Take it easy

Savour the sunburnt country with a trip through Outback Queensland. The historic heart of the state, this diverse district may be low on coastline but it’s big on wide-open spaces, offering no shortage of accommodation for those who want to stay awhile.

Having escaped the big smoke, this is your chance to embrace the great outdoors. Pack your swag - spending the night under the stars is encouraged. There’s off-road camping galore, but caravan parks are also abundant across this desert-laden expanse for those less experienced, and can be found in towns and regional centres like Longreach and Mount Isa among many others. 

Indulge your inner history buff with a night spent at one of the state's more historic accommodation options. Scattered across the arid landscape of Outback Queensland you’ll find a collection of iconic hotels with a legendary tale or two to tell. Including the chance to follow in the footsteps of Waltzing Matilda creator Banjo Paterson, resting your head at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton. 

Getting better acquainted with life on the land is also an option, with working properties or farm stays welcoming guests looking for unforgettable outback experiences. Whether you’re looking to roll up your sleeves and pitch in or just learn what living and working on the land is all about, it’s here you’ll discover just what it takes to live and work like a local.

Camping, glamping and caravanning in the Outback 

The Queensland Outback delivers a plethora of camping and caravanning options, including glamping experiences for those that fancy a little luxury while discovering new places on an Outback road trip. If you’re not up for roughing it, luxe glamping experiences are made even more special with spectacular Outback sunsets from your private outdoor deck and nights around the firepit awaiting you in and around Longreach, Mount Isa, Carnarvon, Cunnamulla and other destinations across the Queensland Outback. For those travelling a little more affordably, free council-operated camping sites are in abundance if you’re planning to pitch a tent or park a caravan while exploring historic towns like Cloncurry, Mitchell, Windorah and Tambo, but you’ll also find a number of holiday parks with family-friendly facilities — including swimming pools and playgrounds — right across the region. 

Experience the Outback lifestyle

For authentic Outback experiences where you’ll get a real feel for life on the land, consider a farm stay at one of the many working properties that offer couples and family accommodation. These sprawling properties provide more than the opportunity to immerse yourself in country life —  and work, if you so choose — with many offering luxurious accommodation with optimum comfort the order of the day in restored historical properties to deliver unforgettable experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the world.  

But there are many ways to experience the Outback lifestyle and get a feel for what it’s like to live in this vast, sprawling and spectacular landscape without digging into your pockets or camping for free. Hotels are found in most Outback towns, from Barcoo to Barcaldine and everywhere in between, with myriad motels lining the Matilda Way and Outback highways if you’re passing through and need somewhere to lay your head after a long day on the road. From simple yet comfortable rooms above lively Outback pubs to more chic digs that wouldn’t look out of place in trendiest parts of the big smoke, you’ll find a wealth of accommodation options to suit all budgets and traveller types in Outback Queensland.