Longreach: 4-Hour Starlights Cruise Experience

About this tour

Drift down the Thomson River at dusk aboard a heritage vessel, spotting brolgas and galahs returning to roost whilst learning about outback ecology and colonial heritage. Moor at a riverside stockman's camp where you'll tuck into beef stew and damper around a crackling fire, then settle back for an outdoor screening of a custom-made film about the legendary Captain Starlight, finishing with sweet tea under the stars. The entire experience spans four hours in remote Queensland.

Highlights

• Heritage boat cruise at golden hour on Thomson River
• Beef stew and mashed potato dinner by campfire
• Open-air film screening about outback outlaw legend
• Billy tea with damper and golden syrup under stars
• Local storyteller performs between courses
• Learn about native birds and river ecology

What to expect

You'll board a heritage-listed boat and motor downstream as the sun drops, watching the riverbanks come alive with homeward-bound birdlife. The skipper shares knowledge about local plants, animals and history along the way. Once darkness settles, you'll pull into the camp, grab a seat around the fire, and eat proper stockman's tucker—hearty beef stew with veg and spud, followed by a sweet pudding. A local performer weaves tales between courses. After dinner, the group moves to an open-air theatre on the riverbank for the Starlight's Spectacular film, a bespoke movie commissioned about the outback bushranger. You'll finish with hot billy tea, warm damper bread, and a quiet sit under the stars.

Good to know