St Rita's College Year 8 presents
Dust&Stars
Where the road ends, the adventure begins.
A self-reliant family convoy through the Queensland outback.
Gorges. Sapphires. Stargazing. Secrets.
What is this?
A Week in the Outback
Dust & Stars is a 7-day road trip through the Queensland outback for St Rita's Year 8 families. Self-reliant. Community-driven. Unforgettable. Your family brings your camper -- we bring the adventure.
True Outback
Ancient gorges. Sapphire mines. The Milky Way from horizon to horizon. This isn't a tourist bus -- it's the real thing.
Community Convoy
Five families travelling together. Shared campfires. Your daughters' friends. A digital adventure feed connecting every vehicle.
Self-Reliant, Not Alone
Your camper, your setup, your pace. But always within radio range of the convoy. Satellite comms for the dead zones.
Secret Safari
Hidden challenges at every stop. Sapphire badges. Stargazer achievements. A treasure hunt layered over the landscape.
The Route
Seven Days. Seven Worlds.
Brisbane to the outback and back. Each day brings a new landscape, new secrets to discover, and new stories to share around the campfire.
2,200
Kilometres
7
Days
2
Rest Days
Highlights
- Cross the Great Dividing Range at Toowoomba
- Miles Historical Village -- 30+ authentic heritage buildings
- First outback sunset and stargazing at camp
Camp: Injune Caravan Park
Your first secret awaits at the Chinamans Lagoon -- find the pink water lilies and unlock your trail badge.
Highlights
- Enter the ancient sandstone world of Carnarvon Gorge
- Swim at the Rock Pool beneath towering cliffs
- Walk through the magical Moss Garden grotto
Camp: BIG4 Carnarvon Gorge Holiday Park
At dusk, the platypus appears in Carnarvon Creek. Be the first family to photograph one.
Highlights
- Art Gallery walk -- 2,000+ Aboriginal stencils on a 62m wall
- Ward's Canyon -- prehistoric King Ferns from Gondwana
- The Amphitheatre -- a cathedral carved by nature
Camp: BIG4 Carnarvon Gorge Holiday Park
Count the creek crossings on the Art Gallery trail. The exact number unlocks a hidden challenge.
Highlights
- Virgin Rock at Springsure -- nature's hidden sculpture
- Stock up at Emerald, the regional capital
- Arrive at the Sapphire Gemfields -- treasure country
Camp: Sapphire Caravan Park
At Springsure, find the Virgin Rock formation. Photograph it from the angle that reveals the face.
Highlights
- Underground mine tour -- walk through a real sapphire mine
- Fossick for your own sapphires and zircons (you keep them!)
- Stargazing -- the Milky Way horizon to horizon
Camp: Sapphire Caravan Park
Find a parti-colour sapphire (two colours in one stone). The rarest find earns the Gemseeker badge.
Highlights
- Isla Gorge lookout -- sheer orange sandstone cliffs
- Cania Gorge -- Queensland's best-kept secret
- Dragon Cave and Bloodwood Cave exploration
Camp: Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat
Cania Gorge has a hidden Aboriginal art site most tourists never find. Follow the Goon Goon Dhina trail.
Highlights
- Morning gorge walks -- Dragon Cave, Giant's Chair lookout
- Gayndah -- Queensland's oldest town and the Big Orange
- Bargara Beach -- ocean splash after a week in the outback
Camp: Home!
Final challenge: share your favourite moment from the trip. The convoy votes on the best story.
The Game Layer
Secret Safari
Every stop hides secrets. Photo challenges, nature hunts, hidden locations, and campfire quests. Find them, share them, earn badges. Your family against the outback -- and the leaderboard.
Discover
At each stop, challenges unlock on the app. Some are hidden -- you have to explore to find them.
Share
Post your discoveries to the convoy feed. Photos, stories, and proof of your adventures. Works offline -- syncs when you get signal.
Earn
Earn badges for your family. Climb the leaderboard. But remember -- you can't win without helping others.
CHALLENGE TYPES
"Find something that looks like a face in the sandstone"
"What year were these Aboriginal stencils dated to?"
