Outback Queensland Region Guides Attractions Events in Queensland

Once a thriving town and business centre, Adavale’s population has dwindled to around 15 today. Changing the planned railway line from Adavale to what is now Quilpie, was the beginning of the end for this pioneering town's prosperity. Graves dating from the early 1800s are a testament to the harsh Outback lifestyle and daily struggle of the early settlers.

The locals have done a marvellous job celebrating their history, culture and dry Outback humour. A mini museum in the old butcher house displays local relics from over a century ago. Annual events include the Fishing Carnival and the Bull Ride and Gymkhana.

Amby, originally called Amby Creek, became a township in 1883 and forms part of the eastern boundary of the Outback region. It can best be described as where the grain and the grazing belts meet.

The Old Stage Changeover Shanty - known to the locals as Netting Hole - dates back to 1875 and is located on the northern side of town, along the Warrego Highway near Amby Downs waterhole.

Amby Quarry, located on the western side of town, is a lava flow of pure basalt ten metres deep, five kilometres wide and sixty-four kilometres long. It is quarried for construction of roads, bridges and dams. Fossils can be found occasionally in the lava.

Renowned for its country hospitality, stop and meet the locals and take up the challenge of the 'no horse' golf course.

Described as ‘an oasis in the dry of the Central West’, Aramac has undergone a recent transformation with the launch of the nationally recognised, Harry Redford Cattle Drive Re-enactment. In the main street of Aramac Stands the White Bull replica which tells the story of the most historically significant cattle stealing case ever recorded in Australia.

Henry ‘Harry’ Redford (better know as Captain Starlight) commenced this daring cattle ‘duffing’ feat on a property called Bowen Downs. As part of the recognition of this feat, you are able to browse through the Harry Redford Interpretive Centre in the main street of Aramac.

If droving is something you have always wanted to do, then Aramac is again the destination for you, where you can actively participate in the ‘Harry Redford Cattle Drive’, run annually through May and June. Take part in the associated events while you are on the cattle drive such as the Aramac Races, various live entertainment, Claypan Boogie, enter the camp cookout competition, or visit one of the camp sites to join their nightly, hearty camp oven droving meals.

While in Aramac visit the Aramac Tramway Museum and step back in time with relics like Aunt Emma, the long-serving rail motor.

Discover the fascinating country surrounding the township. Drive through the desert country and discover Lake Dunn. There’s also fishing, water sports (sailing, water skiing), birdwatching, tennis, cabins, camping and very little traffic.

Make a stop at the Gray Rock Reserve and Horsetailers Gorge where Cobb and Co. stopped and spelled their horses, or join in the Artesian Country Tours to see Gracevale Caves and Mailman’s Gorge with the region’s most recognised historian, Tom Lockie. Learn the story about etched images of strange six-toed human footprints and the Central West’s own Rainbow Serpent imprinted on the sandstone walls.

Augathella, with its fascinating history of bushrangers, bullockies and bullock teams, has some memorable Outback experiences. Don’t just drive through – stop and enjoy Augathella’s colourful history, characters and humour.

Start with a screening of the 20-minute ‘Outback to Augathella’ documentary and then head off to explore the colourful murals and rustic metal sculptures throughout the town.

Explore Augathella by following the Heritage Trail and the River Walk. Don’t miss Kenniff’s Tree of bushranger fame. Or venture out along the plotted 4x4 stock route trail.

Get dust between your toes in true Outback style at the Augathella Diggers Rodeo and Races, held annually at Easter. Music and mayhem fill the air as you take in the excitement of the bull and bronco riding and head trackside for a traditional country race meet.

Barcaldine's charming facade, one that has earned it the tag of 'Garden City of the West' hides tumultuous tales of a controversial past.

In 1891, five years after the railway push into the Outback established the township, Barcaldine became the headquarters of the Great Shearers' Strike. One thousand shearers laid down their blades in a defiant protest that reverberated around the nation and resulted in the formation of the Australia Labor Party and a graziers' group which later evolved into the National Party. An enduring symbol of the strike lives on today in the Tree of Knowledge, the imposing ghost gum in the town's main street where the strike meetings were held.

The Australian Workers Heritage Centre is a national project commemorating not just these events, which changed the course of the nation's working history, but is a tribute to all Australian working men and women. Set in over five acres of landscaped gardens, it is also home to the Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Education Centre – a unique residential facility for schools and community groups.

Barcaldine is also home to the Australian Workers Heritage Centre and the old world Radio Theatre, complete with its canvas seats, and the working windmill that pumps water into the sculpture designed and erected by the Youth of Barcaldine, which stands outside the information centre.

Barcaldine is situated at the junction of the Capricorn and Matilda (Landsborough) Highways. Use Barcaldine as a base from which to explore the Central West of Queensland. The extensive range of accommodation and shopping facilities make Barcaldine a relaxing place to stay, recover and explore.

Once a border customs post between Queensland and New South Wales, Barringun is ‘real outback’ with so many great legends to share.

Call in for a thirst quencher at the hundred-plus year old Barringun pub, Tattersall’s, and there relive some of the memories of the town’s glory days.

Buildings, now abandoned, include two police stations, one on the Queensland side and the other in New South Wales. It must have been a wild, wild place!

Another historic Outback town, Bedourie started life in the 1880s as a major watering and rest stop for drovers and cattle. Cobb and Co coaches serviced the town.

Bedourie is an Oasis in the Desert. Bedourie is the administration centre of the Diamantina Shire. Covering 94,690 square metres, it is the second largest shire in Queensland and is twice the size of Denmark. Excellent town facilities include motels, hotel with meals, cabins, caravan parks, restaurant and tavern, general store, post office, fuel and auto services, police station, and a medical clinic.

A particular favourite is the 22 person therapeutic spa with the warm, fresh, crystal-clear water coming directly from an artesian bore. To soak up the historic atmosphere of Bedourie is a ‘must do’ experience. The Royal Hotel was first licensed in the early 1880s and has since traded continuously. The famous Bedourie Camp Oven, invented in the droving camps of a bygone era, can still be purchased in town. In contrast to all the history, the modern Simpson Desert Oasis motel, ensuite caravan park and bar offer visitors every convenience.

Just a day trip from Bedourie is the fabulous Diamantina National Park, well known for its fishing (Hunters Gorge), birds, wildlife and scenery. Overnight camping is also permitted.

In September the annual horse race meeting, in July the gymkhana, campdraft and rodeo and all the fun of camel racing draw a large number of sport loving visitors.

Permanent water in the nearby creek means numerous species of birds can be observed at Carcory Ruins. Cuttaburra Crossing is a renowned wetland area, with prolific birdlife.

Except for surrounding cattle stations, Betoota stands alone on a vast gibber plain. The Outback town is located 170 kilometres east of Birdsville and 227 kilometres west of Windorah. Betoota started as a Cobb and Co changing station and border town with its main income being derived from tolls and taxes. This source of revenue dried up on the establishment of the Federation.

Twice a year this ghost town comes alive with activity as locals and visitors alike arrive by plane, coach and motor vehicle to enjoy local events. On the first weekend after Easter it’s a fun-packed weekend at the Gymkhana. On the third Saturday in September horse racing at the Betoota Track is the go. This is where you’ll meet ‘down to earth’ Australians with a wry sense of humour!

