22 NEW REASONS TO VISIT THE OUTBACK IN 2022

There’s even more to explore in Queensland’s backyard in 2022! If you’re the person who likes to try new things before anyone else has even heard of them, it’s time to add Outback Queensland to your travel list.

Whether you come by road, rail or air, add these 22 new experiences to your ‘must do’ list in Outback Queensland.

1. BIRDSVILLE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM

Witness cases heard at the Birdsville Courthouse and discover the difficulties, humour and sometimes tragedies of outback justice. The Birdsville Courthouse Experience is due to open in 2022, with interactive and static displays that interpret the dispensation of justice in remote Queensland. The Experience will be located at the Birdsville Courthouse; this historic stone building operated as a police station and courthouse from the late 1800s through to 1988 and has many stories to tell. More information coming soon – in the meantime check out our Birdsville visitor guide.

2. STOCKMAN FOR THE DAY

If you needed more excuses to add Longreach to your 2022 to-visit list, Stockman’s Hall of Fame is all the convincing you need. The recent $15 million redevelopment including a brand-new cinematic experience, will take you on a visual journey through history, retracing the footsteps and celebrating Australia’s stockmen. This new experience complements the Stockman’s live day and night shows.

3. THE STAGING POST – LONGREACH

Located in the heart of Longreach, The Staging Post is Longreach’s newest accommodation. Completed in 2021, the hotel’s unique heritage-themed rooms all have ensuites, very comfortable beds, air-conditioning, TV and free Wi-Fi – plus pioneer-inspired features and facilities. Owned and operated by Outback Pioneers, tours and meals are also available for guests.

4. MUDDY DUCK TOURIST PARK – LONGREACH

Longreach’s newest caravan park the Muddy Duck is set along the banks of the Thomson River. Featuring large drive-through sites and powered camping, the caravan park is planned to open in 2022. Check their website and social media for the opening date and booking details.

5. THE BIGGEST RIG

Roma might be known for oil and gas, but visitors in 2022 will be digging for history at the new Bigger Big Rig Observation Tower and Tree Walk at The Big Rig in Roma. The observation tower is 30m tall and the 150m tree walk showcases visual displays. Open daily, this will be a new attraction to add to your list for 2022!

6. RANGELANDS OUTBACK CAMP

Rangelands Outback Camp is an exclusive six tent camp for only 12 pampered guests. Each supersize tent has a king size bed (or king singles) with top designer comforts, air conditioning, and featuring touches of the local landscape’s heritage. Located atop a jump-up on Rangelands Station, experience life on a working cattle property 10km north of Winton in true comfort and style.

7. JUMBO THE ELEPHANT

A recently discovered fact is that Blackall is the birthplace of the Perry Bros Circus, the first circus to circumnavigate Australia and effectively kickstart the nation’s circus industry! ‘Jumbo’, the elephant is on display in Blackall’s Banks Park and ready for a special photo opportunity. Relive the feeling of the fun and magic of circus. The Perry Bros Circus carved their name into history when they formed in the 1860s.

8. AUSTRALIAN AGE OF DINOSAURS

Exciting new additions to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum include the March of the Titanosaurs exhibition housing Australia’s best-preserved sauropod track site. Visitors can now walk with dinosaurs in air-conditioned comfort within a new building protecting a fascinating dinosaur track of sauropods, ornithopods and small theropods. And don’t miss Australia’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary – the Gondwana Stars open-topped observatory is planned to open in 2022 – one the best places in the country to witness the wonders of the Outback night sky.

9. CLONCURRY AUDIO TOUR

Cloncurry Shire Council has a new audio tour available to follow as a self-drive (or self-walk). The audio tour can be accessed via the Experience Cloncurry website. 16 stories are told by long time Cloncurry residents about life in Cloncurry over the years. From a biography of Dame Mary Gilmour to tales of Shire Hall Balls about what it was like to grow up in the ‘Curry, it’s a great way to really get a feel of the town.

10. WALLAROO RETREAT NEW GLAMPING TENTS

Wallaroo Outback Retreat has ten new fabulous glamping tents, five Deluxe tents with their own attached ensuites and five Classic tents which have their own private bathroom just a short walk from the tent. Wake up amongst the towering Eucalypts listening to the magical sounds of the bush in crisp white linen on real posturepedic beds. This is camping at its best! Wallaroo is located 160km north of Roma.

11. MIN MIN ENCOUNTER – MAJOR $.5M RENOVATION

Boulia’s iconic Min Min Encounter is shining even brighter than ever now! The $.5M renovation to this key Outback Queensland attraction means visitors can enjoy the new building, facilities and shop, and chat to the friendly Boulia Visitor Information Centre staff. This unique theatrical experience incorporates animatronics, fibre optics and loads of other high tech wizardry.

