Things to do in Charters Towers, Queensland

The best things to do in Charters Towers, Queensland, include Texas Longhorn Tours, the Towers Hill Lookout and the Venus Gold Battery.

Charters Towers, Queensland, is a former gold rush town on the Flinders Highway. It was once the second largest town in Queensland and most Charters Towers attractions relate to the gold mining era.

The best things to do in Charters Towers include the Venus Gold Battery, a Charters Towers ghost tour and the Tower Hill lookout.

Top Charters Towers experiences

Delve in to the gold-mining past – on a tour of the Venus Gold Battery. You’ll be wowed by the sheer size of it.
Hear entertaining stories from the golden era – on a Charters Towers walking tour.
Listen to spooky stories – on a Charters Towers ghost tour.

Things to do in Charters Towers, QLD: Venus Gold Battery

The Venus Gold Battery offers an insight into how the glamour of gold came with punishing hard work. It contains the gold stamping machines that were used to relentless pummel ore in the hope of extracting gold. One tonne of ore would give up about one teaspoon’s worth of gold. And that was if you were very lucky.

Much more fun are the Charters Towers ghost tours run by Ghost Tours Australia. These one-and-a-half hour evening walking tours tell tales of mystery, death and intrigue. They also tick off several of Charters Towers’ heritage buildings along the way. These include the historic Stock Exchange Arcade, World Theatre and Royal Hotel.

Things to do in Charters Towers, QLD: Towers Hill Lookout

The Towers Hill Lookout offers the best views of the town and the surrounding landscape. It’s to the south-west of the town centre and comes with interpretive displays. You’re best off coming in the evening, when a film about the history of Charters Towers is shown in the neighbouring amphitheatre.

Also on the list of things to do in Charters Towers are the Texas Longhorn Tours. These outback experiences on a farm 10km out of town are all about big cows, as a wagon ride goes out to visit the grazing Texas longhorn cattle. The safari also has a section inside the working cattle facilities, where you get learn about how these big cows are bred and handled.

Texas Longhorn Tours near Charters Towers, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

What to do in Charters Towers, QLD: Tors Drive-In

An altogether more retro Charters Towers attraction is the Tors Drive-In. This drive-in cinema shows movies on two screens. One’s devoted to classics, the other to new releases. You watch from inside or beside your car.

The Charters Towers to Townsville drive along the Flinders Highway takes about an hour and a half.

Best Charters Towers accommodation

The best accommodation options in Charters Towers are:

For families: Big4 Outback Aussie Oasis Holiday Park.
For high quality adults-only apartments: Kernow Charters Towers.
For a good value motel with a pool: Charters Towers Motel.

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