Brown’s Creek is a popular local camping area near the now deserted Betoota Hotel. Be sure to visit Deon’s Lookout - a memorial to one of this country’s sons with peaceful views of the land he loved.

Birdsville is Australia’s ‘must visit’ Outback town. Always noted for its wild country and isolation, Birdsville also offers today’s traveller a modern community with a sporting complex, gymnasium, two galleries, a bakery, air services, motel, hotel, caravan park and cabins, coffee shops and restaurants, general store, post office, medical clinic, fuel and auto services, and a police station.

Birdsville, between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibber plains of Sturt's Stony Desert is the starting point of the famous Birdsville Track, which stretches to the south with the Simpson Desert to the west.

Birdsville began life as 'Diamantina Crossing' in 1881 and was given its present name in 1885. It is said that one Robert Frew, a local identity, gave the name as a compliment to the birdlife of the area. Another theory on the town's name is that locals wanted to name it Burtsville after a popular settler named J. Burt. Burt declined the offer and the name Birdsville was used as a compromise. The Diamantina River, to the east of the town, was named in 1866 by explorer William Landsborough.

The town's original function was as a 'tariff wall' between Queensland and South Australia. Tolls which had provided the town's income, ceased in 1901 with the formation of the Federation and the town declined.

The town is now a starting point for many people travelling into South Australia along the Birdsville Track which was first developed in the 1880s as one of Australia's first major cattle routes. Stories of stockmen who passed through Birdsville on this famous track are part of town legend.

Birdsville is best known for its famous pub and the annual race meeting when the population grows from 120 to 6,000 in two days.

Blackall is located on the Matilda Highway and is name after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland. The town was founded in 1846 by explorer Major Thomas Mitchell.

Rest, relax and revive at Blackall’s Aquatic Centre – home to the artesian spa and swimming pool.

Famous for many reasons, blade shearer Jack Howe put Blackall on the map in 1892 at ‘Alice Downs’ when he set a world record by shearing 321 sheep in seven hours and 40 minutes. It actually took another 58 years before anyone could match this feat and that was by machine shears.

Blackall was also the first Outback town to start drilling an artesian bore back in 1885. It is also the home of the Black Stump which was used for surveying purposes and permanently marks the original Astro Station established in 1887. Anything west of this point is said to be ‘beyond the black stump’.

There are a lot of bush yarns and legends in this Outback country, but the people of Boulia reckon the pick of the bunch are the ones about the mysterious Queensland icon, the Min Min Light. Here is a yarn about the Light they would like to share with you.

It was shortly after the Min Min Hotel was destroyed by fire around 1912, when a stockman had one of the first experiences with the Min Min Light:

"About 10.00 p.m. I was riding to Boulia and passed close to the Min Min graveyard. The night was somewhat cloudy. All of a sudden I saw a strange glow right in the middle of the cemetery. It got bigger until it was the size of a large watermelon. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched it hovering over the graveyard. I broke into a cold sweat as it started coming toward me. It was too much for my nerves. I dug the spurs into my horse and headed for Boulia as fast as I could go. Every time I looked back the light seemed to be following me. It only disappeared out of Boulia".

To preserve the history and myths surrounding the Min Min Light, the Boulia Shire Council created the Min Min Encounter Complex. Be part of the 45-minute show introducing you to characters like Gunna and Bluey who have seen the light.

More than 100 million years ago Boulia was part of Australia’s inland sea. Visit Dick at the Stonehouse Museum and be amazed by the extensive marine fossil display and the array historical artefacts from early settlers, including machinery, saddlery and hospital instruments.

The state of the art Sports and Aquatic Centre is right at your fingertips when you come to Boulia.

Yellowbelly and redclaw can be found at Parapituri Waterhole, the Police Barracks Waterhole and also in the Burke River.

Come and celebrate 12 years of racing in Boulia at the Boulia Camel Races on the third weekend of July.

Cameron Corner – where three Australian states meet! The Corner Store is in Outback Queensland, receives its supplies from New South Wales and telephone services from South Australia. Originally surveyed by John Cameron in 1882-83, a new survey marker was unveiled in 1969.

The interpretive centre contains information on the world’s longest fence, the Dingo Fence. Licensed accommodation, camping, fuel, meals, telephone and souvenirs are available at the ‘Corner’.

Camooweal is located on the Queensland-Northern Territory border, 330 kilometres south of Burketown, 188 kilometres from Mount Isa and 440 kilometres from the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory.

Camooweal proudly declares itself 'Gateway to the Northern Territory/Queensland'. The road from Mount Isa to the town, known to locals as 'Tojo's Highway', was built during World War II with American funds and was originally designed as a link between the southern states and the theoretical 'front line' in the Northern Territory.

The explorer William Landsborough was the first European to pass through the Camooweal area. At the time (1862) he was looking for Burke and Wills. His reports led to the area being settled by pastoralists but it wasn't until 1884 that the town of Camooweal was gazetted. It grew as a service centre for the surrounding properties but the growth of Mount Isa meant sustained growth was not possible. Camooweal is now considered a 'suburb' of Mount Isa, such is the vastness of the region, and the huge jurisdiction the Mount Isa City Council operates. The Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Camooweal is considered the longest main street in the world at 188 kilometres long!

The Camooweal district is honeycombed with rare sink holes and caves, dating back to the Cambrian Period, about 500 million years ago. Those visitors experienced in serious caving will discover a whole new world beneath the Camooweal region.

While in Cammoweal visit The Barkly Tableland Heritage Centre, Freckleton's Store, Cammoweal Caves National Park, Camooweal Cemetery and the Drovers Camp Information Centre.

Charleville is in the heart of Queensland's 'mulga country'. It is the largest town in the south west of the Outback region and was gazetted in 1868 and later named by the Government surveyor of the day, Mr WA Tully, after a town in Ireland where he had lived.

In March 1888, rail transport reached Charleville. This railway gave Charleville a direct link with the state capital, Brisbane. This line still operates passenger services twice a week to Charleville on board Queensland Rail's Westlander.

Cobb and Co, the famous coach company, based their largest coach making factory in Australia in the township of Charleville in 1890. The factory was moved to Charleville because the wood used in coaches made in factories closer to the coast would split and crack in the dry, dusty conditions of Western Queensland. On the subject of transport, Qantas scheduled its first fare paying passenger service from Charleville to Cloncurry, via Longreach and Winton, back in 1922.

The mulga country of Queensland's outback is rich in history, flora and fauna. The Charleville Heritage Trail guides visitors through the history of the town and its heritage buildings. The stars almost touch the end of your nose at the Cosmos Centre and Observatory where clear nights and a low horizon combine to give visitors a great night time experience. Kangaroos, emus, birds of prey and a wondrous variety of Australian native wildlife can be seen whilst travelling this area. Visit the National Parks Research Station, home of the Save the Bilby Fund. Seasonal 'meet the bilbies' tours are held at the station.

Cheepie is the friendly ‘ghost town’ of the Outback. The township formed when the railway first came through in 1914 and gradually grew to have a police station, blacksmith, railway station, tent boarding houses, butcher shop, bakery and two vegetable gardens. All that remains today of this once vibrant town is the old post office.

