Things to do in Winton, Queensland

The best things to do in Winton, Queensland, include the Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton Musical Fence, Bladensburg National Park and the Lark Quarry dinosaur tracks.

Winton, Queensland, is an outback town on the Landsborough Highway, roughly halfway between Longreach and Cloncurry.

There’s a surprising number of things to do in Winton, including the Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton Musical Fence and tours to Bladensburg National Park.

The selection makes this outback town a fine stop on a Brisbane to Darwin road trip.

Winton attractions

These Winton attractions include the Winton’s Diamantina Heritage Truck & Machinery Museum, which probably only appeals to lovers of big trucks. Slightly more cultured than the Winton Truck Museum is the Outback Regional Gallery. Expect lots of outback landscapes and sheep shearing scenes depicted here.

The Outback Regional Gallery is inside the much bigger Waltzing Matilda Centre. This architecturally impressive museum complex tells the history of the sprawling Winton region. But much more interestingly, it delves into the story behind Waltzing Matilda – Australia’s unofficial national anthem. Poet Banjo Patterson wrote Waltzing Matilda while staying on a sheep station near Winton.

The Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Things to do in Winton, Queensland: Arno’s Wall and Musical Fence

If you like your art big, then Arno’s Wall is one Winton attraction that should appeal. A German opal miner has made this 70 metre long wall from rock and concrete from an opal mine, interjected with random pieces of machinery and household objects.

Similarly odd is the Winton Musical Fence. As the name suggests, the Musical Fence is a wire fence that turns into a musical instrument when you whack it with a stick.

4 Winton experiences that will make your visit better

Day tour to Carisbrooke Station and the ancient dino footprints of the Dinosaur Stampede.
Sunset tour to the outback rock channels of Rangelands Station.
3/4 day tour to the Dinosaur Stampede and Merton Gorge.
Half day tour to the Age of Dinosaurs Museum – or make your own way and visit the fossil preparation laboratory.

What to do in Winton, QLD: Bladensburg National Park

Just south of Winton is Bladensburg National Park, a place of grasslands, sandstone plateaus and impressive mesas. The 72km Route of the River Gum scenic drive through Bladensburg National Park ticks off most of the highlights. This is a remote national park with limited facilities, and a high clearance 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.

Things to do in Winton, Queensland: Lark Quarry

A little further south-west near Opalton is the Lark Quarry Conservation Park. There are some extraordinary footprints imprinted into the rock here, thought to be from a group of stampeding dinosaurs.

Tours of the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument take 45 minutes and cost $30. Most of the 110km drive down the Winton-Jundah Road from Winton is on unsealed road, but it is usually considered safe for conventional vehicles. Double-check in advance if there has been recent flooding, however.

The dinosaur-inclined should also check out the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum on the drive from Longreach to Winton.

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.

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