Outback Towns and Drives
Find a Town
Find a drive Itinerary
ABOUT McKinlay
Situated 104 km southeast of Cloncurry, McKinlay is a small town steeped in history and outback charm. It takes its name from the McKinlay River, discovered by explorer John McKinlay, who led the South Australian Burke Relief Expedition in 1861 during the search for Burke and Wills.
Established over a century ago, McKinlay served as a vital staging post for Cobb & Co. coaches and a social hub for graziers from surrounding properties. Today, it offers visitors a glimpse into Australia’s rich outback heritage.
One of McKinlay’s most famous landmarks is the Walkabout Creek Hotel, originally built as the Federal Hotel in 1900. This iconic pub gained international fame as a key filming location for the movie Crocodile Dundee. Visitors can step inside and experience a piece of Australian cinema history.
In the heart of town on Middleton Street, you’ll find Queensland’s smallest public library and visitor centre, which offers a surprising array of fiction and non-fiction books, internet access, and local brochures to help you explore the region.
A short drive from McKinlay is the Cannington South32 mine, located 87 km south. Opened in 1997, it’s the world’s largest and lowest-cost single mine producer of silver and lead. Impressively, Cannington supplied silver for the medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, film buff, or simply seeking a unique outback experience, McKinlay welcomes you with its fascinating past and warm, small-town hospitality.
Places to stay near McKinlay
Julia Creek Caravan Park
82 kmThe Julia Creek Caravan Park is one of those friendly parks you’ll find yourself recommending to others.
MoreDiscovery Parks – Cloncurry
105 kmBurke and Wills found beauty in Cloncurry on their journey through in 1861; now, take your turn when you stay with Discovery Parks – Cloncurry.
MoreCloncurry Caravan Park Oasis
106 kmCloncurry Caravan Park Oasis is situated on the Overlanders Way (Flinders Highway) close to the Town Centre.
MoreGidgee Inn
106 kmThe Gidgee Inn is a 4-star motel with a bar and grill, conference facilities and 40 motel rooms all fully outfitted in Australian style.
MoreLeichhardt Hotel Motel
106 kmLeichhardt Hotel Cloncurry is a regional hotel motel located in northwest Queensland and has been serving locals and visitors for years.
MoreCoppermine Creek Freedom Camp
107 kmCloncurry Shire Council’s Coppermine Creek Freedom Camp is an excellent low-cost, no-frills accommodation option for RV’s of all sizes.
MoreCorella Creek Country Farm Stay
115 kmCorella Creek Country Farm Stay is a place where travellers can relax, interact with nature, and enjoy a sense of freedom.
MoreAyrshire Downs, near Winton
165 kmThis is a hosted stay through Hipcamp, below is the information provided by the Host regarding their offering. Ayrshire Downs Caravan & Camping is a property steeped in Australian history; with the Cobb & Co coach pub ruins, original shearing shed ruins from the famous shearing strikes, the location for where Banjo Patterson first penned Waltzing […]
MoreDiscovery Parks – Argylla, Mount Isa
198 kmThe park is perfect for the stop over, take a dip in the pool or just relax poolside reading a book.
MoreRichmond Lakeview Caravan Park
198 kmThe Richmond Lakeview Caravan Park is the clean, friendly outback park with the “million dollar view”.
MoreThings to see and do near McKinlay
Visit the remains of a concrete building which housed a generating plant supplying power to a RAAF High Frequency / Direction Finding Station.
HF / DF Station Power House Ruins
76 km
One feature you definitely won’t miss in Julia Creek is the 30 metre wine glass shaped water tower.
Julia Creek Water Tower
81 km
If you love history, you’ll enjoy the Duncan McIntyre Museum in Julia Creek, home to countless relics from a bygone era.
Duncan McIntyre Museum
81 km
Peter Dawes Park is centrally located in Burke St Julia Creek. The Park includes undercover picnic tables with BBQ facilities and a shaded kids playground.
Peter Dawes Park
82 km
The Centre offers a great selection of travel information brochures, maps and a range of souvenirs that can only be found in Julia Creek.
At the Creek Visitor Information Centre
82 km
These bright coloured cruiser bikes are free to hire and can be used to travel into town on the fully sealed walking/riding track.
Cruiser Bikes
82 km
Never taken part in a cattle muster? Now you can, at the Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre virtual reality (VR) cattle muster.
Virtual Reality Cattle Mustering
82 km
Beneath the Creek allows you to hear about these remarkable tiny creatures and to view them in a habitat similar to that in the wild.
Julia Creek Dunnart
82 km
Set off on Julia Creek’s Historical Walk either as a short walk around the main area of town or the half day version.
Historical Walk
82 km
Samson, the major sculpture was created by artist, Sue Tilley, from a range of vintage metal objects collected locally.
Spirit of the Light Horse Sculpture
82 km
The Julia Creek Opera House is home to a collection of local and regional photographs of the past life of the people of the region.
Julia Creek Opera House
82 km
Grab your friends and kids and pop down for an afternoon of fun and Mini Golf in Julia Creek!
Julia Creek Caravan Park Mini Golf
82 kmWhile at McKinlay why not try these Tours
North West Tours
202 kmNorth West Tours specialise in small group tours around Mount Isa and beyond.
MoreRed Dirt Tours
215 kmRed Dirt Tours is your Winton touring specialist and offers a number of tours to the spectacular natural and man-made attractions of the Winton region.
MoreElite Aviation Services Pty Ltd
215 kmBased in Winton, Queensland, Elite Aviation Services offers helicopter and plane scenic flights and charters over the spectacular landscape around Winton and the Diamantina River.
MoreFox Helicopter Services
305 kmFox Helicopters operate a selection of scenic flights to Porcupine Gorge and White Mountains National Park.
MoreOutback Aussie Tours – Extended Tours
332 kmExplore Outback Queensland and beyond with Outback Aussie Tours, a multi-award winning touring company and Savannah Guides accredited operator.
MoreCobbold Gorge Tours
352 kmDeep in the heart of the Gulf Savannah region of Far North Queensland is a hidden outback oasis – Cobbold Gorge.
MoreOutback Pioneers
385 kmOutback Pioneers’ award-winning outback tours and experiences, based in Longreach, is all about holidays and experiences that bring the pioneer past to life.
MoreOutback Aussie Tours – Day Tours
385 kmOutback Aussie Tours is a family-owned local operator with over 35 years of experience and unrivalled local Outback Queensland knowledge, passion and connections.
MoreOutback Aussie Tours – Outback Rail Adventure Day Tours
385 kmThe Outback Rail Adventure is Outback Aussie Tours’ newest tourism experience reconnecting our visitors with the romance of rail.
MoreQueensland Helicopters
387 kmQueensland Helicopters is a family owned business that prides itself on customer service and safety.
MoreYagurli Tours
435 kmYagurli Tours is an Indigenous owned business operated by the Gangalidda and Garawa Peoples.
MoreBalloon Aloft Burketown
435 kmBalloon Aloft is partnering with Yagurli Tours for a hot air balloon experience with a difference this June to September.
More