The township of Cheepie is located 80 kilometres east of Quilpie on the Charleville Road. The water supply was firstly brought to town by train and stored in tanks but it was later taken from the nearby Beechal Creek, a tranquil oasis amid the arid backdrop. The Royal Mail was the first hotel in Cheepie, opening its door in 1926. Rural power was introduced in 1988.

Drive out onto the Adavale turnoff to see the contrast of endless white peaks amidst the flat red earth, local native wildlife and trees.

The township of Cloncurry in North West Queensland occupies a key hub point in the Outback. Known as 'the friendly heart of the Great North West'. Cloncurry was founded in 1867 by Ernest Henry. It was built upon copper mines in the surrounding district, which quickly led to it being one of the most prosperous towns in the Outback.

Today, Cloncurry's core industries include grazing, copper and gold mining, transport and mining services. Qantas was conceived in Cloncurry and their aircraft hangar still stands at Cloncurry Shire Airport.

The Royal Flying Doctors Service was launched Cloncurry with the first flight on 17 May 1928. The John Flynn Place Museum pay homage to this crucial part of Outback life.

Visit a working open-cut mine with the Ernest Henry Mine Tours, departing from Mary Kathleen Park every Wednesday and Friday from May to September.

There is too much to see in just one day, so spend a couple of days in 'The Curry' and don't miss out on seeing some of the area's most popular attractions.

Mary Kathleen Memorial Park and Museum houses history and memorabilia on Cloncurry, Mary Kathleen and surrounding districts. A 'must see' is the Burke and Wills history display, including Burke's water bottle in the Explorers Corner. The mineral and gem collection is ranked by experts as one of the most comprehensive in Australia. Also on display are Aboriginal artefacts and a portrait and breastplate of George, King of Friezland.

Cloncurry now services the sheep and cattle properties in the surrounding district and is an important sales centre for livestock.

Situated on the Quilpie Road to the opal fields, Cooladdi was once a thriving railway town, but when the rail connection closed the residents slowly drifted away. Today only a handful of residents can be found keeping the Outback town alive, however, during the September school holidays, hundreds flock to the town for the annual Gymkhana.

Pick up a copy of the Heritage Trail Guidebook and discover the history of the town that refuses to disappear.

Cooladdi also boasts a great fishing spot close by at Quilberry Creek, so why not take the time to visit, kick back for a day or two and fish? Quilberry Creek has waterholes suitable for fishing, swimming, catching yabbys and camping.

A tiny historic Outback town it may be, with its resident population of seven, but it has a big heart. A former Cobb and Co Coach staging point, Corfield is the social centre for local graziers and their families. The Corfield Pub identifies this small community, which is dependent on the cattle and sheep industries along with some tourism.

Corfield has a rich history with links to the Great Shearers' Strike. But the latest claim to fame is probably its proximity to the dinosaur skeleton of a 20 to 30 tonne sauropod that once grazed the area.

Corfield is located 83 kilometres north-west of the frontier town of Winton. Travelling the fully sealed Winton to Hughenden road you are likely to be greeted by the tumbleweeds.

Play a game of tennis, get a cricket match going on the local cricket pitch or just relax in the hospitable atmosphere. Magical moments can be experienced viewing the incredible sunsets, sitting under the night sky, enjoying a brilliant view of the stars, moon, and the occasional passing unidentified flying object.

The Corfield Races are held each year at the beginning of August. There is plenty of room on site free of charge for caravan and tent dwellers or just roll out your swag. Stay overnight and enjoy a full evening of entertainment with music and the Quickshears Competition. A recovery session the next morning encourages overnighters to rally and join the locals as they celebrate the success of the previous day.

A less formal event but equally entertaining and welcoming, is when the Western Picnic Race Club conducts a two day event around April. At these races you will experience flag starts and a mix of amateur and professional jockeys.

Experience adventure, country life and outback hospitality in this remote rural community.

Cunnamulla – where the handshake’s stronger and the smile lasts longer! Follow the Matilda Highway or Adventure Way right into the heart of Cunnamulla, where you will be greeted by a colourful showing of roses, petunias and a lush green park. Cunnamulla offers a break from the hectic pace of everyday life. After your long trip, take the time to enjoy the slower pace of the Outback.

Cunnamulla is the name everyone has heard and it conjures up nostalgic images of stockmen, shearing and days when everyone had time for a yarn. In pride of place in the town centre is a bronze statute of the ‘Cunnamulla Fella’ immortalising the larrikin in all Australians, he sits on his swag enjoying the moment.

The Heritage Trail will give you a glimpse of earlier times. There are walking trails along the river bank and through the Cunnamulla bushlands. Collect a map, bird list and plant list from the Cunnamulla Fella Centre. While you are at the Centre take a look through the art gallery and interpretive displays of local history, opal mining, wool, native vegetation and the Great Artesian Basin.

Outback Holidays are all about meeting the locals! There are many events you can enjoy from Social bowls and tennis to the Cunnamulla Fella Festival. The Festival is held each year in November and includes country music and the excitement of a professional bullride. You don’t have to be born here to be a Cunnamulla Fella – you just have to enjoy being here!

Believe it or not Dajarra was once the largest trucking depot in the world. Dajarra is now a quiet, laid back town in the far north of Outback Queensland. The older people of the area who remember Dajarra's heyday say that the area trucked more cattle than Texas in the United States of America. Drovers would bring cattle from as far away as Western Australia to put them on the train at Dajarra. Then came the road trains and soon the railway was turned into just a memory.

The town also has a rich aboriginal heritage and is home to aboriginal tribes from around the Diamantina River, the Gulf and the Northern Territory. The old culture is upheld here. The aboriginal language is taught at the school by a couple of elders and one local elder shows the children how to make boomerangs, what wood to use and what timber is best for didgeridoos. They still know where to find the bush foods and the 'bush lollies' on the gidyea trees after rain, berries, wild oranges at Christmas and wild bananas on the road to Mount Isa.

In earlier days Duchess was an important railway and mining town which has declined since the advent of road transport.

Today, relive the glory days over a drink or two at the local Duchess Hotel where the beer and stories flow. The old Duchess Mine and the old lime quarry a little further out of town remain as reminders of more heady days.

Located 123 kilometres south west of Cloncurry, in Queensland's Outback.

Emmet, in Queensland's Outback, was once a thriving railway siding with a population of 30 people. Today, with only two residents, the town has a picnic shelter and an interesting historical display in the revamped railway station.

Emmet is the western gateway to the spectacular Idalia National Park where dry mulga scrub and rocky escarpments are home to the yellow footed rock wallaby.

Eromanga is famous for being the furthest Outback town from the ocean in Australia. The Eromanga oil and gas basin produces around one and a half million barrels of oil per year.

The Old Royal Hotel, built in 1885, is one of the original buildings and was once a Cobb and Co staging post. The rustic outdoor machinery museum will soon be complemented by an indoor Living History Centre incorporating an Object Theatre. The new museum is next to a covered playground and park with a stunning mining memorial, inlaid with opal.

You are welcome to the community barbecue held every Saturday night. Annual events include the Easter Eromanga Rodeo, Campdraft and Gymkhana.

