Visitor Information -- The Longreach Visitor Information Centre is at Qantas Park, Eagle Street, Longreach, QLD 4730 (tel. 07/4658 4150; www.longreach.qld.gov.au). It is open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:45pm and weekends 9am to noon (closed public holidays and on weekends Nov-Mar).

Getting There

By Car

From Brisbane, Longreach is 1,286km (804 miles) northwest. Take the Warrego Highway west through Toowoomba and Roma, heading toward Charleville. About 90km (56 miles) before Charleville, head north to Augathella and join the Matilda Highway. From there it is about 320km (200 miles) to Barcaldine, and from there another 108km (67 miles) west to Longreach. From Rockhampton, the Capricorn Highway heads west through Emerald and Alpha for about 590km (369 miles) then joins the Matilda Highway.

By Plane

Qantaslink (tel. 13 13 13 in Australia; www.qantas.com.au) flies into Longreach Airport from Brisbane daily.

By Train

Queensland Rail Traveltrain (tel. 1800/872 467;www.queenslandrail.com.au) runs the train Spirit of the Outback from Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton every Tuesday at 6:25pm and Saturday at 1:10pm, returning on Thursday and Monday. It's A$189 for a seat from Brisbane or A$249 to A$385 for a sleeper. Alternatively, you can join the train at Rockhampton on Wednesday or Sunday. The trip takes about 25 hours from Brisbane, or 14 hours from Rockhampton.

By Bus

Greyhound Australia (tel. 1300/473 946) runs between Brisbane and Longreach daily. The trip takes nearly 18 hours and costs A$156.

Getting Around

Rental-car companies Avis (tel. 13 63 33 in Australia, or 07/4650 1000) and Budget (tel. 07/4982 1767) both have outlets at the airport.

Alan and Sue Smith's Outback Aussie Tours (tel. 07/4658 3000; www.oat.net.au) runs trips taking in Longreach, Ilfracombe, Winton, and Barcaldine, as well as the Lark Quarry dinosaur site. Kinnon & Co (tel. 07/4658 1776; www.longreachtravelcentre.com.au) at 115a Eagle St., is a booking office that has information on a variety of other tours.

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