Embrace Queensland’s character at these 2025 outback events
Event
By Danielle Reckless
If you’re craving an adventure out west, make the journey to experience one of Queensland’s incredible outback events.
Out here, character and history loom larger than even the red dirt plains or million-year-old gorges that carve out the landscape. You’ll see we don’t take ourselves too seriously, either: Fashions on the Field takes a comedic turn, open-air film festivals are held under the twinkling Milky Way, and our triathlons get a little down-and-dirty.
Check out this outback events guide, pick your favourite, and turn it into the road trip of a lifetime.
Roma's Easter in the Country
When: 17 - 21 April 2025
Roma's Easter in the Country, Outback Queensland
Swap the chocolate eggs for a five-day celebration of all things country at Roma's Easter in the Country. There’s a little something for everyone at this family-friendly outback festival: street parades, miniature train rides, a rodeo, cooking demonstrations, crowd-favourite nightly Big Rig Shows, a country music concert extravaganza, and all the action of the cattle salesyards. And of course, it wouldn’t be Easter without a Monster Egg Hunt to thrill the kids.
Queensland Music Trails’ Outback Trail 2025
When: 20 April - 3 May 2025
Lovers of music, food and Queensland’s iconic outback should set their sights on the Queensland Music Trail. Across nine action-packed days, visitors can enjoy soulful folk melodies and foot-stomping country tunes from a mix of beloved local, Queensland-based and national musicians.
Learn more about Queensland's Music Trails here.
Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival
When: 11 - 13 April 2025
Returning after a two-year hiatus with adrenaline-pumping action, hilarious outback fun and wild adventures, Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival is a one-of-a-kind chance to experience Outback hospitality like no other.
From the Outback Adventure Run to Dirt n Dust Rodeo, Artesian Express Horse Races, kids' rides and live concerts under the stars, there's something for everyone in this tiny north-west Queensland town during the three-day celebration.
Outback River Lights Festival
When: 11 - 13 April 2025
Celebrating the opening of the tourism season in southwest Queensland, the Outback River Lights Festival explores the essence of the outback through beautiful art, music, storytelling and light. Celebrate the culture of the local Paroo Shire of Cunnamulla, a place full of rich history and a special affinity to water.
Festival of Outback Opera
When: 13 - 19 May 2025
What could be more transformative than listening to the soaring tones of epic opera surrounded by remote, endless lands and under a blanket of stars? Over five days, outdoor concerts and pop-up performances will grace Winton and Longreach, making for a truly unforgettable experience worth travelling for.
Winton's Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival
When: 27 June - 5 July 2025
Imagine sitting in a 100-year-old open-air cinema, under the Milky Way with a box full of popcorn, watching the premier of a locally shot film.
Fast becoming known as the 'Hollywood in the Outback', Winton's Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival provides culture buffs with just that and plenty more. A nine-day program combines master class luncheons with Australian film heavyweights, week-long live entertainment and tours of Winton's iconic film locations.
The John Williamson Big Red Sunset Concert
When: 8 July 2025
While the world-famous Big Red Bash is taking a breather this year, this very special gig will keep music fans sated until the Bash returns in all its glory in July 2026. Birdsville's iconic Big Red sand dune will host legendary Aussie musician John Williamson in an intimate sunset show in July. With only 1,000 tickets on sale, this show will set out faster than you can say, "Hey True Blue."
Cunnamulla Fella Festival
When: 20 - 21 September 2025
If you’re looking for an event to soak up the best of Queensland’s outback spirit, Cunnamulla Fella Roundup can’t be beaten. Tucked into the state’s southwest, Cunnamulla bursts with local pride during this three-day event.
The festival includes a Rodeo School led by some of the country’s best stockmen, sheep dog displays, sheep shearing demonstrations, a wood-chopping challenge, barrel racing, and a ute muster. There’s also a full kids’ program including a circus workshop.
Outback Queensland Masters
When: 21 June - 27 July 2025
Outback Queensland Masters
Looking for a new challenge outside your regular Sunday round? How about Australia’s most remote golf series? The Outback Queensland Masters returns in 2025, teeing off at six unique courses across the outback. It’s an experience you’ll long remember, whether you’re a serious or not-so-serious golfer: the greens aren’t always green, water hazards are extremely rare, you’ll have to watch for roos, and nightly entertainment is thriving.
Boulia Camel Races
When: 18 - 20 July 2025
The Boulia Camel Races are pretty far removed from the first Tuesday of November at Flemington. But, the 'Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing' is an outback event not to miss. The 1500-metre Camel Cup is the longest camel race in Australia, and these desert-loving creatures are a sight to behold as they come lumbering down towards the post.
The Races aren't just about the camels, with live entertainment, fireworks, novelty races and scenic helicopter flights over the Outback terrain available from the racecourse. Whether you camp onsite or indulge in a luxury glamping experience, keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious Min Min Light while you’re here.
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
When: TBC August 2025
Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo, Outback Queensland
Eight seconds feels like a lifetime on the back of a bucking bull. Luckily, you’ll be watching in the crowd. If there’s one rodeo you travel to experience this year, make it the largest and richest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere that every cowboy and cowgirl dreams of riding in - the Mt Isa Mines Rodeo.
Expect four days of non-stop rodeo action: bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback bronc, rope and tie, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and breakaway roping. There’s also live entertainment, a street party, rodeo rock concerts, outdoor markets and more.
Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships
When: 7 August 2025
Created in partnership with Mona-Aboriginal-Corporation to connect visitors to the northwest Queensland region, the Kalkadoon people, their stories and culture, Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships is open only to Indigenous rodeo athletes so they can showcase their talent, passion, commitment and connection to the Australian rodeo story.
Creating lasting memories, discovery and learnings, the event brings a new opportunity to celebrate the many visiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through sport, song and dance, art and storytelling.
Birdsville Races
When: 5 - 6 September 2025
Birdsville Races, Outback Queensland
Since 1882, travellers and punters alike have made the pilgrimage to Birdsville for the iconic Birdsville Races. And if you’re planning to be one of them in 2025, make sure you don’t forget your costume.
Swelling from a mere 100 people to more than 6,000 overnight, Birdsville comes alive like no other time of the year for a race day like you've never seen before, with live entertainment, a fun run, and laughs all ‘round. Firmly etched onto many bucket lists already, here are another 12 things to tick off on your adventure to Birdsville.
Outback Festival
When: 23 – 27 September 2025
Dine under the outback stars, race in the Australian Dunny Derby, or push yourself on the gruelling Century Cycle Challenge – the toughest cycling event in the outback.
Held in Winton, the biennial Outback Festival is a celebration of outback lifestyle and culture, with a good dose of humour thrown in the mix across five days of quirky events and entertainment.
Birdsville Big Red Bash
When: 7 - 9 July 2026
Birdsville Big Red Bash, Outback Queensland
Be part of the crowd at the world’s most remote music festival and you’ll be dancing with new friends under the shadow of Big Red, the biggest sand dune in the Munga-Thirri National Park, or Simpson Desert.
Big Red Bash is a music festival like no other. And when you’re not witnessing Aussie rock royalty like Icehouse, the Hoodoo Gurus, Pete Murray and Troy Cassar-Daley belt out their biggest hits, you can surf the sand dunes, watch a movie on the big screen, ride a camel, stretch at sunrise yoga, or just kick back at your camp.
Grab your tickets and your camping gear – getting here is all part of the adventure.
Ready to prep for your adventure? Here's how to plan your trip to Outback Queensland.
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