“Getting there can be as good as being there” creating memories every step of the way. And, when you’re on an Australian road trip, it couldn’t be truer.
With long, glorious distances between attractions, you want to enjoy getting there as much as you do being there, especially if you have a couple of kids in the back seat. Queensland is one of the world’s top-rated destinations, so where better to head to these school holidays?
The thing is there’s a lot to take in, from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast to the tropics in the Far North of the state. But why not change it up this year and head inland from Brisbane to experience the vastness and sheer majesty of Outback Queensland.
And while you’re there, get into the spirit of the region with some local culture. You’ll need a good set of wheels for this inspired road trip, and it may pay to think big and take to the road in a rental car tailored just for you, or something more spacious like a campervan to view our Sunshine state from a whole new perspective.
West of Brisbane, well, 1,356 kilometres west to be precise, lies the outback town of Winton. It’s where Australian poet Banjo Paterson penned the words to Waltzing Matilda back in August 1895. But that’s not Winton’s only claim to fame. It’s also Australia’s dinosaur capital.
Here you can dig for fossils at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, an award-winning centre and home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils.
Then make your way to a landscape formed over millions of years at Lark Quarry Conservation Park, where 4000 footprints are all that remains of a stampede of some 150 dinosaurs about 95 million years ago. Study findings suggest the tracks may have been left by swimming and wading, not running, dinosaurs, crossing a river.
Head 170 kilometres north-west from Winton and you’ll arrive at Longreach. Ever wondered how Australia’s national airline earned its unique moniker? A visit to Longreach will explain it all. Here in 1921 the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd (Q.A.N.T.A.S) built a hangar that still exists and is now heritage listed.
It forms part of the Qantas Founders Museum, where you can take part in interactive aircraft exhibits, try your hand at flying in a flight simulator, or After all that aviation excitement, you’ll be ready for some down-to-earth fun. Drive 100 kilometres east of Longreach and you’ll arrive at Barcaldine, affectionately called Barcy (Barky) by the 1300 locals who call the town home. You’d be forgiven for thinking an outback town would be short on greenery but Barcaldine is surprisingly lush.
Fun fact: The tree-lined streets are all named after trees. So, what apart from the foliage makes Barcaldine worth a visit? It’s home to the Tree of Knowledge, the reputed birthplace of the labour movement in Australia. Immerse yourself in the history at the Australian Workers Heritage Centre, which captures the spirit of Australia’s workers.
check out the Airpark Enclosure where you can climb onboard a Boeing 707, Boeing 747 (you even get to walk along the wing), Super Constellation and DC-3.
It has a population of 400, so that gives you an idea of exactly how small Tambo is. The oldest town in the central west is the perfect place for a short stroll around the streets by day, simply soaking up the history. Then at dusk, the town comes alive when locals and visitors alike take part in Ben’s chicken races.
Held seven nights a week, from April 1 to October 31, at the Royal Carrangarra Hotel, it’s all in the spirit of fun. You place a bet on a chook and watch it race its mates behind a treat-laden, remote-controlled car. No chickens are harmed in the process and some of the proceeds go to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. While you keep a close eye on your chosen chicken’s progress, you can cool off with a drink or two and enjoy a hearty pub dinner.
Without big city artificial lights for interference, the outback night sky is a canvas of twinkling stars. And there’s no better place for your outback sky experience than Charleville, a 200-kilometre drive from Tambo.
Make your way to the Charleville Cosmos Centre and Observatory, which promises a first-class peak at the Milky Way through one of its powerful Meade telescopes.
The observatory guides will share their astronomy wisdom and help you spot binary stars, star clusters, planets and the moon. If you’re more of a morning person, there’s no need to feel left out, the observatory’s daytime experience allows you to view the sun and its solar flares through its special solar scope.
