Your guide to North West Queensland, our larger-than-life backyard

It might be remote, but there are plenty of ways to embark on a holiday in North West Queensland.

Pack the car and road trip Savannah Way or Overlander’s Way to choose your own adventure. You could even travel through the heart of the outback along Matilda Way to then visit Cloncurry and Karumba.

Jump aboard one of our scenic train rides to explore: The  Savannahlander, Gulflander and Inlander trains offer an incredible adventure.

Shorter on time or prefer air travel? Major airlines fly to Mount Isa.

Things to do in North West Queensland

Meet nature at its most raw and rugged 

If you’re looking for national parks and natural landscapes that’ll impress, North West Queensland has them in spades. Wild, rugged, and unlike anything you’ve seen – it’s more than worth the effort to get here.

Undara Volcanic National Park is home to the world’s longest lava tube system and Undara Experience offers a range of tours, including sunset wildlife spotting. Or discover ancient caves and geological formations dating back 500 million years along the hiking trails of Camooweal Caves National Park.

North West Queensland is home to some incredible outback gorges. Stand-up paddleboard or take a boat tour through Cobbold Gorge – or get views from the top along the new glass bridge. This might be Queensland’s youngest gorge, but it’s mighty and began forming millions of years ago. Hike and camp through Australia’s 'Little Grand Canyon' – Porcupine Gorge National Park – and you’ll find there’s nothing little about it.

Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park (not currently open) is another jewel of North West Queensland, and its emerald-green waterways glisten just like one. Venture here to discover an oasis amongst the red dirt outback. Rent a canoe to paddle through the gorge, between the magnificent red cliff faces that tower above, then check out neighbouring World Heritage-listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields (not currently open) where fossil deposits date back 25 million years and are known as one of the most significant fossil fields in the world.

Experience Indigenous culture 

This ancient land has many stories to tell, and they’re best told by the Indigenous people who live here. In Burketown, don’t miss the opportunity to explore with Yagurli Tours: go fishing, head out on a 4WD adventure, or learn local legends and cosmology on a stargazing tour. This area is also known for its striking morning glory cloud formations.

Talaroo Hot Springs near Georgetown is Australia’s only known tiered thermal hot spring. Soak in a landscape over 65 million years old, and learn about its significance to the Ewamian people on several tours offered throughout the day. 

Go fishing 

The Gulf of Carpentaria is an angler’s dream, so for the chance to fish for barramundi book a charter out of Karumba – or you can even take a river cruise to go croc spotting. You can head to Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre.

Inland lakes also hold a lot of opportunity to cast a line. Set your sights on Lake Moondarra in Mount Isa, Lake Fred Tritton near Richmond, or Chinaman Creek Dam and Corella Dam by Cloncurry – a tranquil spot great for swimming, birdwatching and picnicking too.

Get prehistoric 

Travel back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. North West Queensland is home to incredible dinosaur experiences, from thought-provoking exhibitions to sites where you can help dig for remains. Kronosaurus Korner is a favourite, where you can get your hands dirty in one of the richest fossicking sites in the southern hemisphere. Read all about it here.

Delve into history, heritage and mining culture 

North West Queensland is one of the world’s richest mineral-producing regions – and Mount Isa is the world’s largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc. Needless to say, if you want to delve more into this side of the region, you can. Mount Isa’s Hard Times Mining Tour is a fascinating insight into the industry with a little interactive fun too, while a visit to the eerie, abandoned Mary Kathleen uranium mine is well worth a look – it’s become an Instagram hotspot in recent years due to its striking blue pool.

Explore the legacy of the Royal Flying Doctor Service at John Flynn Place Museum, get into early Australian history at Cloncurry Unearthed Museum, or take a night tour that combines Forsyth’s gold rush and ghost stories by lantern light with Goldfields Hotel.

Where to stay

Rugged and remote doesn’t mean roughing it in North West Queensland. There are plenty of places to pitch the tent that will make you want to linger a while (Pyramid Lookout in Porcupine Gorge National Park and free camping on the shores of Cloncurry’s Corella Dam at Clem Walton Park are great examples). But for something really special, we’ve got you covered.

After a day exploring the lava tubes of Undara Volcanic National Park, bunk down in eco-friendly decommissioned railway carriages then wake up to a bush breakfast for a true taste of the outback.

Soak up sunset while soaking in an artesian bath at Julia Creek Caravan Park. The park offers powered sites for motorhomes and caravans, self-contained cabins, unpowered sites and camping areas. But the six artesian baths steal the show – as do the bush dinners by starlight held every Monday for guests from April to September.

How about glamping beside one of our most spectacular national parks? Head to Wugudaji-Adels Grove, an eco-sensitive camping park amongst the trees, just 10 kilometres from Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park (not currently open). There are glamping tents by the river, campsites and tents for hire, with swimming holes right here to dive into.

Prefer hot springs to water holes? Talaroo Hot Springs offers 60 short-stay camping and caravan sites, with a café coming soon. 

Savannah Lodge is an oasis of self-contained cabins in Burketown, with Poppy Joe's bar onsite to cool down at the day’s end. Meanwhile, the boutique Red Earth Hotel is the place to stay in Mount Isa.

Where to eat and drink

You won’t be short of an outback pub or a good meat pie in these parts.

Karumba is where you’ll find the best seafood: from the Barramundi Discovery Centre to prawns overlooking the Gulf of Carpentaria at The Sunset Tavern, to the famous fish burgers at Ash’s at The Point Café.

Pull up a bar stool at Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay, Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna or Normanton’s Purple Pub and you’ll be sure to get a good pub feed.

As for where to eat in Mount Isa, check out this local’s guide.

Events in North West Queensland

Time your visit with one of North West Queensland’s events to increase your experience tenfold.

The outback’s famously gruelling annual three-day triathlon – Julia Creek Dirt n Dust – is for anyone who likes a tough challenge followed by one helluva party.

The biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere comes to Mount Isa every year, while Karumba is a stop along the Outback Masters for any avid golfers. Come for the Richmond Campdraft, or settle in for tunes at the Undara Outback Rock and Blues Festival or Savannah in the Rounds.

There’s never a dull moment. 

Get to know North West Queensland's breathtaking natural landmarks and national parks with these incredible natural wonders.