine, Longreach to Winton via Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Winton to Emerald (with backtracking) via Lark Quarry and then finally Emerald to Brisbane. Done in an SUV / 2WD. Unless you really want the route on your map, driving could be cheaper and allow you to see more