Overlander's Way

This drive follows, in reverse, the driving routes across Queensland from Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory to Townsville. Townsville is home to Barrier Reef HQ and the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

Just off the coast is Magnetic Island, more than half of which is designated as a National Park. Heading west over the Great Dividing Range you will first reach the gold mining town of Charters Towers. A short drive out of town is Leahton Park, home of the biggest herd of Texas longhorn cattle in the country.

Further west you’ll come to Hughenden, formerly an inland sea with dinosaurs. At the Flinders Discovery Centre, make sure you see the 7-metre long skeleton of ‘Hughie’, a Muttaburrasaurus. En route to Richmond, take a 1-hour side trip to Porcupine Gorge, Australia’s ‘Little Grand Canyon’.

At Julia Creek Visitor Centre you will meet the dunnarts, mouse-like creatures which are the rarest and cutest Australian marsupial. You’ll continue to Cloncurry, the birthplace of Australia’s Flying Doctor Service. Mount Isa is next, the Outback’s only city and hub of a rich mining area. Its attractions include the World Heritage Riversleigh Fossil Centre and several mine tours. At Camooweal, the last town before the Northern Territory border, visit the Drovers Camp Information Centre to learn about the cattle industry in Northern Australia.

Places of Interest

TOWNSVILLE - Coastal city in north-eastern Queensland, offers diverse experiences from the Great Barrier Reef to the World Heritage Wet Tropics.

CHARTERS TOWERS - Inland from Townsville, this gold mining region offers great fishing and 4WD adventures.

HUGHENDEN - Known for the seven-metre Muttaburrasaurus ‘Hughie’ and the rich history of sheep production.

RICHMOND - Small town which functions as a service centre to the surrounding pastoral community.

JULIA CREEK - Home to the annual Dirt n Dust Festival held in April each year. Event includes Artesian Horse Race, bull riding, Best Butt competition and more.

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

MOUNT ISA - Situated in Queensland’s vast North West is known as the ‘oasis of the outback’.

CAMOONWEAL - Camooweal declares itself as the ‘Gateway to the Northern Territory’ and is a service town for surrounding properties and tourists.

TENNANT CREEK - Tennant Creek and the Barkly Tablelands is known for the million-acre cattle stations, gold mining, iconic rock formations and Aboriginal culture.