From sprawling national parks and quirky dino museums, Australia’s regional and outback towns have so much to offer visitors. Step this way for an off-the-beaten track adventure in the outback, or a truly inspiring adventure in some small towns and cities.
This collection of six possible adventures will lead you to uncovering some hidden (and not-so-hidden) wonders of outback and regional Australia, and get you planning your next getaway.
Film fiesta in Winton, Outback Queensland
Known to many Australians as ‘Outback Hollywood’, Winton is a small town in Outback Queensland with a population of less than one thousand, but that doesn’t stop it from having heaps to offer for cinema lovers.
Filmmakers have been travelling to this quirky outback hub for years, tempted by the rocky outposts, bright red desert plains, charming buildings and even more charming locals. In fact, several major blockbusters have been filmed in town, including Goldstone, Mystery Road and The Proposition.
Winton is also the home of Australia’s one and only outback film festival – Vision Splendid Film Festival which is dedicated to celebrating the talent of Aussie filmmakers. The festival has more than 50 screenings each year catering to every demographic.
At the Royal Open Air Theatre, built in 1918, visitors can spend the day learning about the unique artefacts and equipment housed on-site, before enjoying a screening under those incredible outback skies.
Mutawintji National Park, near Broken Hill in NSW
Only a 1.5-hour drive from Broken Hill will have you in the historically significant Mutawintji National Park, which boasts one of the best collections of Indigenous art anywhere in New South Wales.
It is only possible to visit this incredible site by joining a guided tour hosted by Mutawintji Heritage Tours. Visitors are led on a 2 to 4-hour walk through the ancient landscape, as a knowledgeable guide points out Aboriginal rock engravings, ochre stencils, as well as the remains of fireplaces and grinding stones. It’s often described as one of Australia’s best living libraries of this region’s Indigenous history.
Surrounded by breathtaking valleys and astounding rock formations, children and adults will love the opportunity to learn more about the region’s history, culture and the. bush tucker that has been sourced from these parts of tens of thousands of years. The extremely entertaining guides are more than happy to share their precious Dreamtime stories, which are as fascinating as the landscape that led to them.
Indulge your passion for dinos at Eromanga in Queensland
Outback Queensland has long been known for its fascinating dinosaur history, and Eromanga (with a population hovering around 100) is one of the much-loved hotspots.
At Eromanga Natural History Museum, check out the remains of Australia’s largest dinosaur. Named after Cooper Creek, ‘Cooper’ the dinosaur is approximately 95 million years old, and around 30 metres long. The remains of this plant-eating giant can be found in the heart of the museum, along with plenty of other incredible artefacts including some of the world’s largest megafauna, and a variety of micro fauna which were discovered nearby in Eulo, which are estimated to be 50,000 to 100,000 years old.
Artesian basin bathing and opal shopping in Lightning Ridge
Located near the border of New South Wales and Queensland is the small town of Lightning Ridge, known globally for black opals.
Here, water from the Great Artesian Basin is sent to the surface using artesian bores, maintaining a steamy temperature of 40 to 50 degrees.
At the open-air Artesian Baths, which first opened in 1962, visitors can relax in the waters that are said to relieve tension from aching muscles, while the surrounding bushland creates a calming atmosphere.
Just a short drive away, visitors will find plenty of pubs, dining and entertainment options, and a plethora of stores and galleries selling the much-sought opals that will take your breath away. Black opals are considered the most valuable and rarest type of opal, and the town also produces other opal varieties such as crystal opal and white opal.
Get your country on in Tamworth, NSW
This iconic country town has made a name for itself thanks to the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival, Australia’s largest and longest-running country music festival. With ten days of music, food and fun, the event draws a crowd from all over the world time and time again.
For those travelling at any other time of year, the Big Gold Guitar stands outside the tourist information centre, and is a perfect addition to your ‘big things’ list. Standing an impressive 12 metres, it was first unveiled by Slim Dusty in 1988 and remains a town favourite to this day.
To get out into the great outdoors, head to one of the few inland river parks in NSW – Warrabah National Park. An hour and 15 minute drive north of Tamworth, it is a stunning and peaceful place, largely due to the quintessentially Aussie Namoi River. Massive granite boulders surround the valley’s deep pools. and as the river is more than 700 kilometres long, it’s an ideal place for a kayak or canoe trip.
Step back in time at Sovereign Hill, Victoria
Experience the excitement of the gold rush era at Sovereign Hill, a live museum just a short distance from Ballarat.
With a site covering 30,000 square metres, guests are invited to travel back in time to the 1850s with costumed characters, coach rides, 1800s shops, schools, gold panning and more. This living museum is fun for the whole family, with plenty of things to see, do and explore.
Each day, the museum runs several tours and demonstrations, including how to print on a nineteenth-century press and how to dig for gold. Plus, there are heaps of dining options to choose from after working up an appetite.
Loving these insights into regional and outback Australia? For a complete guide to more outback adventures in Australia, click here.
