Matilda Way

From Barringun on the Queensland/ New South Wales border where the Kidman Way from Melbourne ends, |the Matilda Way takes you all the way North to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Along the way there you’ll pass through the birth places of many Australian icons and legends: Waltzing Matilda, Qantas, Stockmen and country pubs to name but a few.

First, you’ll pass though Cunnamulla, where as well as the Big Fella statue you can learn about the great artesian basin at the Artesian Time Tunnel. Then you’ll pass through Charleville and Tambo to reach Blackall, where shearer Jackie Howe sheared 321 sheep in 7 hours and 40 minutes in 1892!

Past Barcaldine, you’ll come to Longreach, where you can visit the Qantas Founders Museum and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Then travel on to Winton, near where Banjo Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda. You should visit the Qantilda Museum to learn about the real story behind the song. If you’re there in winter you may be lucky enough to be in town for the annual Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival.

Next is Cloncurry, where the Royal Flying Doctor Service began in 1928. Next is Normanton, with its Purple Pub and at the end of the way is Karumba near where Burke, Wills, King and Gray ended their epic trek in 1861. All along the way, listen to the yarns and meet up with bush characters at the many historic pubs that dot the route, and peer into the night sky for a million star experience.

Places of Interest

MELBOURNE - Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia. The city has been ranked as the world’s most liveable city for seven years in a row.

CUNNAMULLA - The largest of the four towns in the Paroo Shire, Cunnamulla is the southern starting point on the Matilda Highway.

CHARLEVILLE - In the heart of Mulga Country, after fishing, touch the stars at the Cosmos Centre and Observatory.

BARCALDINE - At the crossroads of the Capricorn and Matilda Way, the Garden City of the west is home to the ‘Tree of Knowledge’.

ILFRACOMBE - ‘The Hub of the West’, you can’t miss ‘the Great Machinery Mile’, over 1km of historic machinery stretching along the highway.

LONGREACH - Named after the ‘long reach’ of the Thomson River, Longreach is a quintessential outback town home to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.

WINTON - Winton is the Dinosaur Capital of Australia, birthplace of QANTAS and home of Waltzing Matilda.

CLONCURRY - On the banks of the Cloncurry River, the birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Showcases world class rodeos, races, musters and more.

NORMANTON - A small cattle town with great fishing. No wonder it’s home to an 8.6m statue of a saltwater crocodile caught in 1957.

KARUMBA - This seaside village is a gateway to the Gulf. Fantastic 4WD adventures and great fishing. Don’t miss the ‘Anglers Classic’.