12. BARCALDINE REC PARK

The Barcaldine Rec Park consists of a manmade lake which offers a place for recreation and water sport activities. The lake is 1,100m long and 250m wide with a maximum water depth of 3.2m. The park is open all year round and provides a perfect spot to cool down during the summer months or stretch your legs on the walking track. A must with kids!

13. THE GLOBE TOURIST LOOKOUT

The Globe Tourist Lookout offers 360-degree views of the vast flat landscape of Barcaldine with a clear view of the Tree of Knowledge Memorial. Don’t forget your binoculars or camera. With over 200 bird species in the region, bird lovers will have the opportunity to watch the birds from the shaded platform, while stargazers can observe the stars at night with an unobstructed view.

14. BUSHMAN’S ARTISANS GALLERY

Established in the 1800’s, the Bushman’s Hotel was once a much-loved pub in Blackall, hosting a rich history of stories and events from within its walls. As one of Blackall’s earliest buildings, the Bushman’s Hotel operated until the early 1990s. It has now been refurbished as a Gallery and is open from 10am-2pm throughout the tourist season with limited hours in the off-season. The centre is run by volunteers and therefore is dependent on their availability.

15. BIG ‘B’ SIGN

Blackall’s Big B Sign is a new community art installation following on from ‘The People’s Sign’ which was launched at the 2019 Better in Blackall Festival. The Big B Sign is another unique and bold visual representation of what it means to live in the Blackall region. It was the vision of two local women who collected photographs from locals and visitors through Instagram and the hashtag #betterinblackall. A definite photo spot stop!

16. CHARLEVILLE BOTANIC RESERVE

Take a drive or walk and read the informative signage as you pass through the diverse plant communities in the new 2,000-ha Charleville Botanic Reserve. Spectacular in spring when desert myrtle surrounds the first part of your drive in a sea of deep pink. It’s a nature lover’s delight and great for bird watching. Ask for details and directions at Charleville’s Visitor Information Centre.

17. OUTBACK DATE FARM

Meet the farmer at Charleville’s Outback Date Farm. Discover the history and benefits and taste the delights from this locally grown produce. See the water recycling and learn an interesting fact or two about the benefits of the juicy fruits, then finish your tour with homemade date loaf and a cuppa.

18. WARREGO RIVER WALK

Wander along Charleville’s Warrego River Walk. Along the path you can read a sign about Mundagudda, the Rainbow Serpent, see the new and old bridges and view native trees and grasses. An easy 1.4km one-way walk. Warrego means ‘river of sand’ in the Aboriginal language and the walk was designed by the local Indigenous Bidjara people.

19. CHARLEVILLE SELF-GUIDED CEMETERY TOUR

Grab a map and visit the Charleville Cemetery on a self-guided walk. On this walk you will visit the final resting place of many of our cherished past residents. Admire other graves and understand the love and admiration those before us had. Ask for details and directions at Charleville’s Visitor Information Centre.

20. EROMANGA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

South-West Queensland’s leading regional museum the Eromanga Natural History Museum has undergone a major $6.6M renovation. The recent construction includes a brand-new reception and visitor centre, café, theatre, interpretative corridor and amenities. The museum is home to Cooper, one of the largest dinosaurs in the world. The museum offers tours, hands-on experiences, and accommodation is available on site.

21. QUILPETA

Quilpie’s new attraction! Take your seat on the expansive green space in front of the supersized outdoor screen for the brand new Quilpeta Night Show. An interactive journey of the story of Quilpie stepping back some 95 million years ago. Along the way you’ll meet giant Titanosaurs Cooper and George, learn about the Quilpie’s First Nation Maranganji people, discover the colourful Boulder Opal story, and early pastoral settlements. Days of operation: Tue, Thu, Sun (Mar-Oct).

22. CUNNUMULLA ALL ABOARD

Cunnamulla’s newest attraction is Cunnamulla All Aboard – sit back and relax for a new sound and light show, as their holographic host, the Station Master (Steven Tandy), whisks you back in time on a memorable journey to the ‘end of the line’. Experience the Outback’s true pioneering spirit and discover how Australia was built on the sheep’s back and narrow-gauge train tracks! Laugh out loud as locals share in their own words what life was like growing up in Cunnamulla in the old days.

… AND ONE MORE FOR GOOD LUCK!

Great News! The much-loved Mucka Pub in Muckadilla, near Roma, has been rebuilt and opened again in late 2021. Everyone is very excited about this news – and so are we.

To find out more, make sure you pop into a local Visitor Information Centre while in Outback Queensland – to pick up more details about new experiences and attractions, directions, maps and other useful visitor tips.

Love these ideas? Check out some new Outback Queensland events and festivals launching and returning in 2022 too!

22 NEW REASONS TO VISIT THE OUTBACK IN 2022