Water helped open up the Outback and the small town of Eulo was developed as it is situated on a good watering hole on the stock route. Set amidst the mulga, Eulo is a delightful green haven for travellers. In the spring the surrounding bush is covered in wildflowers. Eulo is the last ‘big town’ en route to the Currawinya National Park.

Many legends surround the life of the ‘Eulo Queen’, Isobel Robinson. You can learn about her life as you follow the Heritage Trail. The guide is available from all of the business houses in Eulo.

The major event in Eulo is Music in the Mulga. Held on the 10 May, entertainment will include bush poets and Ned McKelly. This pleasant relaxing day is a great opportunity for visitors and locals to meet.

Visit 'Hughie', the seven-metre Muttaburrasaurus and an impressive fossil collection at the Flinders Discovery Centre. While you are there, relive the glory days of sheep production and its subsequent demise in the 'Shearing Straggler' exhibit. A small entry fee applies.

Follow the windmill blades through the streets of Hughenden, exploring the Outback history and art features of the town. Meet 'Mutt', a full-bodied Muttaburrasaurus replica along the way.

Just outside Hughenden, Mount Walker rises out of the flat back soil plains, proving a great location for grazing across town and around the district. Further afield, Porcupine Gorge National Park is a spectacular gorge often referred to as Australia's 'Little Grand Canyon'. The first lookout gives you and indication of the depth and magnitude of the gorge and is a 'must see' for all visitors. Camping grounds are located at the Pyramid Lookout; campers should take their own water and be full self-sufficient. Contact Parks and Wildlife for permits.

The Basalt Byway is a scenic drive plotted through the picturesque volcanic basalt countryside, boasting excellent lookouts and an abundance of flora and fauna. For the four wheel driving enthusiasts, the Eromanga Sea Byway traces the edge of the prehistoric inland sea and is a fossil fossicker's delight! Make the sandy crossing on the Flinders River Byway and reward yourself with a cold drink at the pub.

Fossicking enthusiasts will delight in the Chudleigh Park Gemfields. Peridot, rare sapphires and black spinel are generally found in this area. Whilst general permission for fossicking and camping has been given to holders of fossicking licences, please check at the Flinders Discovery Centre prior to arrival.

Hughenden is located half-way between Townsville and Mount Isa on the Flinders Highway, North West Queensland. Hughenden is situated on the banks of Queensland's longest river, the Flinders. The town is located above the Great Artesian Basin.

the Outback town of Hungerford is located on the Queensland and New South Wales border. You can open a gate in the Dingo Fence and go from one state to the other.

The town was named after Irish pioneer pastoralist Thomas Hungerford. The Royal Mail Hotel was established in 1873 and from 1875 was a staging post for Cobb and Co. It is still a licensed Hotel today.

Don’t miss the Hungerford Horse and Motorbike Gymkhana in October each year and the Biannual Field Day.

Ilfracombe, named after a small town in Devonshire England, originated in 1891 as a transport nucleus for Wellshot Station, the largest sheep station in the world at the time (in terms of stock numbers). The town had three hotels - each with its own dance hall, a soft drink maker, a coach builder, two general stores, a billiard saloon, a dressmaker, three commission agents, a couple of butchers, a baker and a saddler. Today there are just 350 people living in an shire which covers 6,500 square kilometres.

Another record claimed by the shire is that of the largest mob of sheep ever moved as a single flock. In 1886 a mob of 43,000 sheep were moved through the area by a droving team of 27 horsemen and that doesn't include the cooks, blacksmiths and hands which would have been needed to accompany the drovers.

Transport was once the lifeblood of the area when, long before the railway reached as far as Ilfracombe, wagons drawn by up to 30 horses and taking three months carried the wool to the nearest port, Rockhampton, 650 kilometres away. It is unlikely that any other Australian town could boast such a brilliant display of historical machinery, as does Ilfracombe. Not only that, but it’s all on public show, with antique machinery and farm equipment lining the entry road to the town.

Nowadays Ilfracombe is a small Outback Queensland township surrounded by large grazing properties, located 27 kilometres east of Longreach and 80 kilometres west of Barcaldine.

The Outback town of Isisford was settled in the mid 1800s and the architecture reflects the lifestyle of its humble beginnings.

A camping fee of AUD2.00 per night is now charged to camp along the Barcoo at the weir and Oma Waterhole. Showers and toilet facilities are available within easy walking distance of the town.

The annual fishing competition is held on the last weekend of July, attracting competitors from all over Australia to catch good old yellowbelly. This is a great weekend for fishing enthusiasts, friends and families catching up and a destination where you can say ‘see you again next year’.

Once you spend time on the tranquil Coolibah-lined banks of the Barcoo at Isisford you become a local and find yourself returning again and again. Some visitors stay several months and some find they cannot leave but most return to their favourite campsites filled with memories of special times and great friendships. So visit and have a beer or two with the locals.

The Outer Barcoo Interpretive Centre consists of a 60 seat theatrette, cafeteria, local arts and craft displays, and a museum depicting the evolution of nature from 100 million years ago to the present. The feature attraction is a life-sized replica model of Isisfordia Duncani, who lived around 98 million years ago. He was the evolutionary ancestor of all crocodilians that live on earth today. There are displays of local fauna, flora, reptiles, birds and fossils that have lived in this region, as well as formation of the Great Artesian Basin and general history of the Isisford area. An audio-visual presentation portrays life in the Isisford area since settlement. The film depicts Isisford as being ‘the middle of everywhere’.

The Isis Downs Shearing Shed is the largest in Australia. This huge semi-circular construction was fabricated in England, shipped to Australia and built in 1913 by the same company that built the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The 50-stand shed is located about 20 kilometres from Isisford on the Blackall Road.

Julia Creek is located on the Overlander's Way, the main route from Townsville that runs west to Mount Isa and on to Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Julia Creek started to grow when the railway line was extended in February 1908. The town was named after the niece of Donald McIntyre, the first European settler in the area. An interesting collection of memorabilia can be found at the Donald McIntyre Museum in Burke Street.

The district’s main industries are cattle, sheep, and mining at BHP Cannington. Julia Creek is a major stock trucking and cattle sales centre. Its impressive saleyards are fitted with lighting for night loading and unloading.

The area is home to a rare and endangered marsupial, the Julia Creek Dunnart. Because of their nocturnal habits and timid natures, glimpses of the dunnart are rare.

While visiting Julia Creek why not visit the Proa Redclaw Farm. The 12 ponds use artesian water, some containing up to 16,000 redclaw. Self-drive tours are available.

Julia Creek has many sporting and social events on its calendar that are a major feature of the town's lifestyle. The annual Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival is held annually in April and includes one of the major triathlon events, the Artesian Express Horse Race (the richest horse race in the north west), at PBR Bullride and Australia's Best Butt Competition.

While in the area, take the time to visit Punchbowl Waterhole and Sedan Dip. On the Flinders River approximately 45 kilometres north-east of Julia Creek, the Punchbowl is an excellent spot for swimming, fishing and picnicking. Sedan Dip is on the Cloncurry River, on the Beef Road to Normanton, 100 kilometres north of Julia Creek.

In the late afternoon take a stroll along the nature trail at the back of the caravan park to enjoy the wonderful birdlife or enjoy watching the sunset while relaxing in the caravan park's naturally heated artesian spa after a long day's travel.

