Brisbane to Mount Isa road trip: Best stops, distance & driving time
Brisbane to Mount Isa road trip: Longreach and Winton
Longreach, though, is probably the best place to stop on the Brisbane to Mount Isa drive. The Qantas Founders Museum goes into the history of Australia’s oldest airline. The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre is great fun, too, and a Thomson River cruise is a nice way to end the day.
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 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.
Winton has plenty to offer, too. Australian Age of Dinosaurs looks at the treasure trove of dinosaur fossils found nearby. The town is also home to the Waltzing Matilda Centre. This tells the story of Australia’s national poem, which was composed by Banjo Paterson nearby.
From Winton, you can do tours to Bladensburg National Park, ancient dinosaur footprints, Merton Gorge and the rock channels of the Rangelands Station.
Winton accommodation recommendations
Australian hotel specialist Wotif offers accommodation in Winton for from $138 a night. Search the options here.
But the best bets are…
- For best quality: Winton Outback Motel.
- For best value (and a pool): Boulder Opal Motor Inn.
- For families: Hamilton Retreat.
- For heritage: North Gregory Hotel.
Click through for the next section: Cloncurry and Mount Isa.