Burketown is a tiny gulf outback town that proudly proclaims itself to be 'Australia's Barramundi Capital'. The town is very laid back with a very diverse cultural mix. You're sure to meet some real characters...
'Welcome to Karumba - population small'. Such is the sign that welcomes visitors to this remote town, which has only quite recently been discovered by outback travellers. Anyone whose seen a lot of Australia will tell you that there is no other place with quite the same atmosphere as Karumba in winter. Karumba is quite literally the end of the road; a small town of about 700 people, where the wide Normanton River meets the Gulf of Carpenteria. It's a friendly place, relaxed but still a little bit wild.
Normanton is an unusual, fascinating and delightful town, positively oozing with old world charm. Located close to the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Normanton is the major commercial centre of Carpentaria Shire, and is the northern terminal for Australia's most remote railway, the Gulflander. After the dicovery of gold near Croydon, the Gulflander was diverted from Normanton to the boom town. Today a three-car motor rail links Normanton and Croydon once a week. In the meantime, the Gulflander sits inside Normanton's station.
When gold was discovered in Croydon in 1885, the town went through an overnight boom and became one of the biggest towns in Queensland. What once was a bustling centre is today a quiet town with a very interesting past worth exploring.
Recognised as the centre of some of the best gemfields in Queensland, Georgetown owes its existence to gold which was found on the Etheridge goldfields in 1870. Nowadays, Georgetown is a sleepy little town but still is well serviced and a major point for visitors taking in the spectacular scenery and history of Australia's northern outback.
Undara Volcanic National parks is one of the highlights of Tropical North Queensland, and is less than 100 kilometres from Mount Garnet. The road is sealed all the way, except for the last four kilometres. You can also ride the historic Savannahlander from Cairns to Mount Surprise, just 50 kilometres from Undara.
Click on the link to discover more about Undara Volcanic National Park.
Known by locals as 'The World', Charters Towers was once said to have anything anybody would ever want so there was no need to leave the town. Charters Towers today is a scenic gold mining city with proud heritage and history, a perfect example of the real Australia, surorunded by sprawling cattle stations and intensely coloured sunsets.
Hughenden is a little town that takes pride in being the homeland of 'Hughie', the first entire dinosaur to be found in Australia. There are many attractions in the area, with gemfields, mountainous volcanic basalt country, sweeping black soil plains rich in fossils. Oh, the town is surrounded by four National Parks.
The town of Richmond has been recognised as one of the most attractive outback towns in Queensland, awarded with the title of Australia's Tidiest Town 2001 in the 'Keep Australia Beautiful' awards. Home to the world renowned Kronosaurus Korner Fossil Museum, Richmond and the whole area are rich in fossils as it was once part of Australia's vast 'inland sea'.
Home to the Julia Creek dunnart, Julia Creek is packed with social and sporting events all year round, including the Dirt and Dust Festival or the Dunnart Bush Festival, both a major feature of the town's lifestyle. Julia Creek is also home to BHP's Cannington mine, the largest producter of silver from a single mine in the world.
Cloncurry is known as the friendly heart of the great north west because it is a welcome crossroads with a sparkling community spirit. An historic outback town of only 3000 souls, Cloncurry offers lots of community activities to reward the curious traveller who decides to linger a while. Swimming in the river during the wet season and playing cricket in the riverbend during the dry. Street parades, horse races, football matches, and the legendary Curry rodeo and Merry Muster. It's all part of life in Cloncurry.
Described as the Oasis of the Outback - a luminous vision on the horizon for travellers coming from all directions - Mount Isa lies among the ochre-red Selwyn Ranges, on the borders of the Leichhardt River. Over the years, Mount Isa has gone from strength to strength, but the wild outback scenery has hardly changed and has become one of the major drawcards for tourists.
Chillagoe is a small outback town with a rich mining history, and still physically dominated by the mining smelters built in the early 20th century. But the town's most famous attraction must be the Mungana caves. Known as the 'reef of the outback', this cave system is the remains of coral that lived in the inland sea that covered this vast arid area millions of years ago.