Jundah is the administration centre of the Barcoo Shire. With a population of approximately 100 people it is the largest of the three towns within the Shire. The district was originally settled by the Durack and Costello pioneering families in 1880. For 20 years or so over the turn of the century it was a thriving opal mining area, but lack of water caused work on the mines to cease. With the introduction of heavy machinery, the opal mines are once again attracting interest. Sheep and cattle are the main supporting industries in and around Jundah.

Jundah is just two and half hours south-west of Longreach and three and a half hours north-west of Quilpie, and 30 kilometres above the junction of the Barcoo and Thomson Rivers where they form Cooper Creek. The Thomson River, one kilometre out of town, provides a scenic fishing and recreational area with panoramic river drives. The river carries a variety of fish including yellowbelly, catfish and bream. Yabbies caught in the local waterholes along the river provide an entree to an evening meal or just a quick snack.

Jundah's Historical Museum is a window into the early pioneering times of the district. Other points of interest in the town include the Jundah Post Office with its beautiful shopfront mural and the Galaxy Opal, one of the world’s largest Boulder Opals which was unearthed in the Jundah area.

Welford National Park, located 45 kilometres south-east of Jundah, covers 124,000 hectares of nature's diverse landscapes. Among the native animals is the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby which makes its home in the park's northern and eastern sections.

Kajabbi is a tiny, sleepy settlement in north west Queensland. It is located 118 kilometres north east of Mount Isa and 100 kilometres north west of Cloncurry.

Whilst only a small settlement, Kajabbi stands in an area that is steeped in history. The warrior Kalkadoon tribe, after whom the local hotel is named, had their last battle against mounted troops on the slopes of nearby Battle Mountain.

Mining relics, including smelter stacks, are still to be found at the sites of the former Dobbyn and Mount Cuthbert copper mines. There was a time when Kajabbi was an important centre. The nearby mines at Dobbyn and Mount Cuthbert attracted copper miners to the area and, as a railhead in the 1920s, it was a location where the cattle owners from the state's far north west brought their herds for shipment to the coast.

There is wildlife aplenty in this part of the Outback – kangaroos, dingoes, freshwater crocodiles and many bird species.

Kynuna was established in the 1860s and in its early days boasted three hotels. It was a staging post for Cobb and Co Coaches. Today Kynuna has just one hotel, the famous Blue Heeler Hotel.

Kynuna is most famous for its links with Banjo Paterson and the 'Waltzing Matilda' poem. Folklore has it that Bob MacPherson (owner of Dagworth Station) told Banjo the story of the suicide of Samuel Hoffmeister beside the Combo Waterhole, 13 kilometres upstream of the Diamantina River, in September 1894. Hoffmeister had reportedly been one of the striking shearers involved in the burning down of the Dagworth Woolshed. This story, together with other stories which Paterson had heard, inspired him to write 'Waltzing Matilda', at Dagworth. Christina MacPherson, Paterson's then fiancee, adapted a popular Scottish tune 'Craiglea' to become the original music for 'Waltzing Matilda'.

Combo Waterhole, situated a few kilometres south of Kynuna, is reportedly the site of the famous billabong in Australia's national folk song. A 2.5 kilometre round trip takes you on a walk along cobbled paths to this waterhole, situated on the Diamantina River. Here you can enjoy a bush picnic or walk through the dry channels of the Diamantina to the famous waterhole, crossing historic stone-pitched overshots built by Chinese labourers more than a century ago.

If you have ever dreamt of visiting Australia’s amazing heartland, now is the time to roll up your swag and go bush! Soak up the history and heritage that surrounds the legendary town of Longreach.

Why not meet a few locals and book a room in an old country pub? Camp under the stars and breathe in the fresh night air, or enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned motel.

Take a sunset river cruise on the Thomson complete with either a three-course dinner or camp oven dinner with entertainment; or an intimate candlelight dinner.

Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame – this tribute to Australia’s Outback heroes includes a variety of traditional artefacts, electronic displays, photographs, films and stories of bush life.

Qantas Founders Museum – this world-class attraction commemorates the founders of this great Australian company that grew to become internationally recognised as a leader in world aviation. Join a tour of the decommissioned 747 ‘City of Bunbury’ and the latest addition to the collection is the Boeing 707 jet, the very first passenger jet ever owned by Qantas.

Longreach - School of Distance Education – Visit one of the largest classrooms in the world at the Longreach School of Distance Education. Tours include a walk through the school with an explanation of the process of the delivery, as well as observing a lesson.

Australian Agricultural College, Longreach Campus – Experience a taste of life on the land by taking a guided tour. Observe students at work, see live animals and discover the scope of things on offer.

Longreach Powerhouse Museum – Discover one of Longreach’s best kept secrets. Unearth the local history with exhibits that include the powerhouse generating equipment, displays of social and commercial history, agricultural and road building machinery and the 1921 swimming baths.

Cobb and Co. Coach Rides – Step aboard a Cobb and Co. Coach and experience life in the old days. Departing from the Station Store the ride takes you through the streets of Longreach and out on a ‘Gallop through the Scrub’. It really fives you a taste of the bygone days.

Located 104 kilometres south east of Cloncurry, McKinlay was named after the McKinlay River which was discovered and named by the explorer John McKinlay. McKinlay had arrived in New South Wales in 1836 and by 1861 had become such an adept bushman that he was chosen to lead the South Australian Burke Relief Expedition to search for the missing Burke and Wills.

Like many of its counterparts along the track, this little town, established more than 100 years ago, was a staging post for Cobb & Co. coaches and a social gathering point for the graziers whose vast properties surround it.

McKinlay is home to the Walkabout Creek Hotel, as was featured in the original Crocodile Dundee movie. It is a subtle combination of the outback and the sophisticated.

Middleton was named after the first white man in the district. He was a member of the 1862 expedition led by John McKinlay. The town started life as a coach staging post and now consists of the Middleton Hotel, which has been recently restored.

Eighty-four kilometres west of Middleton on the Winton Road are the ruins of the Min Min Hotel, built in the late 1880s and burnt down in the 1920s. Its name has been given to a mysterious light that is seen throughout the western border areas. The first recorded sighting of the Min Min Lights took place at the ruins of the hotel and some locals believe that the lights originated in the nearby graveyard and have a supernatural connection.

If you are planning a day trip from Winton or en route to Boulia, then it is a must to stop at the Cawnpore Lookout at the Lilyvale Hills. Don't forget your camera!

Located on the Warrego Highway 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of Charleville, the town of Mitchell marks the Gateway to Queensland's Outback. The town, on the banks of the Maranoa River, was named in honour of Sir Thomas Mitchell whose exploration of south-west Queensland led to the establishment of several towns in the region.

The town's wide tree-lined streets and substantial colonial buildings reflect its early importance as the centre of a busy farming and pastoral district famous for its grains, beef and sheep. The town is rapidly becoming an important stop on the tourist route to Outback Queensland.

The Great Artesian Spa is the centrepiece of Mitchell and the wider Booringa Shire. The large open-air spa has been making a huge splash among visitors to Mitchell. The warm waters are said to relax the muscles, ease tension and revitalise both the body and the mind.

