While winter is the time to come to Longreach to do our Outback Pioneers experiences, there’s still plenty to enjoy in summer.
1. Stay at The Staging Post
Whether you’re in Longreach for business or pleasure, stay in 3.5-star and 4-star guest rooms to dream pioneering dreams.
In the heritage heart of town on Eagle Street, The Staging Post accommodation is a moment’s walk from shops, a supermarket and cafés. The pioneer-inspired guest rooms evoke an era when stagecoaches ruled the outback.
2. Qantas Founders Museum
Retreat to the air-conditioned Qantas Founders Museum where you can learn all about the pioneers of flight, try your hand at flying in a flight simulator and tour historic aircraft. There’s plenty to keep you interested for a few hours plus a cafe for refreshments.
3. Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame
Longreach’s iconic attraction celebrates our stockmen and women in an impressive purpose-built building with many galleries of exhibits and displays. The pioneer cottage and sculpture gallery in the grounds make a pleasant walk at cooler times of day. Read more.
4. Ilfracombe Artesian Pool and Spa
Just a few kilometres down the road from Longreach is Ilfracombe with its ‘Machinery Mile’, a great pub The Wellshot Hotel, and an Artesian Spa. Jump into warm waters that have been beneath the surface for two million years and are claimed to have therapeutic properties. Then cool off in the swimming pool.
5. Starlight’s Lookout
If you have a 4WD, head out to Starlight’s Lookout and see what Harry Redford’s lookout man saw as he surveyed the surrounding plains while the stolen cattle were being assembled for their epic journey. (Ask for directions at the Longreach Visitors Centre and check track current conditions for this unsealed road.)
6. Iningai Nature Reserve
Head out 2.5 kilometres along the Longreach-Jundah Road for a picnic breakfast. There are walking tracks and it’s a great spot for bird-watching.
7. Longreach School of Distance Education
Learn more about how outback kids on stations learn in ‘the biggest classroom in the world’. Tours are 9am and 10.30am Monday-Friday but closed for the Christmas holidays from early December to late January. Find out more.
8. Camden Park Station
Although our Nogo Station is not open to visitors in summer, you can still enjoy a working station tour at Camden Park Station. There’s a historic homestead with the outback’s oldest private ballroom, cattle yards and more.
9. Lily Lagoon
If you’re here after summer rains (we wish!), head out to the Lily Lagoon, near Apex park on the Landsborough Highway. It’s a temporary waterhole and a sight to behold!
10. The Station Store
The Kinnon & Co Station Store on Eagle Street is open year round (apart from the Christmas to New Year holiday) and is a fantastic emporium of outback gifts, leatherware, clothing, homewares and memorabilia. It’s based on the traditional outback stores that sold everything.
