Australia Guide
Outback Queensland
Outback Queensland, the vast area west of the state's heavily touristed coast, is sparsely populated by tenacious farming communities swinging precariously between famine and survival, and a dramatic change from Queensland's lush, wet tropics. The population is concentrated in the relatively fertile highlands along the Great Dividing Range, which run low behind the coast; on the far side, expansive, empty plains slide over a hot horizon into the fringes of South Australia and the Northern Territory. The only places attracting Australian or international visitors in any numbers are Longreach, with its mega-museum the Stockman's Hall of Fame, and the Central Highlands oasis of Carnarvon Gorge But opportunities for exploration are immense, with precious stones, fossils, waterholes and Aboriginal art in abundance. The region has also produced two of Australia's best-known icons: Banjo Paterson first performed Waltzing Matilda in a Winton hotel, and the same town was the birthplace of Qantas airlines before its launch at nearby Longreach.
Highlights
1 Carnarvon Gorge Hike through the verdant Carnarvon Gorge to reach ancient Aboriginal art sites.
2 Longreach Walk on the wing of a 747 in Qantas' thriving home town and visit a School of the Air class in progress.
3 Winton Unravel the yarns and legends behind Australia's favourite song at the Waltzing Matilda Centre in the archetypal frontier town of Winton.
4 Undara Explore Undara's massive, contorted lava tubes, formed by a 190,000-year-old volcanic eruption.
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