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NORTH WEST REGION

DISCOVER NORTH WEST QUEENSLAND

Pack your hard-hat and sense of adventure – just four hours’ drive west of Townsville, Outback Queensland’s north west region begins.

It’s packed with dinosaur fossils, jaw-dropping scenery and a mining history that will lead you deep underground in Mount Isa.

Ancient history is the only kind served around here, from Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park where you can walk amongst 25-million-year-old World Heritage-listed sites at Riversleigh, to ancient underwater marine reptiles in Richmond, or the fossil collections in Hughenden.

Cloncurry, birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the destination for the first Qantas flight is also known for its minerals and gems.

Artesian baths, an award-winning caravan park and a lively calendar of events are huge attractions for travellers to the small town of Julia Creek.

No two days are the same in these parts: and in the north west a sense of adventure is the only packing essential.

Towns in the North West Region

Burke and Wills Junction

Breaking the trip between Cloncurry and Normanton on the Matilda Highway is the Burke & Wills Roadhouse, so named after the route taken by the ill-fated explorers. Situated at the Burke & Wills Junction it is also the turn-off for travellers heading to Gregory Downs, Adel’s Grove or Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park.

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Camooweal

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.

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Cloncurry

‘The Curry’, as Cloncurry is affectionately known by locals, is most famous for being the birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

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Dajarra

Believe it or not, Dajarra was once the largest trucking depot in the world, but today is a quiet town in far north Outback Queensland.

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Duchess

In earlier days Duchess was an important railway and mining town with the settlement having up to 2000 people living there.

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Hughenden

Visit ‘Hughie’, the seven-metre Muttaburrasaurus and an impressive fossil collection at the Flinders Discovery Centre.

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Julia Creek

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

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Kajabbi

Kajabbi is a tiny, sleepy settlement in north west Queensland, in an area that is steeped in history.

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Kynuna

Kynuna was established in the 1860s and in its early days boasted three hotels. It was a staging post for Cobb and Co Coaches.

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McKinlay

Located 104 kilometres south east of Cloncurry, McKinlay was named after the McKinlay River which was discovered and named by the explorer John McKinlay.

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Mount Isa

Affectionately known as the ‘oasis of the outback’, Mount Isa is a gleaming mirage on the horizon for travellers from all directions.

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Nelia

Nelia is a quaint little town approximately 50 kilometres east of Julia Creek on the Overlander’s Way. Here you will find the world’s largest brolga sculptures and an active QCWA branch that is a central meeting place for families living in the district. Nelia is home to Corella Creek Country Farm Stay which offers a […]

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Prairie

Prairie is a small township to the east of Hughenden in Queensland’s Flinders Shire in the great North West. The township has a history as

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Quamby

Roughly 60km away from Cloncurry, Quamby used to be a bustling railway village catering to the needs of the cattle and mining sectors nestled between Cloncurry and Normanton. After a period of abandonment, the historic Quamby Pub (established in 1860) has been revived and is now operational! Step inside, indulge in refreshments and delicious food, […]

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Richmond

Imagine being in a place so diverse, so vast, you feel an indescribable sense of freedom.

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Stamford Races

Stamford is a town steeped with Outback history and was once an overnight stop for Cobb and Co Coaches travelling from Hughenden to Winton.

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Torrens Creek

The Torrens Creek, after which this Outback town is named, rises in the Great Dividing Range and runs southward to the Thomson River system.

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Local Stories

Outback Pioneers

Longreach – 1,179km north-west from Brisbane If you love history, then you’ll love Outback Pioneers’ award-winning experiences and holidays. Whether you choose a day tour, or an inclusive package stay, you can expect a warm welcome, entertaining stories and iconic encounters that capture the essence of Queensland’s outback pioneer spirit and lifestyle. And there’s so […]

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Outback at Isa

Mount Isa – 1,826km north-west from Brisbane Get to know Mount Isa through some of its best attractions at Outback at Isa. This award-winning Visitor Information Centre is a hub for family fun with a huge range of experiences to keep everyone entertained. If you’re on the hunt for dinosaurs stop into the incredible Riversleigh […]

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9 ways to see a Dinosaur in Outback Queensland

Once upon a time, when dinosaurs roamed the land, Outback Queensland resembled a landscape of temperate forest unlike the dusty plains we see today. Fast forward 95 million years and scientists are slowly (and literally) piecing together the bones of Outback Queensland’s history. With a dinosaur trail at its heart, along with exciting discoveries found […]

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9 Tips to Ensure a Safe Road Trip in Outback Queensland

Outback Queensland is road trip country – think wide open roads, big blue skies, and stations so big that you won’t be able to see their borders with the naked eye. Whether you’re a seasoned outback adventurer or a first-time traveller, check out these tips to help you have a safe road trip in Outback […]

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Kronosaurus Korner Museum

Richmond – 1,252km north-west from Brisbane The Kronosaurus Korner Museum is another unmissable stop on Outback Queensland’s unique and exciting dinosaur trail. Located in an area that was once an inland sea, the museum is home to marine species, pterosaurs, birds, fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, gastropods, plants, bivalves and echinoderms all found in the Richmond area. […]

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