An out of this world weekend in Winton

Make your way to Winton, cruising along the Matilda Way which stretches between Cunnamulla to Karumba. For those craving a challenge, there’s also a much-loved five-day road trip that will introduce you to the best of the outback with a trail that runs from Winton to Tambo. But if convenience is key, take the easy option and fly your way into Winton direct, or via Longreach. Whether you cruise by car or plane, keep in mind that a window seat is a non-negotiable as the landscape here is legendary.

Leave your bags at the North Gregory Hotel on Winton’s main street (or check in early if your room is ready). Your first stop is Searle’s Outback Store. A must-see for genuine country outfitting, this “little shop of everything” will kit you out in Akubras, shirts, and cowboy boots, as well as all sorts of travel essentials, souvenirs, and just about anything else you might need.

Across the road, the oldest building in Winton, Corfield and Fitzmaurice (open March – September), is a great photo backdrop. With beautifully preserved colonial architecture it could be taken straight out of an old Western. Inside you’ll find locally made art and crafts, as well as a museum commemorating Winton’s intriguing history through a fascinating selection of artifacts.

Afternoon

Feeling peckish? Head up the main street and turn right to find the Lost Poet Café. With a slew of second-hand books to browse – and buy –as well as mouth-watering wraps, toasties, bagels and coffee, it’s the perfect pitstop during your wander around town.

Head back up the street and take a peek inside The Royal Open-Air Theatre to see what’s on. This stunning cinema has been showing movies on the big screen since 1918. There are four screenings each week, from new releases to classics, as well as being home to Winton’s annual Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival (which happens every June) – a proud local take on the Sundance Film Festival. Pop next door into the Royal’s recently opened Museum (another gold coin donation for entry), for a fascinating array of cinematic collectibles and artifacts from the venue’s history.

Evening

Grab an early meal at Banjo’s Beer Garden (the kitchen might be closed by the time you’re back tonight) at the North Gregory where you’re staying. While the pub is an ode to Art Deco style, it’s most famous for allegedly being the exact spot where "Waltzing Matilda" was performed for the very first time. The piano near the beer garden is said to be “the spot” where Banjo and his co-writer Christina Macpherson performed, making for another great photo opportunity.

After dinner, you’re off heading 15 minutes’ drive out of town to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs for a tour at the The Gondwana Stars Observatory. From the centre’s custom-built viewing deck, you’ll be taken on an incredible journey around the night sky, learning how to navigate your way around the Milky Way and spot galaxies far, far away through the centre’s powerful telescopes. Awe-inspiring, informative, and disarmingly serene, discover why Winton is Australia’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary – one of only 10 places in the world to earn the title due to its exceptional star-gazing conditions.

After your Dark Sky experience, head back to the North Gregory for a nightcap. Catch live music and bush poetry as local entertainers share songs and stories from Winton’s famous past.

Day Two

Morning

Make a beeline for the Waltzing Matilda Centre, an architecturally award-winning space that received a $22 million upgrade in 2018 after burning down in 2015. Here you’ll find all manner of Winton histories, including letters from Banjo Paterson himself and Christina Macpherson – who co-wrote "Waltzing Matilda" with him. There are also fascinating exhibits chronicling the Great Shearers’ Strike of 1891, which marked the start of the union movement in Australia, and the birth of QANTAS in 1920 – Winton was the location of the very first board meeting and registration of the company.

If film and TV are more your speed, there’s loads of movie memorabilia from productions that have shot in Winton, sealing its reputation as the “Hollywood of the Outback.” And don’t forget to duck into the gallery space to see world-class exhibitions such as the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Refuel at the Tuckerbox Café before heading back out to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs. In daylight hours, the centre is a paradise of the cretaceous kind. Here you can get up close to some of the 145-million-year-old animal and plant fossils (and in some cases, even touch them) that helped put Winton on the map as the dinosaur capital of Australia. Take a tour to learn about the creatures that once roamed – and swam – in the area, or get your hands dirty with the “Prep-A-Dino” experience (ages 12+), where you get to work in the centre’s Fossil Preparation Lab, “prepping” real life specimens.

If you’re not too tired, swing by Winton’s famous Musical Fence on your way back to town. Playing it is simple – just grab a stick and let loose on the wires, which have been designed by percussionist and composer Graeme Leak.

For those who love their toys, the Diamantina Heritage Truck & Machinery Museum is also a must-visit. Aside from lots of amazing trucks, there’s also a steam engine, Model T Fords, vintage fire engine and a brilliant exhibit in honour of “Toots” – a famous female trucking legend.

Evening