Central West

About the Central West region

The Central West region spans 396,650 square kilometres and includes the communities of remote central western Queensland from Tambo, in the south-east, to Boulia in the northwest. 

The Central West Hospital and Health Service serve a population of approximately 12,400 persons with the addition of a range of visitors during the winter months. 

Lifestyle

• The Central West is the heart of Outback Queensland, a place built by pioneers and stockmen.
• Embrace the country lifestyle with Central West’s wide open skies, breathtaking landscapes and warm, dry climate.
• Adventure through rolling red grasslands aboard a multi-day coach, on a 4WD tour, train or plane to the birthplace of Qantas and Waltzing Matilda in Outback Queensland’s Central West.
• Watch the sunset over Big Red, the tallest sand dune in the Simpson Desert or spend an unforgettable day with family and friends at the Birdsville Billabong.
• Swim, kayak, water-ski or cruise the Thomson River or fish for the yellow belly and red claw crayfish under the red river gums.

Attractions

Thomson River, Longreach

The Thompson River is located approximately four and a half kilometres north-west of Longreach along the Landsborough Highway heading to Winton. The river offers perfect camping spots along its banks, walking tracks and is also home to a number of species of fish, turtles and yabbies. For those with boats, an easy-to-access boat ramp is available next to the designated caravan grounds for a perfect day of water-skiing, swimming and fishing.

Boulia Camel Races

As the camels come hurtling down the track through the plume of red dust, you’ll have one of those “this is epic” moments. It’s the Melbourne Cup of camel racing - the longest camel race in Australia (running a 1.5km cup final) and also offers a rich prize pool in the professional camel races circuit. It’s an outback adventure, in the land of the legendary Min Min Light, sharing extraordinary events with a bunch of new friends. Beyond the camel races, you’ll find live entertainment, yabby races, the hilarious camel tagging & sheep tagging competitions, markets, food, fireworks, children’s amusements and a host of novelty races.  

Birdsville Races

Deep in the heart of the wild and isolated country, Birdsville is situated between the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert, the vast gibber plains of Sturt’s Stony Desert to the south and rich Channel Country to the north. Birdsville’s busiest week of the year occurs in September. Visitors converge in the tiny outback town from all parts of Australia and the world on the first Saturday in September for the Annual Birdsville Racing Carnival held over two days (Friday and Saturday). Crowds of over 6000 racegoers celebrate the carnival each year enjoying two days of quality outback racing and three great nights of live entertainment.

Australia’s Dinosaur Trail

Walk where the big fellas walked on Australia’s dinosaur trail, through the towns of Richmond, Hughenden and Winton. Be transported back 120 million years at Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond, when Queensland was covered by an inland sea and underwater giants ruled its interior.  Visit the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways near Winton, where you can see the dinosaur footprints which inspired the stampede in Stephen Spielberg’s movie ‘Jurassic Park’.

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