Do you need a reason to start your Outback road trip? Here are the Outback Queensland events that will make you bag your bags right now! Take your pick from Dirt n Dust at Julia Creek, Opera in the Outback, golf at the Outback Queensland Masters, watching movies at the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival, placing a ringside bet on the Boulia Camel Races, finding out why its Better in Blackall or the Outback Festival in Winton.
Outback Queensland Events That Will Get You on the Road Right Now!
Get dirty at the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival
The tiny town of Julia Creek invites runners, rodeo riders, jockeys and visitors to their famous DirtNDust Festival in April every year. It’s the event that kicks off the Outback visitor season, bringing more than 2,000 people into the town of less than 400. The funniest event of the festival is Australia’s Best Butt competition. Anyone can compete in the Friday night heat with the crowing of Australia’s Best Butt on Saturday night. They say it’s as much fun as you can with your clothes on! The program includes a race day, rodeo and live music concert under the stars.
Find out more here.
Festival of Outback Opera at Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Sing along with Outback Opera
Expect world-class opera performances and experiences in Winton and Longreach as a talented ensemble of performers and musicians from Opera Queensland showcase operatic classics and modern pieces at iconic Outback Queensland landmarks in May. Venues include The Royal Theatre, Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Waltzing Matilda Centre and Camden Park Station with live concerts, pop up performances, panel discussions and even Pub Choir!
Find out more from Opera Queensland.
Outback Queensland Masters IMAGE: Tourism and Events Queensland
Grab a hole in one at Outback Queensland Masters Gold
Located at five destinations in the heart of the outback, the Outback Queensland Masters (coined OQM by the locals) is Australia’s most remote golf series. It spans over 2,000 kilometres across Queensland’s Outback and attracts everyone from mad golf enthusiasts and amateurs to first-time golfers. They are all competing for the $10,000 hole-in-one opportunities across five locations. It’s all golf by day and dine under the stars of the Milky Way by night. The competition runs from June to July. Find further information on the website.
The Milky Way in Winton is just one of the things you’ll see at Vision Splendid. IMAGE: Tourism and Events Queensland
Watch movies under the stars at Vision Splendid
Go beyond the beaches this winter and venture to Australia’s Hollywood of the Outback for the festival that unites the dreamers, explorers, filmmakers and the seekers. The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival in Winton runs from June to July. The program includes screenings under the stars in Winton’s 104-year-old Royal Open Air Cinema.
Find further information on the website.
Outback Queensland Events – Boulia Camel Races IMAGE: Tourism and Events Queensland
And they are off for the Boulia Camel Races!
It’s known as the ‘Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing’. The Boulia Camel Races attract professional camel racing teams from across Australia, all with hopes of winning the 1500m Boulia Camel Cup! Held out on the cusp of the Simpson Desert, it’s the longest, toughest and most prestigious camel race in Australia and is an epic experience for competitors and spectators alike. Celebrating 25 years of camel racing in Boulia, travellers are urged to experience this bucket list Outback Queensland in July. More information on their website.
Outback Queensland Events – And they are off in the Boulia Camel Races! IMAGE: Tourism and Events Queensland
The ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’ – the Birdsville Races
Billed as the ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’, the Birdsville Races began as a small bush meet in 1882. Boy, have they grown! Now they are a bucket list experience for everyone from intrepid travellers, and racing enthusiasts to grey nomads and culture vultures. People start heading to Outback Queensland from the beginning of August for the races. They set up camp early to enjoy the lead-up events of yabby races and street parties. The races make the little township of Birdsville on the edge of Queensland’s Simpson Desert surge from around 115 to more than 6,000 sightseers for a two-day, 13-race program. There’s also a strong line-up of entertainment, cocktail parties and even Fred Brophy’s famous travelling boxing troupe. The races also support the Birdsville Races’ fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
Tickets for the races start from $44.40 which are held in late August/early September. Check here for the details.
Outback Queensland Events – Live music for the Winton Outback Festival
Full of fun – Winton Outback Festival
Extend your winter trip to make it to the ultimate Outback Festival with five days of fun and outback hospitality. With signature events such as the Quilton Australian Dunny Derby, this festival has been an unmissable outback experience since 1972. It’s five days of quintessential fun in September with warm outback hospitality and nightly live entertainment celebrating all things outback. Aussie events include wool bale rolling, whip cracking championships, bushman’s egg throwing, and little swaggies kids activities. Sports fans can test their skills with the Outback Century Cycle Challenge. It’s the toughest, flattest cycling event in the Outback. There are also the Outback Iron Man, Woman and Junior events. With an amazing lineup of Australian performers, bush poet breakfasts and sunset dining, this is an event not to miss. Find further information on the website.
More to see in the Queensland Outback
- Find the best new natural hot springs in Queensland
- The Insider’s Guide to 16 Queensland Station Stays
- Everything you need to know about Cloncurry
- 5 Day Outback Queensland Roadtrip from Brisbane to Winton
Outback Queensland Events – Dining at the Winton Outback Festival
