Unforgettable things to do while you're at the Birdsville Races

Event

Horses race out of the gate at Birdsville Races, Outback Queensland

By Danielle Reckless

When: 5 - 6 September 2025

Dubbed the ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’, the annual Birdsville Races is a bucket-list experience for many travellers, and those who make the 1500km pilgrimage to the far west of Outback Queensland are in for a trip unlike any other.

Forget Golden Slippers, celebrity-filled birdcages, or black-and-white dress codes – the Birdsville Races is all about cowboy boots, character, and good times.

But if you think your Outback Queensland adventure starts and finishes at the race track, you’re wrong. Here’s 10 things to do when you’re visiting Birdsville.

What are the Birdsville Races?

Part of the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival, Birdsville Races is one of the most exciting racing events on Queensland’s calendar – and it’s unlike anything you might have been to. It’s where community shines, and everyone’s invited to get into the spirit of the Outback.

In 2025, Birdsville Races celebrates 143 years in the heart of Australia, and the event has come a long way from humble beginnings where competing horses were mostly from Outback Queensland and South Australia – and ridden by station workers. Today, the tiny town of Birdsville swells to some 6,000 racegoers who travel to witness the 13-race program featuring horses from all over Australia competing for $300,000 in prize money.

It’s an iconic track on a claypan alongside the sand dunes, but what makes Birdsville Races so special is all the action and entertainment that continues off the track. The town turns into one big party, with an opening night Gala, live music, a fun run, an Outback take on Fashions on the Field, charity auction, and so much more.

Grab yourself a curried camel pie and get exploring.

Things to do at the Birdsville Races

1. Watch a sunrise like no other

Sunrise over the Birdsville Hotel — Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville, Outback Queensland

Whether you rest your head at the Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville Tourist Park or Tent City, Birdsville sunrises are spectacular. You’re guaranteed warm golden landscapes sprinkled with wildflowers. Plus you’ll be up in time to boil the billie, listen to the early birds and start up the brekkie BBQ for your race crew. It’s all part of the outback experience!

2. Tackle Big Red

Woman walking on the Big Red sand dunes in the Simpson Desert, near Birdsville — Big Red, Birdsville, Outback Queensland

Big Red is the first of over 1000 dunes in the Munga-Thirri National Park (aka the Simpson Desert), which begins 35 kilometres outside of Birdsville. It stands 40 metres tall and challenges locals and tourists daily with the sandy walk to the top. Big Red is also a popular spot to 4WD across the dunes and provides the perfect vantage point to watch the sunset with a cold ‘champas’ or XXXX in hand.

3. Swim in the Diamantina River

The best way to cool down after a long day in Birdsville is to take a dip in the Diamantina River. After the major race meet is over, you’ll find revellers heading to the river for a recap of the day and to arrange plans for the evening festivities ahead.

4. Walk to the beat of Brophy’s drum

Fred Brophy's Boxing Troupe at the Birdsville Races — Birdsville Races, Birdsville, Outback Queensland. Photo by @birdsvilleraces

Crowds gravitate to the hypnotic drumbeat radiating from Fred Brophy’s stage after the sun has set. Brophy’s Boxing Tent, right next to the Birdsville Hotel, is legendary. Even if you’re not into boxing at all, you have to see the pre-show entertainment and feel the “ga-gung-ga-gung-ga-gung” drumbeat reverberate through your body as Fred fires up locals and visitors from the crowd to take on the professional boxing troupe.

This is one of the last old-school travelling boxing tents around. The boxing itself is secondary to the show and the traditions that come with this kind of night-time entertainment, held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening during the Birdsville Races.

5. Learn Australia's history at the Burke and Wills Dig Tree

Tourists explore The Dig Tree in Outback Queensland — Burke & Wills Dig Tree, Outback Queensland

Turn back the pages of history of Australia’s most famous explorers, Burke and Wills, with a visit to The Dig Tree. This tree marks the spot on Cooper Creek where the boys left the rest of their troupe before their long walk to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The story doesn’t end well for Burke and Wills who returned to The Dig Tree, only hours after the rest of their party assumed their death and left the base camp.

6. Be part of Tent City

Tent City - rows of established tent sites - at Birdsville for the Birdsville Races — Tent City at Birdsville Races, Birdsville, Outback Queensalnd. © Photo by Salty Dingo 2018

The population of Birdsville spikes significantly during the Birdsville Races. This means regular accommodation books out quickly (most of the regular racegoers book a year or so in advance). As visitors kept on coming to join in the fun, Tent City was born! It creates an instant community under the stars and is an awesome way to meet people in between the big race week events.

7. Stand in two states at once

Drive your 4x4 a little south of Birdsville to snap a souvenir at the border, where you can stand with one foot in Queensland, one foot in South Australia.

8. Have a brew or two at the Birdsville Hotel

Couple sitting at main bar of the Birdsville Hotel — Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville, Outback Queensland

The Birdsville Hotel is one of those true blue Aussie experiences - and one of the country's most iconic outback pubs. Luckily for racegoers, the hotel is also the epicentre of entertainment each evening - so there'll be plenty of time to enjoy the live music and local banter, beer in hand.

9. Let go and join in the fun

Competitors dressed as kangaroos take part in the Novelty Fashions on the Field at Birdsville Races, Outback Queensland — Birdsville Races, Birdsville, Outback Queensland. Photo by @birdsvilleraces

The Birdsville Races is anything but ordinary - and those who make the pilgrimage like to let loose and have a lot of fun.

You’ll get the most out of the trip if you put yourself out there a little and join in, whether that's strutting your stuff for the novelty Fashions on the Field, donning fluro activewear for this year's 80s themed fun run, bidding at the charity auction, or getting involved in the toy horse races that take place outside the Birdsville Hotel.

There are loads of events and activities on around Birdsville during the race meet, so grab yourself a program and highlighter and plan to go all in.

10. Get cheering!

Crowds cheer on the horses on the home stretch at Birdsville Races — Birdsville Races, Birdsville, Outback Queensland. Photo by @birdsvilleraces

There's nothing more electric than being trackside for the feature race, the Birdsville Cup - which will run this year a little after 4pm on Saturday 7 September. This is a showstopper day and the one that everyone frocks up for. That said, there's great racing to watch Friday and Saturday, so come down and show your support.