Australia, Brisbane, Australian Outback Spectacular

Billed as the show "to make Australians feels good about themselves" the Australian Outback Spectacular is an evening dinner show set in a 1,000 seat arena. It is indeed spectacular.

Each visitor entering the building is handed a straw stockman's hat as part of the entry price. Each hat has a maroon or yellow head-band to identify which side of the arena that person will sit. Then the two sides cheer for a particular station as the riders from each station battle it out through a series of outback related competitions to win the prize as top station for the night.

The evening starts in the Aussie pub, where beer from several of the brand names owned by the Foster's Group can be bought together with any number of drinks in glasses with stems or bases that light up. In the picture Jacquelynn isn't really drinking from two glasses at once, she is holding Colin's beer while he snaps the photo. The walls of the pub contain bric-a-brac and photos from the outback stations, and an Australian country singer entertains the audience while they wait for the start time.

The show starts with a stirring audio-visual presentation of the early history of Australia when the Aborigines lived in harmony with the land.

Then the games begin. One side of the arena cheers for the stockmen and women of Austral Downs and the other side cheers for Wondoola Station. We shouted and stamped and clapped for Austral Downs.

The competition was spectacular, the riders were talented and expert horsemen and women as the hung from their saddles at full gallop or raced flags to the finish line or mustered and broke colts. Of course, there was a sheep muster with a well trained sheepdog herding sheep around the arena and a depiction of helicopter mustering of longhorn cattle.

The show continued while we ate a very good dinner of Queensland salad served with tangy mango dressing followed by barbecue eye fillet steak with gravy seasoned with plum sauce and served with garden vegetable and a piece of Damper - the bushman's bread. Desert was a baked Pavlova served with a Queensland berry sauce and country cream. Beer, wine and soft drinks were available at no extra charge during the meal.

The show ended with a spectacular display of patriotism as the whole cast performed an amazing routine incorporating the Australian flag.

An excellent evening that was well worth the price of admission (AUD$95 per person) Picture taking is not allowed in the arena, so to see pictures of the show and get more information visit their web site at http://outbackspectacular.myfun.com.au/index.htm