Sydney to Longreach road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
Sydney to Longreach drive: St George to Barcaldine
It’s a ruthlessly uninteresting 209km from St George to Mitchell along the Mitchell-St George Road You’ll pass the Albany State Forest, but that’s about it.
The highlight of Mitchell is the Great Artesian Spa – an outdoor pool complex. You can also stay overnight at the Mitchell Motel and Cabin Park. Otherwise, continue west along the Warrego Highway.
In Morven, the Warrego Highway meets the Landsborough Highway. The quickest route turns at that junction, but it’s worth continuing west for a short distance to Charleville. Things to do in Charleville include the secret World War II base, the Charleville Cosmos Centre and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre.
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.
If you go straight up the Landsborough Highway instead, you’ll pass through Augathella, Tambo and Blackall on the way to Barcaldine. The star attraction in the latter is Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre. This museum tells the tale of the 1891 Shearers’ Strike and subsequent formation of the Australian Labor Party.
Barcaldine accommodation options include the solid Barcaldine Country Motor Inn.
Sydney to Longreach road trip: Longreach attractions
Longreach is arguably the best stop in outback Queensland, however. Here, the Qantas Founders Museum looks at the story of Australia’s oldest airline, while the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre has great evening shows. And a Thomson River cruise is a lovely way to enjoy the sunset.
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.
More New South Wales travel
See how Camel Rock and Horse Head Rock near Bermagui got their names.
See Crystal Shower Falls in Dorrigo National Park.
Does Sydney or Melbourne have better beaches?
Where to stop on a Toowoomba to Dubbo road trip.
Where to stop on the Narrandera to Dubbo drive.