Travel Queensland

Discover the Matilda Highway and its western Byways

When you travel Queensland, the Matilda Highway leads you into the heart of the Outback. For overseas visitors (and Australians as well?!) the destination Queensland is well-known for the Barrier Reef, wonderful beaches, and dream islands. But there is much more the sunshine state has to offer for your Queensland holidays. Guess what? More Australian Outback, yes!

The Matilda Highway is a tourist route that runs from Cunnamulla in the south to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The different sections of these all-bitumen roads are officially called the Mitchell Highway, Landsborough Highway and Burke Developmental Road. In honour of the famous song "Waltzing Matilda" this main route through Outback Queensland received its nickname Matilda Highway.

Mitchell grass as far as you can see

What awaits you on this 1674 km journey through Matilda country?

The Matilda Highway crosses a region of diverse & stunning landscapes

• the endless rolling Mitchell and Flinders grass downs that produce wool and beef
• harsh rocky ranges rich in zinc, copper, lead and silver ore around Mt Isa
• flat plains as far as your eye can see along the Gulf of Carpentaria. Where the Outback meets the sea is Karumba, the prawn capital of Queensland
• wildlife is abundant, as anywhere in the Australian Outback

Travel Queensland to the rocky ridges south of Mt. Isa

Matilda country is a fascinating part of the Australian Outback. It's the land of bush poets and yarns, stockmen and shearers. A region full of history from a great past.

On your travel you'll discover unique towns and places

• Winton, the birthplace of Qantas, the famous Australian airline. The saying goes that Qantas was conceived in Cloncurry, born in Winton, and grew up in Longreach.
• Lake Quarry & Muttaburra - the land where dinosaurs roamed in ancient times
• The spirit of Waltzing Matilda can be found everywhere in the central section.
• Cloncurry, with the opening of the Aerial Medical Service, John Flynn's dream became reality. Yes, the well-known Flying Doctor Service was born here.
• The Australian Stockman's Hall Of Fame in Longreach pays tribute to the early settlers, and provides the visitors with an unique Outback experience.

Travel Queensland down the channel country

Matilda Byways - The Channel country and the far west

The channel country covers the southwest of Queensland, a bit of the northwest corner of South Australia, and a small section in the northwest of New South Wales. Cooper Creek, Diamantina, Barcoo and Thomson rivers, as well as their multiple channels, are the main waterways that form the channel country. Fed each summer by the northern monsoon rains, the rivers flood and fill the channels. But only in very good seasons the water ever reaches Lake Eyre.

Several byways lead into the remote southeast of Queensland, and into the far west. This is the true Outback. And it is arid land, despite the rivers. The channel country only receives between 150 and 300 mm rain a year. However, when the rivers flow, the landscapes change dramatically. Then cattle and sheep find lush areas to graze, and the station owner know that they're living in the luckiest country on earth.

Windorah, where the Barcoo and Thomson Rivers form Coopers Creek, is a welcome stop for travellers. From here you can go to Birdsville, Thargomindah or Quilpie, and back to join the Matilda Highway at Cunnamulla.

The far west, that's the country beyond Birdsville. Bedourie, Boulia and Dajarra are small bush towns that line the Eyre & Diamantina Developmental roads up north to Mount Isa. Uh, lots of town names? You'll get to know them soon.

Outback Queensland is a land of extremes. Droughts and floods are facts of life. They rarely get it right. Travel Queensland and take your time. There is so much to explore.

Don't miss the driving distances charts and the Outback driving tips to get help for your planning.

The Outback Guide covers all these places to travel Queensland

Cloncurry Australia - visit Australia's hottest town

Winton Australia - Birthplace of two Aussie icons, Qantas & the Flying Doctors

Longreach Australia - Australia Heritage and Outback character in central Queensland's biggest town

Australian Stockman's Hall Of Fame (Longreach) - The stunning Outback Heritage Centre

Windorah - the heart of the Channel Country

Thargomindah - well-known for using renewable energy

Beyond Birdsville - travel north along the Eyre Developmental Road.

Boulia - home of the famous Min Min Light

Birdsville - the tiny town on the edge of the Simpson desert

Queensland Maps

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