6 Outback Queensland myths, busted
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By Chelsea Tromans
If you thought Outback Queensland was all red dust, meat pies and sleeping on the ground, you’re in for a surprise – there’s more to central Australia than meets the eye.
Lush water holes, quirky events and luxury accommodation prove you can’t believe those Outback Queensland myths.
If you’ve always wanted to tick an Outback Queensland road trip off the bucket list, but you’ve been a little unsure what to expect, this guide will have you excited about what awaits you down the road less travelled.
Myth 1: There’s no mobile phone reception
A break from your phone will probably do you a world of good, but if you can’t bear to be unreachable, you’ll be happy to find 3G - even 4G in some areas - and the magical rainbow of WiFi follows you most places you go.
Big centres like Longreach, Mount Isa and Charleville have coverage with most mobile phone providers, while smaller towns like Quilpie are really only Telstra-friendly. If you’re heading west, it’s worth swapping providers or grabbing a Telstra pre-paid SIM for the trip to err on the side of connectivity.
If you’re going well off the beaten track, a satellite phone is recommended so you can always phone home.
Myth 2: There’s nothing good to eat
Photo by @thelodgeonhawthorne
If there was ever a time and a place to sample Indigenous bush tucker, your trip to the Outback is certainly it. That said, it’s not the only thing on the menu. Outback Queensland is the birthplace of paddock-to-plate cuisine with over 901,574km2 of wide open plains for cattle to graze.
Taste the region at a true-blue outback pub like Birdsville Hotel (Australia’s most iconic pub), Wellshot Hotel in Ilfracombe, and North Gregory Hotel in Winton where you’ll encounter friendly locals, cold beer and the age-old question – do you want chips and salad or mash and veggies?
For a deep-fryer-free zone, The Lodge on Hawthorn in Blackall is the lovechild of a cafe, antique shop and art gallery. Inside a heritage-listed Masonic lodge building, you’ll find New York style-bagels, black forest waffles, and homemade fruit toast with ricotta and lemon butter on the menu.
Plus, the outback is Country Women’s Association (CWA) territory and the country baking game is good. Try it for yourself at the Merino Bakery in Longreach with the region’s signature sweet – the peach blossom.
Myth 3: I’ll only see dirt for days
Photo by @lighthousebound via @outbackqueensland
It’s true, rain is rare in the outback, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any rivers, lakes or watering holes to break up what Australian poet Dorothea Mackellar referred to as ‘a land of sweeping plains’.
For proof there is an oasis of the outback: visit Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, which has been Outback Queensland’s water park for over 100 million years.
‘Boodjamulla’ translates to ‘Rainbow Serpent Country’ in the local Indigenous language and if you’re lucky enough to view the area from above, you’ll see how it got its name as the gorge snakes its way around the savannah landscape. Hike it, canoe it, and explore the historical Riversleigh Fossil Site.
Myth 4: Nothing ever happens in the outback
The peace and quiet is what draws many to come and stay in the outback, but the community spirit is as strong as it gets out here. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll run out of space in your diary once you mark it up with the Outback events calendar.
And it’s not your ordinary gatherings out here. The Outback turns its towns into arenas, natural assets into amphitheatres and heritage-listed buildings into sets.
One of the biggest events is the iconic Birdsville Big Red Bash. The largest sand dune in the Simpson Desert is turned into the set for the world’s most remote music festival, with 9,000 people making the pilgrimage west.
Further north, every winter the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival – Australia’s answer to Sundance – takes centre stage. Check out our 48-hour itinerary for exploring the outback’s own tinseltown, Winton.
Myth 5: I’ll have to sleep in a swag
If camping isn’t your cup of billy tea, no need to worry. While 80% of Outback travellers stick to camping and caravanning, the remainder aren’t roughing it.
Lay in the lap of luxury at Gilberton Outback Retreat in Einasleigh. With views of the Gilbert River from your private hut, you’ll be in blissful silence with no mobile phone reception and no TV. Relax by the river, go bushwalking, and make sure to ask your hosts about the Gilberton gold.
Further south and deep within the sandstone cliffs of the Carnarvon Ranges you can shake up your perception of camping at Wallaroo Outback Retreat. You’ll find eight glamping tents with posture pedic mattresses, hot showers and working toilets – aka camping bliss. Wallaroo are so well-primed for guests who know how to travel in style, they even have their own airstrip if you want to drop in with your own helicopter.
Myth 6: The kids will be bored
Photo by @adventuremumma via @outbackqueensland
If the kids don’t come back full of tales, you’ve done the Outback wrong.
The region is a classroom with everything from ancient history dating back to the dinosaurs to modern inventions like world-class telescopes that can see hidden star clusters, coloured stars and planets from the furthest reaches of our solar system.
History isn’t just imparted through the four walls of a museum – it’s everywhere you turn.
Dinosaur-obsessed kids can join Australia’s Dinosaur Trail to follow the (very large) footsteps of the dinosaurs that roamed the region millions of years ago. For astronomers in the making, a visit to the Cosmos Centre and Observatory in Charleville will leave the little ones seeing stars.
Pair it with this 48-hour guide to make the most of your time in the central-west.
Now we’ve changed your perspective, it’s time to plan your trip
- Tick off these 30 things to do in the region.
- Drive the Overlander’s Way through the outback.
- Here’s why there’s never been a better time to visit Outback Queensland.
