Legends, Lost Worlds and a Flamin' Good Time

Experienced Trailblazers and excited newcomers to the award-winning charity trek are getting set for one of the most exhilarating and extraordinary weeks of their lives.

Angel Flight Outback Trailblazer is a seven-day 4WD adventure showcasing the best of Outback Queensland and raising vital funds for Angel Flight Australia.

This year 60 teams will hit the trail from October 6 to 12, stirring up a lot more than dust.

"So far, three Trailblazers have raised more than $AUD300,000 for Angel Flight and injected over $1 million into the economies of Outback communities," said Barcaldine Mayor Rob Chandler.

"It's a unique and inspiring event, meeting the people and telling the stories of regional Queensland, promoting Outback tourism, and giving the Trailblazers themselves an incredible time they'll never forget."

Angel Flight Outback Trailblazer 2013 will venture into new territory - exploring the Central Highlands and Galilee Basin en route to favourite destinations in the central west.

It sets off from the banks of the Maranoa River at Mitchell for a cultural welcome to the country of the Bidjara people, and visits the Mt Moffat section of Carnarvon National Park with its striking sandstone outcrops, The Tombs, The Chimneys and Cathedral Rock.

"We learn of the mysterious 'Jundjdy', legendary little hairy people, and see amazing working dogs trained to locate rare and endangered wildlife," says event organiser Lance Smith.

"It's an action-packed week that takes in Injune, Lonesome National Park, Arcadia Valley, Springsure, Willows Gemfields, Snake Range National Park, Rubyvale and Sapphire, a huge Galilee Basin mine, Clermont and Degulla Lagoon.

"The trail crosses the Belyando River, heads to Alpha, Tumbar Station near Jericho and on to Muttaburra and Longreach before culminating at Barcaldine."

Along the way, Trailblazers will join in aquatic antics, take to the field in 'pyjama cricket', and go fossicking in an area famed for its 332-carat rough yellow sapphire, the 'Golden Yellow'.

They'll cheer the 'Buffalo Girls' and their beasts performing jaw-dropping stunts, and be mesmerised when event patron and country music star Tania Kernaghan takes to a clifftop stage for a concert in an Alpha gorge.

Bush gardens in bloom, a night of classical arts in a shearing shed, and Outback icons including the 'school of the air', vast sheep stations, and Qantas Founders Museum are all on the itinerary.

"Goosebumps are guaranteed," says Tania Kernaghan, who is looking forward to her fourth Outback Trailblazer.

"I can't wait to sing in the gorge, especially my new song Believe in Angles which I released recently in honour of the great work of Angel Flight."

Trailblazer team members also have the chance to share in over $AUD20,000 worth of prizes.

Angel Flight is a charity that co-ordinates free non-emergency flights to help country people trying to deal with the triple trouble of bad health, poor finances and daunting distance.

Volunteer pilot 'angels', who donate their time, skills and aircraft, have flown over 13,500 missions helping more than 2,200 people.

"Angel Flight relies entirely on donations, so 'earth angels' like our Outback Trailblazers are crucial to keep the service aloft," Mr Smith said.

Angel Flight OutbackTrailblazer is supported by Barcaldine Regional Council, RACQ, QantasLink, Queensland Rail, Tourism and Events Queensland, GBA Consulting Engineers, Woollam Constructions, Hastings Deering, Action Graphics, Outback Aussie Tours, the Galilee Basin Operators Forum, Stonestreet's Coaches, Wet Paint-Ting and many more businesses, councils and organisations.

For more information, contact the events manager at Barcaldine Regional Council on 07 4651 5603, or visit www.outbacktrailblazer.com.au