How to explore Outback Queensland’s dinosaur trail

Day 1: Townsville to Hughenden (377km)

Watch the landscape turn from lush coastal tropics to red dirt and blue sky as you drive the 4.5 hours from Townsville to Hughenden along Australia’s Dinosaur Trail. As you make your way west through Queensland’s picturesque outback, the drive takes you through a number of historic country towns, including Charters Towers, once the second largest town in Queensland and the most accessible of the state's outback towns.

If you’ve time to spare, head to Leahton Park for the Texas Longhorn Tour. Just outside Charters Towers, it’s home to the largest herd of Texas Longhorns in the country. Get up close with these incredible animals as you enjoy a safari or traditional wagon ride in the bush.

A dead giveaway you’ve arrived in Hughenden is driving past ‘Mutt’, the town’s famous dinosaur statue of a Muttaburrasaurus—which roamed in these parts over 100 million years ago. Eager explorers will want to head straight to the Flinders Discovery Centre for a first-hand look at the incredible display of fossilised marine reptiles and dinosaur bones found along Australia’s Dinosaur Trail.

Accommodation: You’ll find a number of hotel and motel accommodation options in Hughenden, along with a caravan park. Just east of Hughenden, stop in to the tiny township of Prairie, where the local Prarie Hotel puts on a country feed and accommodation.

Tip: The main attractions on the Dinosaur Trail are ticketed, so save a few dollars by buying a discounted Extended Attractions Pass for the Australian Dinosaur Trail.

Day 2: Hughenden to Richmond (112km)

You’ve done the hard yards in the car on day one. Richmond, the second major stop along Australia’s Dinosaur Trail, is practically just up the road. Home to an almost complete skeleton of ancient marine creature, the plesiosaur, palaeontologists and dinosaur fans alike have been flocking to this humble outback town ever since.

Find out all about the town’s fossil finds at Kronosaurus Korner, where visitors can check out over 1,000 unique fossils and watch recently uncovered bones being cleaned and preserved. Budding palaeontologists of all ages will revel in the museum’s periodic volunteer laboratory work, supporting outback digs across the region. Between May-September visitors can even participate in guided fossicking tours as well as fossil hunting in designated sites. History buffs should also make time for a stroll the town’s historical walk taking in the local architecture and dinosaur fanfare.

A morning spent searching for dinosaur bones really brings on an appetite; and the good picnic and BBQ spots along Lake Fred Tritton are ideal for dropping a blanket. The lake has well-placed amenities for families, including boat hire for fishing, a kid-friendly water park and sandy enclaves to spend an afternoon.

Tip: If you’ve brought your own camping or caravan amenities there are a number of facilities on the edge of Lake Fred Tritton, overlooking Jack Brown Lions Parks and the Bush Tucker Gardens. 

Day 3: Richmond to Winton (218km)

Make tracks early for morning tea at Balamara Bakery or a coffee at quirky Musical Fence Cafe on Winton’s main drag, Elderslie Street.

This section of Australia’s Dinosaur Trail is quintessential Queensland outback, Winton is full of history and utterly unique. Home of Banjo Patterson’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’, Boulder opals, and fossils millions of years in the making, there’s plenty to keep you entertained for at least a couple of days.

Top of your list of things to do is a visit to Lark Quarry, home to the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument. Here you’ll tour the very site where it's believed a 95 million-year-old dinosaur stampede has been captured in time. Tracks of 150 species have been identified - it is seriously impressive to see.

Next up is a trip to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. A working laboratory and supporting a number of active dig site around the region, learn from the experts on what life was like on Winton Plains 100 million years ago. Guided tours of the Laboratory, Collection Room and Dinosaur Canyon are available on the hour, between 9am - 2pm daily. Tours take around 3-4 hours for the full experience and are well worth timing your visit for. 

This afternoon, catch an impressive outback sunset as you explore rpck formations on the Rangelands with Red Dirt Tours. Based in Winton, the knowledgeable team offer tours of the town, the dinosaur sites and other attractions (including full day opal fossicking).  

Accommodation: You’re spoilt for accommodation in and around Winton - but Rangelands Outback Camp will steal your heart. This six-tent camp caters to a maximum of 12 guests at a time, blending outback luxury with the unique surrounds of a working cattle property. Expect big views, big skies, and plenty of peace.

Closer to town, choose from the art-deco North Gregory Hotel; atmospheric Tattersalls Hotel is where the al fresco dining action is; or family-friendly Winton Hotel on Werna Street for good value meals for all ages.

Day 4: Winton to Hughenden (215km)

There’s still plenty to see along Australia’s Dinosaur Trail. Looping back to Hughenden, take the 215km Dinosaur Way to Hughenden via Corfield and Stamford, then continue another 45-minutes' drive north to Porcupine Gorge National Park.

Forged by steep sandstone gorges and clear freshwater pools, and home to countless wildlife encounters, this national park is the perfect way to end your Outback Queensland dinosaur road trip. Take the leisurely 2.4 km Pyramid Track to the lookout, where your efforts are rewarded with breath taking views over the gorge as you spot red kangaroos and wallaroos, or cool off in the waterhole near camp. 

Have time in your itinerary to add an extra day or two? Stop by Longreach. This famous country town has more than enough things to do; from Starlights Lookout to the Qantas Founders Museum to the banks of the Thompson River.

Want to delve further into Queensland's dinosaur history? Here are more places to add to your radar.