Qantas Holidays sets the scene for travellers to Australia

Inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s forthcoming movie “Australia” and his commercials for Tourism Australia encouraging travellers to “Go Walkabout” (now airing), Qantas Holidays has created four new themed itineraries. Ranging from seven to 15-days, these tours feature not only actual film locations but also destinations that encapsulate the essence of Outback Australia.

The tours are fully escorted (minimum two people) and will depart on selected dates between April and November 2009. The prices are per person and include touring and sightseeing as per itinerary, and accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis with some lunches and dinners. International flights to Australia are not included.

7-DAY "GREAT OUTBACK PUBS" TOUR FROM £1,097

(Longreach-Barcaldine-Blackall-Charleville-Quilpie-Windorah-Longreach - eight departures between 22/4-18/11/09)

Highlights of this Queensland itinerary include historic pubs like the Wellshot Hotel established in 1890, fishing at Coopers Creek and visiting pioneering Outback towns like Charleville and Adavale (population 15).

This itinerary brings the Outback pioneers to life, people like sheep shearer Jack Howe who put Blackall on the map in 1892 by setting a world record for shearing 321 sheep in seven hours and 40 minutes, as well as pioneers Tully, Durack and Costello who created the town of Quilpie.

7-DAY "IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MOVIE" TOUR FROM £1,496

(Darwin, Katherine, Bullo River Station, Diggers Rest, Kununurra, Katherine, Darwin - nine departures between 27/4-23/9/09)

Starting and ending in Northern Territory’s Darwin, this itinerary explores the region’s dramatic history which includes sustaining 60 Japanese bombing raids in World War II, a historic event dramatically depicted in the movie “Australia”.

Other highlights include the magnificent Katherine Gorge and Bullo River Station, one of Australia’s premier hosted Outback properties, a working cattle station located on two hundred thousand stunning hectares. From here the itinerary ventures into the Kimberley region featuring actual movie locations like Diggers Rest and the Coburn Ranges abundant in gorges, waterholes and rivers.

10-DAY "IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MOVIE" TOUR FROM £2,062

(Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Bullo Rover Station, Diggers Rest, Kununurra, Broome - six departures between 29/5-19/9/09)

This 10-day trip is an extension of the above itinerary, offering further opportunities to visit actual film locations. Starting in Darwin and finishing in Broome in Western Australia, visitors have the opportunity to take a sunset camel ride along Cable Beach.

Other additions include World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park (itself made famous in the movie “Crocodile Dundee”) home to renowned Aboriginal rock art and a Yellow Waters cruise that allows guests to get close to crocodiles, jabirus and other amazing native birds.

15-DAY "IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MOVIE" TOUR FROM £2,887

(Brisbane, Bowen, Charters Towers, Richmond, Mt Isa, Lawn Hill, Tennant Creek, Mataranka, Timber Creek, Diggers Rest, Home Valley, Katherine, Darwin - one departure on 4th November 2009)

Like the movie, this too features an epic journey. Starting in Brisbane and ending in Darwin, travellers traverse northern Australia from Queensland to the Northern Territory starting with a Sunlander train journey in Brisbane which travels to Bowen on the Whitsunday Coast. This rail journey snakes its way along Queensland’s stunning coastline offering fabulous views from the comfort of a luxury train.

In the movie, Bowen is used to represent Darwin, the place Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, makes her entrance. Other highlights include Little Grand Canyon and its impressive collection of dinosaur fossils, two towns shaped by gold mining - Charters Towers and Tennant Creek, and an overnight stay in a luxury safari tent.

For more information and bookings, log on to Qantas.co.uk.