Melbourne to Mackay inland road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Melbourne to Mackay drive: Bourke to Cunnamulla
It’s another 257km from Bourke to Cunnamulla over the Queensland border. There’s not much to see along the Mitchell Highway as you go, either.
The Bush Tucker Inn and Caravan Park in Barringun offers simple food and accommodation, however.
Cunnamulla over the Queensland border has a giant water tower mural, plenty of kangaroos and big dunes at the edge of town that are ideal for sandboarding.
Best Cunnamulla accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Cunnamulla, Queensland, are:
- For cheap rooms at the local pub: Cunnamulla Hotel.
- For overall quality and – if you want – glamping tents: Club Boutique Cunnamulla.
- For family cabins: Cunnamulla Tourist Park.
- For a solid hotel with restaurant, bar & free parking: Warrego Hotel Motel.
Attractions between Melbourne and Mackay: Cunnamulla to Charleville
The 199km from Cunnamulla to Charleville follows the railway line and is phenomenally dull.
South of Charleville, the 2,000 hectare Charleville Botanical Reserve offers a 30km 4WD driving route around the regional vegetation. Go in spring to see the desert myrtle turning the landscape pink.
Top things to do in Charleville include exploring into the secret World War II air base and learning about the heavens at the Charleville Cosmos Centre.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre and Charleville Historic House are also decent places to spend your time.
All in all, Charleville is a perfect spot for an overnight stop on the Melbourne to Mackay road trip.
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.
Click through to the next section: Charleville to Clermont.