Once you've tried the Spa, why not go bird watching at the Neil Turner Weir on the Maranoa River or wet a line further upstream at Fisherman's Rest? For those feeling more energetic, the Maranoa River Walk meanders along the Maranoa River. Be sure to look for the Graffiti Arts Project at the Maranoa River Bridge and view the series of fifteen murals entitled Booringa Past, Present, Future.

Visitors should also visit the Kenniff Courthouse which is where the infamous bushrangers Patrick and James Kenniff were committed to stand trial for the murder of a Policeman and Station Manager in 1902. Located seven kilometres south of Mitchell on the St. George Road, the Kenniff Statues depict the story of the trial and capture of the Kenniff Brothers.

If you are looking for an adventure, fun or just to relax, Mitchell has something to offer you.

In 1859 on the mail route from Brisbane to Charleville, a small area was taken from the property Victoria Downs and set aside for public use and designated on maps and documents as 'Victoria Downs Reserve'. It became known informally as 'Sadlier's Waterhole' when Captain TJ Sadlier and his wife camped at the property. When the town was officially surveyed in 1880 it was called Morven.

Originally chosen as an ideal camping spot for early travellers into the Outback, a settlement formed. Even today Morven, with its garden beds and picnic tables, is regarded as a good place to take a break from driving.

Morven Museum houses a must-see collection of handcrafted, perfectly recreated miniature buildings from the bark and slab hut days of early Outback settlement, as well as an original kerosene tin hut.

Just 10 kilometres south of Morven is Tregole National Park. Discover the rare Ooline Tree, a rainforest remnant right here in the Outback. Take a break overlooking Sadliers Waterhole or explore the 4x4 stock route trails.

As with most Outback communities the history is colourful and vibrant. Get a copy of the Heritage Trail guidebook and uncover Morven’s unique history.

Described as the Oasis of the Outback - a gleaming mirage on the horizon for travellers from all directions - Mount Isa nestles among the ochre-red Selwyn Ranges, on the banks of the Leichhardt River.

Mount Isa has grown from strength to strength over the years but the harsh picturesque landscape has barely changed, becoming one of the main draw-cards for visitors each year. Mount Isa brings out the adventurous spirit in everyone, with ample places to fish, camp, four wheel drive, or relax and enjoy an Outback sunset. The rugged terrain is a four wheel driver’s haven, and visitors can explore the region just as the pioneers of the region did many years ago.

The twin jewels in Mount Isa's crown are the spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park and its neighbour, the world-heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields, both of which are accessed from Mount Isa.

A must see while in Mount Isa is the Outback at Isa complex, incorporating the award winning Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Hard Times Mine, Sir James Foots Building, Outback Park and Visitor Information Centre.

Other attractions are the School of the Air, the Royal Flying Doctors base, National Trust Tent House, Underground Hospital and Beth Anderson Museum, surface tours of Mount Isa Mines and fishing for barramundi at Lake Moondarra.

Mount Isa's existence and its main financial base is the huge Mount Isa Mine, the world's largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc. In 1923, John Campbell Miles found a silver-lead ore outcrop and sent a sample to Cloncurry to be assessed. Miles pegged two leases and soon 500 were filled. Mount Isa Mines took over operations in 1924. This rich deposit is still producing high volumes of ore and is classed as one of the world's great mines.

Mungallala, said to mean 'food and water' is the site of a cypress sawmill, located about half way between Mitchell and Morven where the Warrego Highway crosses the Mungallala Creek. Mungallala originated as a railway town and is a wonderful place to stop for lunch and experience the workings of an outback town.

One of the interesting natural features of the area is a stand of Ooline trees. On the road between Mitchell and Mungallala, the Warrego Highway crosses hills which are wooded by a specimen of a rare tree commonly known as Ooline (Cadelia Pentastylis). It is said to be a remnant of rainforests of a previous age.

For the self-sufficient traveller there is a rest area provided on the western side of town. This is the approximate site where the Cobb and Co. coach horses were changed on the journey to and from Charleville before the coming of the railway in 1885.

Visit the town of Muttaburra and experience the sense of wide open spaces, where the sky stretches undisturbed from one horizon to the other - spectacular by day, glowing with stars by night.

Experience the vastness of the true Queensland Outback and discover the Heritage Trail and Cemetery dating back to 1885. Enjoy a day exploring, bush-walking, water-skiing or fishing. If you are a keen angler you will be attracted to the headwaters of the Thomson River, the Muttaburra Pump Hole and the local camping spot at Broadwater where you will be amongst some of the Thomson's biggest Yellowbelly and Black Bream.

In the heart of dinosaur country, Muttaburra is one of the world's richest repositories of fossilised dinosaur bones. Formerly part of the great inland sea, this region is alive with fossils from another age. History doesn't go back much further than this. The town is best known for the discovery of fossilised bones of a previously unknown dinosaur, the Muttaburrasaurus, named after the town. The creature is believed to have been 12 metres long, two and a half metres high from the hip and weighing in at 15 tonnes. A full size replica can be seen in the town. The area has become renowned for fossils and who knows, you may be the next to discover a fossilised dinosaur skeleton!

Two very special attractions are found in Muttaburra, history that has been preserved from a more recent era Dr Arratta Memorial Medical Museum, displaying medical history from the turn of the century and Cassimatis Store, a tremendous display recognising the contribution of the Cassimatis family, one of many Greek families who took up the challenge to live in the Outback. The Cassimatis Store, originally opened in 1914 has been reopened, after a full renovation in 2001.

The historic Noccundra Hotel was established in 1882 and is still licensed. This hotel is the only occupied building in the town and is well worth a visit. It is also the site of a memorial to the ill-fated Hume expedition, the explorer having died of thirst west of the present town while searching for survivors of the lost Leichhardt expedition.

Grab a line and fish in the Wilson River waterhole opposite the hotel, also an ideal camping spot. Noccundra holds an annual race meeting in May and a rodeo / gymkhana in October each year. Fun-filled days not to be missed!

Home of Queensland Boulder Opal, Opalton lies 124 kilometres from Winton. Opal was first discovered here by George Cragg in 1888 and the first mine was worked in 1894. By the end of the decade there was a bustling township of 600 and Opalton became known for the enormous volume and quality of its opal. In 1899 the largest piece of opal ever recorded was mined from Opalton, a pipe opal more than three metres long.

Now home to a much smaller community, Opalton boasts one shop where you are likely to meet all the locals when the mail is delivered every Thursday. Try your luck in the public fossicking area. There are camping facilities at the bush park and basic cabins are available.

Quamby is a small town about 45 kilometres north of Cloncurry with a population of six people. It was once a Cobb and Co staging post though and in the 1930s there were around 40 houses there. The Albert Hotel, built as the Customs House in the 1860s, is all that remains of what was once a prosperous mining and cattle fattening district. The town comes alive with the annual rodeo held at the end of July.

A stay in Quilpie can be as busy or as relaxing as you want it to be. Picnic at Lake Houdraman, fish at the river or swim a few lazy laps of the pool. Enjoy the native bottlebrush trees and beautiful gardens around the district, and the stunning wildflowers (in season) throughout the surrounding countryside.

When you are ready for action, spend the day fossicking for opals, climb Baldy Top Lookout to admire the spectacular sunset or go four wheel driving.

