In June last year Ben and Aimee, along with their 4 kids, went on a trip through outback Queensland and NSW. They travelled 5950 km’s in 19 days, visiting 18 pubs, 15 silo/water tank artworks, lots of bakeries, and travelled along hundreds of kilometres of red dirt roads.
Out on the road near Gunnedah.
The trip began just north of Sydney where they travelled through Gunnedah, Moree, and Mungindi to get to Charlotte’s Plains. Amaroo Tavern in Moree is worth a visit. Good food, cold drinks and they have a DC3 aircraft that you can go in and explore. If you are up for a walk, Mungindi have a 2.4km sculpture trail with various animal sculptures.
DC3 Aircraft at Amaroo Tavern
Thallon is a small little town with various places to explore. Check out the painted grain silo’s and William the Wombat. The kids will have fun climbing on the big wombat. If you drive past Thallon Water tower and head to the right, you will come across some hidden railway mural art. The Nindigully pub is a must. You can camp on site and they are well known for their supersized 1.2kg beef patty road train burger.
Charlotte’s Plains near Cunnamulla is a sheep station with artesian hot springs. If you’ve ever wanted to have a hot bath in the outdoors, then this place will not disappoint. Plenty of room to set up camp with friends and enjoy a fire as the sun sets. The water temperature usually sits around 44 degrees. There is also a homestead, old sheering sheds, and a hut that you can explore.
Artesian baths at Charlottes plains
Passing through Charleville they stopped at the Royal Flying Doctor Service where there are interactive activities for the kids to enjoy. The WW11 secret base is a short stroll away and was used by the American USAAF as a staging base for the bombers. Very interesting place to walk through.
They spent an afternoon exploring Blackall. A little town with a lot of unique spots to visit. The Roly Poly art sculpture at sunset is quite impressive. Blackall is home to the black stump, blackall signs, big ram and an outdoor museum with cool old vehicles. You can stay at Barcoo River caravan park for $10 a night.
Roly Poly Art Sculpture
On their way to Balcaldine they took a short 5 minute detour and visited the Augathella water tower. It was the most colourful of all the silo art they saw. Barcaldine is famous for the tree of knowledge. As the wood blows in the breeze, it acts as a huge wind chime. The bakery does a good pie too! You can also see the great shearers strike monument near the tree of knowledge.
Augathella Water Tower
It’s worthwhile spending a few days in Longreach. Check out the Stockman’s Hall of fame and be sure to book the Stockman’s experience. A fabulous live cattle show run by an outback stockman. 3 year old Matty is still singing one of the songs “No Cowboys”. They took a guided tour through the planes at the Qantas Founder Museum and thoroughly enjoyed a stagecoach ride with Cobb and Co Outback Pioneers. If you are after somewhere to stay that is out of town and a bit more peaceful, check out Camden Park Station, a cattle station that is a short 10 minute drive from Longreach. Wellshot hotel isn’t far either. Famous for their painted bum chairs at the bar, that travellers love to take a photo with. Whilst you’re in Ilfracombe, be sure to take a walk down Machinery mile and see the heritage equipment that lines the street.
QANTAS Museum, Longreach
The Wellshot Hotel
Winton was one of the highlights of their trip. Known for the Age of Dinosaurs Museum (which was fabulous) and the Dinosaur stampede at Lark Quarry Conservation area. Lark Quarry is home to the only evidence of a dinosaur stampede in the world. It is very impressive to see. It is 110km outside of Winton, of which 55km’s is dirt road, but did make for some cool drone footage. Winton offers so much more. Stop and get pictures with the famous Winton sign, Way out west sign, and the Birth place of Qantas sign. There is an attraction known as the musical fence where the kids (young and old) can play on various instruments made from old materials including hubcaps and metal drums. Ben seemed to have the most fun on the drums belting out “In the air tonight” by Phil Collins, in his mission to replicate the dairy milk chocolate gorilla add. The Waltzing Matilda centre is dedicated to the song by Banjo Patterson. It has lots of cool old stuff to see.
Plenty of photo opportunities with signs in Winton!
Checking out the Dinosaur Stampede
A 20 minute detour was made on the way to Julia Creek. They couldn’t drive close to an iconic Australian site and not stop in. Crocodile Dundee Walkabout Creek Hotel was a great spot to stop for a bite to eat, cold beer and a few snaps of the memorabilia. Julia Creek Caravan Park was one of the top places they stayed on their trip. The caravan park hosts a bush dinner every Monday night in peak periods. It has such a friendly atmosphere. Julia Creek Caravan Park is well known for their artesian baths. Ben and Aimee were lucky enough to secure a sunset bath booking. You need to book well in advance to avoid missing out. Perfect place to sit and enjoy a bottle of bubbles and nibbles as the sun sets across the outback. There is also a water park and local pool next to the caravan park.
Much needed refreshments at the Walkabout Hotel
The Baths at Julia Creek Caravan Park
If you want to see the bluest water, then Mary Kathleen abandoned Uranium Mine will tick this box. The water colour is just stunning. Be sure not to go for a swim though, as it is still a bit radioactive. To get there you need to go down a fairly rough road. Ben and Aimee towed their van down, but it is probably easier to leave the van/trailers at the start at the Mary Kathleen abandoned town. You can also camp there.
Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine
Next stop was Birdsville. Ben got the Ram 3500 up big red with ease. Make sure you go just before sunset so you can enjoy a picnic as the sun goes down. Try and avoid the area around big red bash time, as they do close big red for the festival. Birdsville hotel put on a good feed and have a great atmosphere to enjoy a cold one. Birdville bakery is worth a stop too, but be prepared for frozen bread!
If passing through Quilpie be sure to stay at The Lake. Ben, Aimee and the kids had an enjoyable time staying there for a couple of nights. The owners and managers are super hospitable, evening cooking up a massaman goat curry and putting on bbq’s at the bar. The communal fire pit is a good place to catch up with fellow travellers. The kids got to hand feed the emus. The Lake, also have artesian baths in private sheds that you can sit and enjoy. The Lake was one of the best places they stayed on their trip along with Julia Creek Caravan Park. Take a 20 minute trip to Baldy Top lookout and soak up the view. Quilpie also have a fossicking area where you can look for opal.
On the route home, a quick stop in Cunnamulla to see the Cunnamulla fella statue, and a night in Bourke to see the water tank art and Wal Mitchell Wharf precinct. They couldn’t head home without a final bakery stop in Merriwa. Get in early as most as bread and sweet treats sell out quickly.
Despite it only being a short trip, it was jam packed with lots of exploring and experiences that they will never forget. Here’s to a lot more trips to see this beautiful country!
For more detail on their trip you can check out their Instagram page 6_packn_travels
There's nothing like getting off the beaten track end exploring this great country. Thats what all of the work we do at Solve Offroad is about - setting you and your vehicle up to get there and back, safely and comfortably!