"Spot 5 different bird species at this campsite"
"Build the best campfire dinner and share the recipe"
"Help another family set up their camp or fix something"
BADGES TO EARN
Trailblazer
Complete Day 1 and post your first discovery
Gorge Explorer
Walk at least 10km in Carnarvon Gorge
Ancient Witness
Visit the Aboriginal Art Gallery
Gemseeker
Find a sapphire at the Gemfields
Stargazer
Photograph the Milky Way
Convoy Spirit
Help another family with a challenge
Night Owl
Spot a platypus at dawn or dusk
Wayfinder
Complete all 7 days of the safari
Be Prepared
What You'll Need
Vehicle & Camping
- Camper trailer / caravan / rooftop tent (self-sufficient setup)
- 20L spare fuel container
- 20L drinking water jerry can (backup)
- UHF CB radio (we'll source as a group if needed)
- Basic recovery gear: tyre repair kit, shovel, tow strap
- Linkt / e-TAG for Toowoomba Bypass toll
Clothing & Warmth
- Warm layers for cold nights (drops to 0-5C in gorges!)
- Sturdy enclosed shoes for gorge walks and creek crossings
- Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen SPF50+
- Rain jacket (just in case)
- Swimmers (for Rock Pool and Bargara Beach)
Exploration Gear
- Torch / headlamp for each person
- Binoculars for birdwatching and lookouts
- Small containers with lids for gem finds
- Tweezers for picking sapphires from wash
- Camera / phone waterproof case
- Star map app downloaded (Stellarium -- free)
Safety & Health
- First aid kit (snake bite bandage included)
- Insect repellent
- Emergency+ app installed on all phones
- Any prescription medications
- Dietary requirements noted and self-catered
Winter Night Warning
June/July outback nights drop to 0--5C in the gorges. Brisbane families will feel it. Pack warm sleeping gear, beanies, and layers. Daytime is a beautiful 20--25C.
Questions?
Good. Ask Them.
Any vehicle capable of towing your camper trailer on sealed roads. The entire route is bitumen -- no 4WD required. SUVs, utes, and standard tow vehicles are all fine. If you can tow your camper to the Sunshine Coast, you can do this trip.
No. This is a parent-organised community adventure for Year 8 families. It's not an official St Rita's event. Each family is self-reliant and responsible for their own arrangements, insurance, and safety. We travel as a convoy for community and support.
Approximately $1,600--2,000 per family for 7 days. This covers fuel (~$660), camping fees (~$270), activities (~$250), and self-catered food (~$400). You control your own budget -- this isn't a packaged tour with set costs.
Yes, with proper preparation. The route stays on sealed roads, and we camp at established parks with facilities. Every vehicle carries a UHF radio, and the convoy has satellite messengers for the areas without mobile coverage. We require at least 2--3 adults with current first aid certificates across the group.
Telstra has the best outback coverage, but there are dead zones -- particularly at Carnarvon Gorge and between towns. The convoy communicates on UHF CB radio (no licence needed), and we carry satellite messengers for emergencies. The adventure platform works offline and syncs when you get signal.
The route is designed with natural join/leave points. Brisbane to Carnarvon Gorge (Days 1--3) works as a standalone trip. Families can also join at Emerald or leave from Bundaberg. We'll work with you.
Absolutely. This is a family adventure -- all ages are welcome. The activities suit everyone from primary school to adults. The only requirement is that each family is self-sufficient.
A digital treasure hunt layer built into the trip. At each stop, your family discovers hidden challenges, nature hunts, and photo quests. Post your discoveries to the convoy's shared feed, earn badges, and climb the leaderboard. It keeps the girls engaged and the whole family exploring. Everything works offline.
We'll confirm exact dates once we have confirmed families, but we're targeting the first week of the Term 2 school holiday break. Departure on a Saturday morning, return the following Friday/Saturday. We'll lock dates by mid-May.
Express your interest using the form below. We'll follow up with a planning meeting (in-person or video call) for all confirmed families about 3 weeks before departure. That's where we finalise logistics, distribute UHF radios, and run through the route together.
Ready?
Join the Convoy
Express your interest below. No commitment yet -- we'll follow up with a planning meeting for all confirmed families before we lock in dates and bookings.