Brisbane to Alice Springs road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
Brisbane to Alice Springs road trip: Landsborough Highway attractions
Otherwise, the next major leg of the journey is from Roma to Longreach. Once on the Landsborough Highway, you’ll pass through Augathella and Tambo, birthplace of Tambo Teddies.
Blackall is perhaps the best stop, however, as you can swim at the artesian bore-fed Blackall Aquatic Centre and learn about the wool industry at the Blackall Wool Scour.
Attractions between Brisbane and Alice Springs: Barcaldine and Longreach
The Landsborough Highway meets the Capricorn Highway at Barcaldine. This outback town is generally regarded as the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party. The Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre tells how a political movement rose up from the Shearers’ Strike. Barcaldine accommodation options include the solid Barcaldine Country Motor Inn.
It’s 108km from Barcaldine to Longreach, arguably the most enjoyable town in the Queensland outback.
4 Longreach experiences to book before you arrive
- Starlights river cruise – take in sunset along the Thomson River aboard a paddlewheeler.
- Cobb & Co stagecoach experience – travel along an outback dirt road pulled by galloping horses.
- Wildlife and woolsheds tour on a double decker bus through Nogo Station.
- Dinosaur-packed day tour to Winton.
Longreach attractions include the Qantas Founders Museum and the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre. Both are really well done.
You can also try a Longreach river cruise along the Thomson River.
Longreach accommodation picks
Longreach offers a surprisingly interesting range of accommodation. The options particularly worthy of consideration are…
- For central location and a pool: Abajaz Motor Inn or Longreach Motor Inn.
- For luxury glamping: Mitchell Grass Retreat.
- For charm and character: Saltbush Retreat.
Next section: Winton and Kynuna.