Listen for names such as Tully, Durack and Costello, who were among the first settlers. Hear about the struggles during flood and drought and the hardship of isolation from the people who have experienced it on the interactive CD at the Quilpie Museum and Visitor Information Centre.

Quilpie has all the necessities and many of the luxuries visitors may desire. Access the internet at the library to keep in touch with friends and family in air-conditioned comfort. You may come to Quilpie to admire the exquisite boulder opal in its hometown but there is so much more to do and see, so allow yourself plenty of time to take in the Quilpie Outback adventure.

Imagine being in a place so diverse, so vast, you feel an indescribable sense of freedom. From the plains of the downs country to the silvery shimmer of the sun shining on the gidgee trees in the forest country, Richmond is often referred to as an oasis in the Outback.

Crossing the rolling downs country of north west Queensland, originally opened to white settlement by the explorer William Landsborough in 1862, the township of Richmond is a welcome sight on the horizon. Situated on the Overlander’s Way halfway between Townsville and Mount Isa, the town is located on the bank of Queensland's longest river, the Flinders, and is known for its recreational Lake Fred Tritton and bougainvillea-lined streets, parks and gardens.

Lake Fred Tritton is conveniently located at the edge of town. With a 1.2 kilometre circumference and a maximum depth of eight metres, Lake Fred Tritton allows visitors and locals the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of water sports.

Richmond is home to the award-winning major attraction Kronosaurus Korner, where you will find the only museum in Australia primarily dedicated to displaying marine reptiles, as well as a very special dinosaur. Minmi, with impressions of its fossilised skin, is considered to be Australia's best preserved dinosaur skeleton. Minmi takes pride of place alongside the Richmond Pliosaur skeletons. This fossil, found in 1989, has to be seen to be believed.

If you find that you are infected with 'fossil fever' after visiting Kronosaurus Korner, call at reception for a map to guide you through the region's designated fossicking sites.

If stepping back in time is more your scene, then take a heritage walk around the town, viewing the signs depicting yesteryear. Pay your respects to the pioneers that shaped this country at the Pioneer Cemetery, relax in the Lions Park, visit the Cambridge Ruins 40 kilometres out of town, or take a walk along the Flinders River.

Stamford is situated 61 kilometres south of Hughenden on the Kennedy Development Road to Winton, dubbed the 'Dinosaur Way'. Named after the adjoining pastoral land 'Stamford Ham'. Stamford was originally part of the 'Katandra Station'.

Stamford is a town steeped with Outback history and was once an overnight stop for Cobb and Co Coaches travelling from Hughenden to Winton. A rail line to Stamford was opened on the 13 December 1897 and became a busy railhead for local wool graziers. The Stamford of today is a much more relaxed place with a population of three people and a newly built roadhouse.

Stamford comes alive at its annual Race Meeting held each year in July. Many people travel to enjoy this Outback experience, the charm and excitement of a real country race meeting.

Stop in and have a 'cuppa' at the Stamford Roadhouse. You'll enjoy the refreshing break and a chat.

Stonehenge may not resemble its namesake in the United Kingdom, nevertheless this Outback Queensland town is something like a sentinel. It is one of only three areas chosen by the Defence Department as site for the Over the Horizon radar initiative. Though a long way from the ocean this system actually guards the coastline.

The name Stonehenge does not come from standing stones, rather the remains of a stone fortress built for the bullock drivers when they stayed overnight. The main industries around Stonehenge are sheep and cattle grazing.

Stonehenge is ideally suited for bird watching enthusiasts, with the Thomson River just one kilometre from town. Photograph the colourful profusion of galahs, corellas and cockatoos, as well as brolgas, emus, spoonbills and wild budgerigars.

Less than four kilometres from town is an unexpected series of magnificent Rock Holes shaded by ghostly white gum trees, the perfect place to cool off and enjoy the isolation.

Put your name in the stone address book among the many others emblazoned by travellers. You’ll find it on the Jundah to Stonehenge road.

From the rugged cliffs of the Great Dividing Range that the explorer Major Thomas Mitchell once crossed, to the open downs country that caught his eye, it is no wonder that Tambo is being discovered by travellers.

Tambo is a living museum of cultural history and a place for the visitor to gain insight into the lifestyle and heritage of Australia’s forebears. There are the sites of the early European settlement that was to lead pastoralists in the 1860s to flock to Tambo taking up land for grazing. The pastoral industry still remains the basis of Tambo’s economy today.

Tambo’s Heritage Walk through the town will take you back in time, visiting old buildings and historically significant places. The Coolibah Walk follows the banks of the Barcoo where the native trees reach out across the river and provide a cool haven for the birdlife.

The Tambo Lake area is the focus for a recreational area offering barbecue facilities, nature walks, native tree forest and water sports.

Visit the Tambo Teddies Workshop and see the sheep skin teddy bears being created and sold. Each bear is named after a property in the Tambo district, giving them claim to some of the oldest settled country in Queensland.

The Wilderness Way Self Drive Tour trail traverses three major river systems, taking you to the top of Queensland’s Great Dividing Range. It visits many places of interest including sites of early European settlement and Aboriginal rock engravings, passing an array of sandstone formations and vast cliff lines. For the nature lover, enjoy sights of native flora, fauna and brilliant wildflowers from August to September. Camp overnight in the beautiful Salvator Rosa National Park. Enjoy the 420 kilometre round-trip at your own pace and discover why this area is one of Queensland’s best kept secrets.

Thargomindah provides the perfect launch pad for Cameron Corner – the point where three Australian states meet – the iconic Burke and Wills ‘Dig’ Tree at Cooper Creek and historic hotels at Noccundra and Hungerford. Take a free tour of Australia’s first hydro-electricity system driven by artesian water pressure or enjoy fabulous birdwatching and nature activities at the unique Lake Bindegolly and Currawinya National Parks. Take your car (and caravan), motorcycle or four wheel drive to Thargomindah.

The Adventure Way is a sealed road from Brisbane to Thargomindah and beyond to within 100 kilometres of the historic Burke and Wills ‘Dig’ Tree. It is the ideal touring route to or from South Australia via the famous Strzelecki Track and the Flinders Ranges.

Become an explorer! Discover the natural beauty and unique qualities of Queensland’s south west by following in the footsteps of Cobb and Co. Enjoy pristine river systems in your own boat or canoe, fish for famous yellowbelly or catch delectable yabbies. If you’re lucky you may spot the rare grey grass wren in the lignum or Bourke’s parrot along the Bulloo River.

Enjoy the thrill of exploring deserts, gibber and flood plains in your four wheel drive or motorcycle. Stay on cattle stations and drive the ‘back track’ to Lake Wyara. Ask about the shortcut to Cameron Corner and discover seasonal wildflowers. There is plenty of adventures around Thargomindah!

Vincent Dowling’s decision in 1864 to establish a pastoral lease (which he named ‘Thargomindah Station’) resulted in a town of the same name being gazetted in 1874. Today, Thargomindah is a modern country town with most services a visitor would expect.

Thargomindah retains much of its bush character with nicknames in common use! Say hello to the Mayor ‘Tractor’ Ferguson, or ‘Dogga’ Dare and Rob and ‘Duck’ and ‘Daisy’ who owns the hotel.

