MOUNT ISA
See the other side of Queensland Welcome to an oasis in the outback, a city where history was built from the ground up, through mining and innovation, blossoming into the rich and diverse community it is today. Mount Isa is home to more than 20,000 people, comprising 52 different nationalities, and is the heartbeat of north west Queensland. The city spans some 43,000 square kilometres, making it one of the largest cities in the world. Though its roots are in mining, it has grown to encompass agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, and offers a lifestyle that rivals anywhere else. It’s a melting pot of culture and vibrancy, with events and entertainment to rival any Australian city. Home to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Rodeo, Mount Isa is also a gateway to the beautiful Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park and its neighbour, the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Riversleigh Fossil Fields.
MOUNT ISA EXPERIENCES At Outback at Isa, Mount Isa’s major tourism facility, you will find the Mount Isa Visitor Information Centre (VIC), Hard Times Mine Underground Tour, Isa Experience and Outback Park, the Mount Isa Regional Art Gallery, Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Mount Isa Fish Hatchery Project and the Outback Cafe. A trip down Hard Times Mine is a perfect way to experience what life working in an underground mine is really like. It’s a complete experience, where you’re able to don the iconic, high-vis orange overalls, steel-capped boots and cap-light, hop into an Alimak Cage and head underground into a working mine.
There you’ll find impressive boom drills and mucking units, which helped to create the mine’s tunnels, and it’s all hands on deck to drill and blast the ore seams to fill the wagons before shift’s end. Try your hand at an air-leg drill, or down tools and pop into the crib room to enjoy a tasty snack. The experienced guides are a wealth of knowledge as they recount the details of a miner’s life and what’s involved in working underground with many years of local mining experience under their belt. Tours run daily for those 7 years and older at Outback at Isa (bookings: 07 4749 1555).
A DESERT OASIS For a touch of peaceful tranquillity, you can’t go past the oasis in the desert that is Lake Moondarra. About 15km north of Mount Isa, the lake is easily accessible via a new fully sealed road. It’s the perfect destination for thrill-seekers looking to enjoy a spot of water-skiing, jet-skiing or recreational anglers hoping to catch the elusive big one, the lake is regularly stocked with barramundi, and is home to the annual Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic. It is also a popular spot for birdwatching, canoeing, sailing, boating, swimming and picnics, so whether you’re looking for a place for your next barbecue, gathering with friends or just hoping to spend a long,
lazy afternoon out on the water, Lake Moondarra is the place to be.
ANCIENT WONDERS The underground action continues further afield at the Riversleigh World Heritage site, which attracts palaeontologists from around the world and which Sir David Attenborough described as a “a treasure house of palaeontology”. Twenty-five million years ago, the area was a lush rainforest teaming with life, including ancient ancestors of koalas, Tasmanian tigers and kangaroos, the remains of which have only ever been found at the Riversleigh site and are helping to rewrite the evolution of Australian fauna. While a small section of the fossil site within the Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park is open to the public, the Riversleigh Fossil Centre at Outback at Isa provides an easier way to get a better understanding of the sorts of animals whose fossils have been discovered at Riversleigh. Get the behind-the-scenes experience during twice-daily tours with our guides – fossil enthusiasts themselves – who will take you through the lab and demonstrate how specimens are sorted, cleaned and fossils extracted to admire recreations of various creatures.
MOUNT ISA.......................................................................................... Population: 23,000 OUTBACK AT ISA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE 19 Marian Street, Mount Isa | P: 07 4749 1555 E: info@outbackatisa.com.au | www.outbackatisa.com.au
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