Brisbane to Mount Isa road trip: Best stops, distance & driving time
Brisbane to Mount Isa road trip: Roma and Charleville
You reach the edge of the outback in Roma. Top things to do in Roma include visiting the Big Rig, which explores the Australian oil and gas industry. The other big industry here is cattle – and the cattle auctions at the Roma Saleyards are quite the spectacle.
At the junction of the Warrego Highway and Landsborough Highway, there’s a choice to make. Go the quickest route north, and you miss out on Charleville. Things to do in Charleville include the Charleville Cosmos Centre, Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre and secret World War II base.
The best accommodation in Charleville
Of the Charleville accommodation options, these are the best bets…
- For heritage and personality: Hotel Corones.
- For best value: Charleville Waltzing Matilda Inn.
- For central location: Rocks Motel.
- For gardens and pool: Mulga Country Motel Inn.
Brisbane to Mount Isa drive: Landsborough Highway
Going via Charleville doesn’t add too much time on to the journey, but otherwise, you go through Augathella, Tambo and Blackall on the way to Barcaldine. Here, the excellent Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre tells the tale of the 1891 Shearers’ Strike. This much-fabled event led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party.
Click through for the next section: Longreach and Winton.