The town of Winton is surrounded by gorges, opal fields and plains – everything that makes outback Queensland so special.
But this town has an exciting draw of its own, as the home of Banjo Patterson’s iconic Aussie anthem ‘Waltzing Matilda.’ The song was inspired by the death of a shearer in 1894, at the nearby Combo Waterhole, and it was first performed in Winton’s North Gregory Hotel that same year.
A short drive outside of Winton is Lark Quarry Conservation Park, home to the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument. The footprints found in Lake Quarry are believed to show a definitive example of dinosaur stampede behaviour dating back to the Cretaceuous Period around 95 million years ago. Visitors will be able to spot around 3,300 fossilised dinosaur tracks, consisting of three different species: the Carnosaur, Coelurosaur and Ornithopod. The area was once a fertile river plain surrounded by forests, and the 500 kilometre loop track around the Stampede Monument provides all the information you need to unravel some of the many embedded stories.
For even more dinosaur history, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum is the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, and it can be found in the heart of town. The museum features a fossil preparation laboratory, as well as permanent and rotating exhibitions. It also hosts a variety of exciting tours, including the Dig-A-Dino experience where you can join the expert team digging for fossils in the outback, learning how to find and plaster specimens. The entire experience is catered with home-cooked meals, and you’ll have the chance to meet likeminded dinosaur enthusiasts.
Winton is also the location of the world’s first musical fence installation. Designed by percussionist and composer Graeme Leak, the Musical Fence is a wire structure that can be played as a musical instrument – free for anyone to have a go.
For a self driving adventure, follow the Winton Pioneer Trail. It takes you to Old Cork Station and Diamantina National Park. Old Cork Station is a vintage sandstone homestead settled in the 1870s as a mail distribution point before the town of Winton was established. The ruins of the building can still be seen today, however there is a limited understanding of its history and usage.
Continue on to Diamantina National Park to discover waterholes, wetlands, sand dunes and sandstone ranges all in one. This impressive park was once used by the Indigenous people as a trading route, and a place to find food. Nowadays, you can head to Janet’s Leap Lookout for views across the landscape, or follow the Warracoota circuit drive to pass pastoral ruins. You’ll be rewarded with wildflowers, wildlife and beautiful sunsets.
To understand what makes Outback Queensland so special, join a guided tour with Red Dirt Tours. Based out of Winton, it offers small group day tours to the natural and man-made attractions in and around Winton. While many of the tours focus on Australia’s prehistoric history, there are options for nature lovers as well. The Rangelands Rifts tour takes visitors to a privately owned cattle station, a place not accessible on your own. From here, you will be taken to see amazing rock erosions which have created narrow channels through giant, towering rocks. When you reach the top, you can watch the sunset while enjoying nibbles and a glass of wine.
For evening entertainment, the Royal Theatre Winton is one of two open-air theatres still operating in Australia. Since 1918, visitors have enjoyed blockbuster screenings and live performances under the Outback Queensland sky, and the 2025 season is scheduled to start in April. The theatre also hosts the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival, which features a family-friendly program of Australia’s best movies, and events including breakfast with the stars, kids club, silent night experience and film location tours. It is Australia’s only outback film festival.
Want to keep exploring Winton? For a deep dive into the best dinosaur attractions, click here.
