6 things to do on school holidays in Outback Queensland
Scrap your typical beach bum break; beachside holidays are so last year. Instead, put your pedal to metal to the Aussie outback for your next school holidays.
Here’re six things that will get the kids bragging at show and tell when class gets back into swing.
1. Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, dinosaurs
Witness science textbooks come to life – we’re talking the real deal here. The outback is Australia’s answer to Jurassic Park where big critters once roamed the lands of prehistoric rainforests and inland seas. Take on the Australian Dinosaur Trail through the towns of Winton, Richmond and Hughenden or venture out to Queensland’s other dino spots like Eromanga or the World Heritage –listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields – after all this counts as research for the kids next science project, right?
Make sure to try out a free fossicking site; you might just make the next big discovery!
2. A real astronomy class
There’s no better place than the outback for a night out with the brightest stars. Take your stargazing experience to the next level at the Charleville Cosmos Centre with their powerful Meade Telescopes to observe star clusters, binary stars and planets. Cue the jaw dropping and ooh’s and ahh’s – you’ll see things that you’ve never seen before in the sky. Tip: Make sure to take your winter woollies in the cooler months, outback temperatures can drop below zero at night. Make the most of your Charleville escape with this guide.
3. Be a jillaroo or jackaroo for the day
Grab your Akubra and boots and visit one of Outback Queensland’s working stations. Master whip cracking (530 cracks in a minute is the world record if you’re aiming high), ride a horse or herd sheep. Enjoy good old country hospitality and take part in your own paddock-to-plate experience to help deliver farm fresh produce. To fully embrace the traditional outback lifestyle, camp out under the stars in swags or bunk up in genuine shearing sheds. If you’re looking to learn from the experts, head to the Outback Stockman’s Show in Longreach and grasp the traditional Australian Stockman skills that are still used today.
4. Surf’s up!
Okay, so no sand bars here but we do have sand dunes! If you’re heading along the Warrego or Adventure Way here’s your chance. Cunnamulla and Birdsville’s Big Red are sand surfing havens, big hills ready for plenty of thrills – who would have thought you could go surfing 800kms from the coast?
5. Making Australian history fun
Hold onto your Akubra and take to Australia’s pioneering past with an old fashioned Cobb & Co stagecoach ride along the old Longreach-Windorah mail route with Outback Pioneers.
If taking history at a galloping pace isn’t for you, take on an aviation lesson with Australia’s oldest Airline at the Qantas Founders Museum. For aspiring pilots in the family, make sure to jump onto the jet tour, which takes you behind the scenes of a Boeing 747 and 707 or their flight simulator experience. You can combine the two with our ultimate guide to discovering Longreach.
6. It’s show time
Plan your holidays around a quintessential Outback Queensland event. In school holidays you’ll find Roma’s Easter in the country, which is a celebration of all things country – like rodeos, drag racing and a street parade to name a few.
Film fanatics can experience a cinema under the stars at the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival or junior athletes can take on your not so typical athletics carnival at the Biennial Outback Festival. Events include swag tossing, wool bale rolling and bushmen’s egg throwing.
Looking for more family fun ideas? Check out these 5 free-family activities in Outback Queensland.
Make sure to check out these family friendly itineraries to help you get planning!
