Brisbane to Mt Isa trip - suggested attractions?

Hi we are following you just about on the same route hoever intend to go to Bouila and then decided which way west or north.
Reagrds

Grutty,

Make sure you see the Waltzing Matilda centre in Winton. Have a great museum out the back too. You can get a good feed there to finish off the visit.

Lark Quarry, the dinosaur track attraction is only 107 kms south of Winton, on good gravel road, and is well worth the time. 3 tours@day there now.

Take a wander into Corfields & Fitzmaurice's store in main street of Winton, to see some more dinosaurs, and other exhibits.

Cap all this off with a feed at the Tatt's pub, where you can sit out on the footpath, drink a beverage, and enjoy your meal. Oh yeah, and watch the World go by!!!

If you had a couple of days to spare, then after you go to Lark Quarry, drive down to the Cork Mail road, then down to Old Cork(100+ year old homestead, and big waterhole), then back up the Diamantina River Road, via Tulmur station, and back to Winton for 50 kms along the bitumen of the Boulia -Winton beef road.

The Isa is good for a visit, somewhat cosmopolitan city in the middle of hard red hills, 900 clicks from Townsville.

Bloody hell, there's heaps to do, how much time have you got?

Hooroo...

There is some great scenery on the road between Boulia to Winton.

If you happen to see the pictures of the great rock formations at Boulia, they're not actually at Boulia but closer to Middleton. Bit of a trap if coming in from Winton and going straight thru to Boulia :-(

You'll also be impressed by the sporting facilities around the Middleton Hilton.

If you go via Kynuna you'll pass through McKinlay, home to Walkabout Creek Hotel of Crocodile Dundee fame - (we didn't get there).

there was free camping in the yard at the back of the pub in winton when i was there last sept,the shops in main street have fantastic gemstones and many other artifacts on display.
Happy travells.

The trip, Mt.Isa to Winton, is best taken through Boulia. Boulia has a Min MIn light display and some breathtaking photos of the surrounding district. It is worth staying the night at Middleton. As someone else mentioned that is where the Hilton really is. Have a feed and a few beers at the pub. The scenery this way is much more diverse and spectacular.
When in Longreach see the Qantas museum and ,if interested in aircraft, a visit to the 707. The Powerhouse museum is worth a visit. A cruise on the Thompson river is great. Have fun - it's a huge country out there. Graham.

Grutnup,

Check out http://www.action-graphics.com.au/matilda/matildahome.html They produce a free travel guide that covers this area and it's excellent.

Curious as to which property you are visiting? My family had Rosevale, Quambetook, Ardbrin and Khorassan in the Nelia district for many years.

I've also lived in the Towers and the Isa too so know the area well. Still get up that way at least once a year.

I second what has already been said although going out to the Isa and down via Boulia is a fair way out of the way of the route you describe. Your could always go across the Gilliat rd from the Creek to McKinlay, see the pub and then down to Winton via Kynuna. On the way uo you should spend some time in the Towers, it's old, full of history and well set up for the tourist

A must do on this leg is the Matilda Expo and Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna if you are interested in the REAL Waltzing Matilda story. The WM centre in Winton is a good attraction but the story in there is a confused mish mach of academically produced, government funded, politically correct mumbo jumbo.

All the towns on the way back have their own attractions, Qantas Founders, Outback Hall in Longreach are must do's. Illfracombe, Barcaldine have museums and Blackall has the wool scour.

If you want go get off the track, the trip down from Longreach via Jundah and Windorah and Quilpie to Charleville will not cost you much extra time, take you through more interesting country and more closely follows the old C&Co routes.

Hope this helps, have a good trip

Regds

Bill

Dave and Alana,

If you're into rocks you can locate malteze crosses about an hour or so East of Isa, good 4WD treck along the old railway line as well. Can't remember the exact details of it all but ask in Isa and they'll be able to sort you out. I've been told that the Maltese crosses are only found there and somewhere in South Africa.

You need a small shovel and a bucket to find them, range is size from 1/4 to 3/4 inch with the former being the most common.

Cheers

Craig

Wow

Thanks everyone for the info, I'll print this out and take it with us.

We aren't going to be able to get much west of Julia Creek unfortunately, time doesn't permit. But it sounds like that is where one of our next trips needs to be.

We are pretty keen to stay to the main roads, it's our first real west trip, all our other trips have been relatively local and into NSW New England area, so this is sort of a shake-down for the vehicle and operators.

Thanks everyone

Dave