All the best things to do in Charters Towers

This might not be the big smoke, but you could easily spend an hour or so walking around town to get your dose of gold, ghosts and grandeur. Between quirky shops, heritage buildings and friendly locals it's easy to get the vibe of Charters Towers. And if you prefer to be led by history, drop into the Visitors Information Centre to get a map for the Charters Towers One Square Mile trail which showcases the civic buildings, historic hotels and charming cottages - and some street art too. 

2. Catch sunset from Towers Hill

You won’t find a big backlit Charters Towers sign at the top of Towers Hill, but you will find one that says “The World”. This nickname was earned back when the town was the second biggest city in Queensland, and locals used to say that you could find everything you desired here with no reason to travel anywhere else.

With its summit 420 metres above sea level, this rocky pinnacle is the very best spot to catch a sorbet sunset. 

During the day you’ll need more than binoculars to see all of Charters though – the Regional Council looks after a geographical area bigger than Tasmania, which explains why the horizon seems to stretch on forever.

After dark, the action fires up in the amphitheatre with a daily screening of Ghosts After Dark, a film that covers the basics of Charters’ gold boom. It’s a fitting location to hear about the gold rush as Towers Hill was the very spot a young Aboriginal boy named Jupiter (who the famous casino is named after) first discovered a chunk of alluvial gold back in 1871 and founded the town.

Fast forward many, many years and gold fossickers still arrive in droves, armed with metal detectors, in search of those golden nuggets. For anyone running a fever, you can legally fossick at Young’s Block.

3. Knock back a Whitbreads

Whitbreads' cordials are the perfect, refreshing beverage to take the edge off the outback heat, and stir up some nostalgia - a vital part of Charters Towers’ history, Whitbreads has been serving fizzy drinks to locals since 1896.

To this day, all 25 flavours are manufactured, bottled and distributed from an independently-run factory right here in Charters.

Their Splash Cola and Sarsaparilla flavours are made using a top secret formula, and have stayed almost exactly the same since the company was first established. You can pick up a bottle of Whitbreads at most local stores for a couple of bucks.

4. See how gold was extracted

Back in the fossicking days, this town was known as ‘the vault’ of Queensland, and there’s nowhere better to appreciate this rich history than at the Venus Gold Battery.

The guided tour will foster a real appreciation for the effort that went into extracting gold (the long-retired gold stamping machines uses to pummel one teaspoon of gold out of every tonne of ore back in the day) and speaks to the mentality of prospectors at the time who would have done anything for a lump of gold.

5. Meet some Texans

They build things bigger in the west, and Texas Longhorn Tours is no exception.

The 110,000-acre cattle station sits just 10 kilometres outside of Charters Towers. Asian Water Buffalo, Scottish Highlanders, American Bison, African Watusi and Indian Gyr cattle all roam over the station, and you can see them all on one of the guided outback safaris.

This farm is also home to the largest herd of purebred Texas Longhorns in Australia - some of the longest horned cattle in the world. Pride among them, a steer called J.R. who cracked the 2013 Guiness World Record with horns measuring over 10ft. 

6. Swap ghost stories

For a town founded on blood, sweat and toil, you can bet there are some spooky stories too. Hear some of the lore from locals at the pub, or join the Haunted Charters Towers Ghost Tour for a ghostly walk through the old city centre after dark.

From ghosts who haunt their places of work, to a double murder in the Royal Private Hotel, to a bloodstained table that marks the spot of a cold-blooded shooting inside The World Theatre,  there’s no shortage of spine-tingling tales. 

7. Go to a real auction

It’s worth checking out the Dalrymple Cattle Saleyards each Wednesday for a dose of cowboys and cattle.

The saleyards are definitely off the tourist track, so a day under the auction roof will provide one of the best and most authentic glimpses into the agriculture industry. Beef is big business in these parts, with beasts going for as much as luxury cars sometimes. The flurry and excitement of the crowd as they go under the hammer is palpable.

8. Catch the latest flick at the drive-in

One of the oldest drive-in theatres in Queensland (and only one of four still in operation that we know of), Tors Drive-In is a remnant of a long gone era. They’ve been rolling films since 1966, and these days they’re still offering a vintage experience at vintage prices.

Every night has a double feature: the perfect date night or lowkey entertainment for the family.

Fuel up at the snack bar and you’ll walk away with change from a $10 note. They have everything you need to round out an outback movie experience including popcorn, choc tops, and yes, even Whitbreads.

Roll up early for a prime park and then sit back and enjoy a feature beneath the stars.

9. Road trip to Ravenswood

Not technically in Charters Towers (it's 90km north-east) but well worth a visit is the quaint little town of Ravenswood.

With a population of roughly 350. these days the town consists of a general store/post office, a primary school and two pubs, so don’t blink or you’ll miss it. But what’s remarkable about Ravenswood is that it seems untouched by the passage of time. The city centre is spotless, and the beautiful architecture has earned the entire town of Ravenswood a lofty heritage-listing. 

Architectural buffs can expect lovely lattice work, two-storey buildings with balconies, and stained-glass windows alongside buildings stuck in a time warp like the Historic Miners Home.

10. Catch the goldfield ashes

The Boxing Day Test match might be famous in Aussie households, but there’s a rival cricket competition in Charters Towers, as teams go bat-to-bat for the Goldfield Ashes.

Established in 1948 and going strong ever since, this is the largest amateur cricket competition in the southern hemisphere. Held each January, approximately 250 cricket teams flock from miles around to bat for the title of champion. Lawns are mowed, pitches are carved and private properties turn over their paddocks for this heralded cricket cup. If you’re lucky enough to have your visit coincide with this momentous event, consider picking up a bat yourself.

Where to stay in Charters Towers

For somewhere fresh and new, Kernow offers 15 stylishly appointed and self-contained apartments with one or two bedrooms. All offer easy pool access to escape the outback heat.

If a road trip has brought you to Charters, park at Bivouac Junction. Here, you have the choice of eight basic cabins, powered or unpowered caravan and camping sites from $20 a night. The park is so big you could easily have trouble finding your neighbours in low season.

Alternatively, BIG 4 Aussie Outback Oasis  has accessibility to the town centre and attractions like the Venus Gold Battery and Miner’s Cottage. Choose between cabins, caravan and camping sites and stay close to all the action.

Looking for more places to eat, play and stay? Head on over to this guide. Or, if you want to keep closer to the coast, check out Townsville’s accommodation options nearby.