Starlights Cruise Experience
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
An evening of outback tradition and legend.
Cruise down the splendid Thomson River at sunset on one of our heritage boats. Watch the birds come home to roost on the riverbanks and learn about the local flora, fauna and history. (Nibbles provided, BYO alcohol)
As darkness falls, the boat moors at Outback Pioneers' river camp for a 2-course stockman’s dinner around the campfire. Our bush poet charms the crowd. After dinner watch the ‘Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Show’ – a movie in the open-air riverbank theatre. The Kinnon family commissioned this exclusive movie to celebrate the tale of Captain Starlight. Finally, enjoy tea, damper and golden syrup by the campfire under a million stars.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Dietary requirements? Please provide details in NOTES
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Hearty GF beef stockman's stew with mash potatoes and vegetables, followed by dessert. Please contact Outback Pioneers in advance if you have dietary requirements
Billy tea with damper.
You are welcome to BYO alcoholic beverages
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Enjoy a gentle sunset cruise down the majestic Thomson River, where birds flock home to roost on the riverbanks. This is Longreach’s original Thomson River Cruise and still a must-do for every visitor to Longreach. There are endless photo opportunities and an insightful commentary as you pass natural features. You'll be cruising on the original paddlewheeler, which has riverside seats all around and lets you capture photos of the photogenic river at sunset.
We go ashore for a traditional stockman’s camp-fire dinner. This is the real outback experience with inspiring and humorous traditional entertainment featuring our bush poet and your Kinnon family host.
Options
Starlights Cruise Experience
Pickup included
Reviews
368 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Western Queensland has so much history to share.
sdscuderi,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience. I have been recommending the Starlight Cruise to family and friends since returning home. From the pickup at our Motel to the drop at the end of the night the history of area was shared. Loved the whole lot, bus trip, paddle boat, and the lovely Bush Poet lady was very entertaining. The bush tucker food, Camp oven stew, was delicious, I even bought the tea towels with the recipe for my daughter and daughter in laws, the next day at the Station Store. The movie clip of the two young gentlemen was a highlight, explaining how the Starlight Cruise Experience eventuated. Also, the history of the area was explained through a reenactment of times gone by. Western Queensland has so much history to share.
A must do in Longreach
Heather M,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00this was a wonderful afternoon out. cruise was so enjoyable and the dinner and show afterwards topped off a great day.
Camp meal and presentation made up for underwhelming cruise
298haydenr,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Cruise was underwhelming with uninteresting/overwhelming commentary and a bad audio system. I'd rather learn about the birds, turtles, ecosystem surrounding the river than a detailed recount of how the watersports club was built. However I did enjoy the camp and meals afterwards. I do think that the background music could be more reflective of the 1880s-1920s period. It would also be great if there was acknowledgement of the Iningai people, their Country, and Aboriginal stock workers in the region. Lane gave a very good presentation with great character.
My grandson enjoyed the...
Annette L,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My grandson enjoyed the river cruise and loved the poetry and enjoyed trying the food although he didn't eat it. He did eat the damper and went back for seconds. the team were awesome
This was an awesome...
Allan G,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an awesome experience, very unexpected in outback Queensland. We had a great time and the entertainment was great
Starlight's cruise
dawnb369,
Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fun night , chilling and a beautiful setting. We really enjoyed our trip and the entertainment around the camp fire. Tea was yummy. A great fun experience - I highly recommend. Boat trip was awesome.
TripAdvisor info wrong
MinMinLite,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We booked this cruise based on the TripAdvisor description stating that the paddle wheeler was designed for small groups, to a maximum of 12 people. The competition's description stated it was for up to 48 people, so we chose this one as we prefer smaller groups. It was with great disappointment then that we ended up with a group of at least 40. And this turned out to be a classic example of why we don't like large groups, there's always at least one loud obnoxious clown who spoils it for everyone else. During the cruise the captain's commentary was continually drowned out by one particular voice, and that really put a dampener on the whole experience. The rest of the night was ok and loudmouth seemed to pull his head in, but there was always the concern that he would start up again, and that made it difficult to enjoy much of the evening. I don't know if the incorrect description is the fault of TripAdvisor or the tour operator, but it needs to be fixed.
Lovely package worth the money
G3947DKsharonj,
Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyable evening with the cruise down river,seats a little uncomfortable on boat. Loved the campfire meal and movie. Even saw a possum. Pick up and drop off very convenient.
Lived up to the outback experience.
R9080EUjohnb,
Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Thoroughly enjoyed the Starlight Cruise, dinner and entertainment. It was a true outback experience. We chose this excursion because of the paddlewheeler. The dinner was a genuine stewed steak meal, and the meat was very tender and delicious. I am very fussy with my steak and to get my approval, it has to tick all the boxes. The Bush Poetry and movie about the Bushranger Captain Starlight were also in keeping with the atmosphere of the old times and enjoyed them as well. Service and organisation was excellent and we were picked up and dropped off in comfort and efficiency. Overall it lived up to its reputation in reproducing the feeling and atmosphere of days gone by, which is exactly what we wanted. Initially, I was a bit concerned regarding the price but became to appreciate that there is quite a lot of labour and costs involved and feel it was good value for money. I have no hesitation in recommending the experience.
Great poetry recital.
812juttac,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Fun night out. Food was good The poet was superb, and certainly knew her stuff. Well done. Would have loved to see the projected show, but there was a malfunction with the sound.
From A$165.00
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