‘The Pub with no town’. Cobb and Co, once serviced this town with its regular coach schedules. All that remains today of theses early pioneering days is the Toompine Hotel (circa 1893). As with any of the Outback pubs, apart from enjoying a drink, stay a while and soak up the tales of another era. Accommodation and meals are available at the Toompine Hotel.

Ask for directions to the Toompine Cemetery just a kilometre away and find out why it is called a ‘cemery’ (not cemetery). Just down the track from the famous Toompine Pub is an excellent fishing and yabbying area.

Try your luck fossicking Duck Creek Opal Mine and Sheep Creek Station Opal Mine. Fossicking licences are required and can be obtained from the Quilpie Information Centre. Annual events include the Easter Sunday Toompine Clay Target Shoot and the Toompine Gymkhana is usually held in October.

The Torrens Creek, after which this Outback town is named, rises in the Great Dividing range and runs southward to the Thomson River system to eventually run into Lake Eyre. William Landsborough discovered it in 1862 while searching for Burke and Wills. He named the creek after Sir Robert Torrens, Premier of South Australia.

The Great North Railway reached Torrens Creek in 1885 and from then on it became the supply centre for a large district. Mailmen rode out to the north and south to various stations delivering mail along routes which are still used today. The district's most famous mailman, Jack Blunt, who served from 1931 to 1954 is honoured with a cairn and plaque erected by Torrens Creek residents.

Torrens Creek had its place in history associated with the Coral Sea battle. In 1942 this little town was nearly blown apart when a huge allied ammunition dump exploded. Torrens Creek was in a vital position for a supply dump when the threat of Japanese invasion was apparent. Australian and American troops were in charge and carried out regular controlled burns to create firebreaks. One summer day in 1942 a fire that was not properly extinguished caused a terrific explosion, which hurled men from their trucks. There were 12 major explosions in succession, sufficient to leave craters 20 feet deep.

South of Torrens Creek is Moorrinya National Park. This park offers a dramatic impression of the harsh beauty and open expanse of the Desert Uplands. White Mountains National Park offers short walking tracks for those who wish to explore this magic spot a little further.

While you are in the area visit Urandangi, a unique Outback town near the Northern Territory border. The township was founded in 1885 with the humble beginnings of a general store. Over the years the tiny town grew, and by the 1920s there were two stores, a hotel, dance hall, post office, police station and several private residences. It was an important centre for travellers and drovers along the Georgina and other stock routes.

The Dangi Pub offers hotel-style accommodation and meals (by arrangement only) and the camping grounds are free of charge. Good fishing and birdwatching spots can be found along the Georgina River.

With a panorama of giant red sandhills, Windorah is located in the heart of the Channel Country, beside Cooper's Creek. It doesn't get much more 'outback' than here, with its stunning vistas, picturesque ruins and historical sites.

Windorah's history is linked with Isisford for it was the Whitman brothers who established both towns. Originally known as Stony Point, its current name is the Aboriginal word for 'place of large fish'. This relates to Cooper's Creek, which is formed by the junction of the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers just south of Jundah. Cooper Creek at Windorah is a top fishing spot, ideal for birdwatching and enjoying watersports with a waterhole about 19 kilometres in length and up to 10 metres deep. The channels can spread floodwaters up to 100 kilometres wide as they flow towards Lake Eyre.

A scenic 12 kilometre nature drive from town to Cooper's Creek gives a view of the area with all its diversity. Magnificent red sandhills are situated just to the west of town.

Windorah's main industry is cattle grazing, due to the abundance of Mitchell Grass and other herbage that is available especially after floods.

Rich in history, Winton was originally known as Pelican Waterhole and was first settled in 1875. The Outback town is best known as the place that AB (Banjo) Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda in 1895, while staying at Dagworth Station outside Winton. The first performance of the ballad was reported to be at Winton's North Gregory Hotel on 6 April of the same year. Winton is recognised as the 'home' of Australian bush poetry, hosting the annual Bronze Swagman Award, one of the country's most prestigious literary awards.

Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service (Qantas), Australia's national airline was formed in Winton in November, 1920 and its first board meeting was held in the Winton Club on 21 February 1921.

Winton is famous for its water supply which thrusts its way to the earth's surface from three artesian bores, all around 1,200 metres deep emerging at a temperature of 83 degrees Celsius. The water is sourced from the Great Artesian Basin which provides water for most of Australia's Outback.

Winton is in the centre of Matilda Country, a diverse region in which vast Mitchell Grass plains are broken by magnificent coloured gorges, ridges and jump-ups. Visitors to the region will be amazed by the vastness of the plains and the undulating nature of the landscape. There is a wide variety of animal and bird life in the area, generally best seen around dusk and dawn on minor roads and tracks.

Day trips from Winton take visitors to Opalton, one of the oldest opal fields in Queensland; Combo Waterhole, where the swaggie of 'Waltzing Matilda' fame reputedly met his fate; the vintage sandstone homestead of Old Cork Station; and Lark Quarry, where 93 million year-old fossils capture a dinosaur stampede.

This is just a glimpse of what is on offer. Winton – come for a day, stay for a week!

So many towns of the Outback can claim their very existence directly to the laying of the great inland railway systems. Wyandra is such a town.

Being the halfway point between Charleville and Cunnamulla, a railway settlement was established. In 1898 a school was established with about 60 pupils, which is about the same number of today's total population.

If you are interested in outback architecture, this town retains some great old buildings. A heritage trail, guiding visitors past old and unusual buildings, offers many photographic opportunities.

Without its main attraction, Wycarbah, to the south-west of Rockhampton, would be bypassed by most. This little town is located about 25 minute drive from Gracemere. However, as a result of an ancient lava flow, a great collection of rather ordinary looking rocks (on the outside) have congregated at a place nearby called Mt Hay. On the outside, fairly basic rocks, but on the inside, a splash of amazing beauty. They are called 'thunder eggs'. And whilst they were formed 118 million years ago, should you find one, you get to keep it. This is the Mt Hay Thunder Egg Park.

Another surprise in store is at the Mt Hay Pewter Factory, where you'll see the whole process, from molten pewter to the finished product. Call into the local. It is a pub with character. Help the 'swaggie' escape. For years, he's been trying to find a safe passage out of the pub.

The small township of Yaraka is situated 100 kilometres away from Isisford, the backdrop of the Grey Range to the open Mitchell grass plains which have long been regarded as some of the best grazing country in Australia.

Yaraka is a small but attractive town with most services available for travellers. Take a camera and capture the myriad of colours at sunset, the local wildlife or, if you’re especially lucky, the rising of a new moon from behind the ranges that seem to pop up from nowhere. Friendly locals will love to have a chat about the historical attributes of Yaraka.

Yowah is ‘The Friendly Opal Field’ 165 kilometres west of Cunnamulla. It is the home of the Yowah Opal Nut and the Ironstone Matrix Opal, an opal type to be found only in this part of Queensland.

Opal was first discovered here towards the end of the 19th century and production still continues. It could be your lucky day, so stay a while. This hard red country that produces some of the world’s most spectacular opal also produces a stunning display of wildflowers.

The Yowah Craft Day is held on the last Sunday in June and the Yowah Opal Festival is held on the third weekend of July each year. Yowah offers the best of both worlds – access to modern technology, groceries, cafes and it’s still too far away for unwanted visitors to drop in!