Be amazed by the wide open spaces, natural attractions and quirky events in Outback Queensland. In Outback Queensland you can follow in the footsteps of dinosaurs, watch camel racing, meet outback characters and sleep under a blanket of stars.
Outback Queensland is so vast that the region is divided into sub-regions to explore. Pick a region and go east including Biloela, South West including Roma and Charleville, Central West including Longreach and Winton, North West including Mount Isa and Far West including Birdsville.
Outback Queensland is packed with museums, cultural attractions and spectacular natural beauty that all adds up to a memorable holiday. If you ever wanted an excuse to head to the Outback, why not plan your holiday around one of the quirky and iconic events such as the Birdsville Races.
Here’s our pick of the best things to do in Outback Queensland for the ultimate Outback Queensland getaway.
Getting to Outback Queensland is easy, with daily flights from Brisbane to Roma, Charleville, Longreach or Mount Isa. Alternatively, arrive by train, bus or take a road trip exploring Outback towns via well-maintained highways and sealed roads or grab your 4WD and head off-the-beaten track.
Winton is the dinosaur capital of Australia! Thousands of footprints at Lark Quarry Conservation Park tell of a day 95 million years ago, when a herd of small dinosaurs were chased by a meat-eating theropod, creating a stampede. 12km from Winton is the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum, which houses the world’s largest Australian dinosaur fossil collection.
For the ultimate Outback Queensland experience, add Birdsville Races to your bucket list. Each year, Birdsville’s population swells from 100 to well over 5,000 racegoers in the first week of September for the race dubbed as the Melbourne Cup of the Outback. Expect a wild and wonderful time at Birdsville races and come home with some entertaining yarns.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Outback Queensland including the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, which charts the evolving story of Australia’s leading airline that began in Outback Queensland in 1920. Also in Longreach, visit the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame showcasing our pioneering history.
With links to Waltzing Matilda, Qantas and groundbreaking dinosaur discoveries, there's much to discover in the small town of Wint...
Located on a long reach of the Thomson River, this colourful town is in the heart of the Australian outback. It also came in at no...
While most people pass through this part of Queensland on the way to somewhere else, the outback region of Balonne Shire has plent...
The drive between Boulia and Winton in Queensland's West covers some of the most spectacular land in our country, but few are luck...
You wouldn't guess it but there's only one site in the world that shows evidence of a dinosaur stampede. And it just happens to be...
Plan your Outback Queensland road trip with stops in country towns and stay in quintessential Aussie pubs, caravan parks, hotels, motels or even luxury retreats. Outback Queensland has accommodation to suit every style and budget.
After a long drive, receive a warm Outback welcome at Longreach Motor Inn handy to all Longreach attractions. Stay at Australia’s most iconic pub, The Birdsville Hotel a comfortable spot if you’ve just endured the harshness of the Birdsville Track. If it’s a little luxury you seek, check out Gilberton Outback Retreat for a rustic luxe take on the iconic tin shed with outdoor bath and views of the rugged landscape.
There are plenty of spots for camping and caravanning in Outback Queensland. Birdsville Caravan Park offers campsites along the banks of the billabong, powered sites, serviced units and deluxe self-contained cabins. Lake Callide Retreat offers cabins, camping and caravan sites looking out to Callide Dam and is ideal for families and fishing enthusiasts.
Is Carnarvon Gorge Queensland’s answer to the Kimberley? The spectacular Carnarvon Gorge is around 30km long and 600m deep and located in Carnarvon National Park, 600km northwest of Brisbane. Check out Carnarvon Gorge including visiting the world’s oldest Aboriginal art plus other gorgeous gorges in Outback Queensland including Cobbold Gorge.
Outback Queensland plays host to some of the most eclectic and exciting festivals and events in Australia including The Big Red Bash, the world’s most remote music festival staged in Birdsville. How about the Boulia Camel Races, the longest camel race in Australia, with camels running a 1500m track in a plume of red dust. Winton’s Way out West Fest is the biggest inland music and cultural festival held in Queensland and supports Outback communities.
Deep in the Queensland outback, David Levell discovers the stunning beauty of Cobbold Gorge, a chasm carved into the landscape tha...
The striking animal forms, chants and motions of the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival are as relevant now as they have been for ten...
Seek something different this End Of Financial Year with these incredible Northern Territory travel deals on sale now!
Book your AAT Kings holiday today & save up to 20%* on selected 2023 tours. This is your chance to roam beyond the ordinary. *T&C’s apply.
World Heritage Sites like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are just the entrée to this deep dive into the Northern Territory. Explore ancient structures and culture on this tour, and eat a lot of food along the way. Image credit: Tourism NT
Experience some of NSW’s best scenery, museums, and regional producers in our 1960s sleeping train.
Pamper yourself at a stunningly restored former Chaff Mill and save 30% -living history amongst organic shiraz vineyards. DATES: March 13 – July 31 2023
Immerse yourself in the majesty of the Greater Blue Mountains and save 10% when staying two nights or longer. *From complimentary inclusions
These one, two and three-bedroom villas are awaiting your tribe’s arrival, set amid the epic Greater Blue Mountains.
Experience ultimate luxury with two nights’ accommodation, plus breakfast for two daily, two welcome beverages on arrival, self-parking and $50 dining credit daily.
Pamper yourself at a stunningly restored former Chaff Mill and save 30% -living history amongst organic shiraz vineyards.
See the best of South Australia and the Northern Territory with the experts. This epic tour traverses record-breaking canyons and gorges, national parks and World Heritage Sites. Be inspired by nature writ large.
