DISCOVER THE WORLD’S OLDEST CULTURE

Authentic cultural experiences celebrate the First Nations of Queensland and offer real insights into this ancient land and its people. Learn and connect with Indigenous culture through Dreamtime stories, art, music, dance, tours, bushtucker and more in Outback Queensland.

This 27-million-year-old treasure attracts around 70,000 visitors every year. Walk to see the ‘Art Gallery’ featuring over 2,000 paintings, ochre stencils and engravings along a 62-metre stretch of sandstone wall. Guided tours are available but ensure you book in advance.

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CUNNAMULLA FELLA CENTRE, CUNNAMULLA

Be transported to a time when the Eromanga Sea covered the Outback; discover local Indigenous people’s stories and culture; and view local artworks at the Art Gallery and Heritage Museum.

BETOOTA SERPENT, BETOOTA

Head off the regular tourist trails to Bedourie, Betoota and Birdsville to see this large-scale, open-air artwork created from stone and gibbers to tell women’s Dreamtime stories.

This 72,000-acre cattle station is a five-star retreat with many surprises, including its Indigenous rock paintings and stencils at Rainbow Cave and Arch Rock, and ancient blade indents at the Axe Factory. As there’s no general public access the tour must be prebooked.

SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND INDIGENOUS CULTURAL TRAIL

Explore Outback Queensland communities with sites significant to local Indigenous peoples on this route through Dirranbandi, St George, Surat, Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and Cunnamulla.

CHARLEVILLE COSMOS CENTRE, CHARLEVILLE

Journey through the Cosmos with the ‘Universal Dreaming’ tour celebrating the connection of ancient cultures with the night sky. Available on request only. Stop in town to walk the 1km Indigenousdesigned ‘Waadyanana Pathway’ along the Warrego River.

MOUNT ISA INDIGENOUS RODEO CHAMPIONSHIPS (10 AUGUST 2023), MOUNT ISA

Get ready for an exciting event with rodeo action, music, dance, art and storytelling to celebrate the many visiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities taking part.

BUSH TUCKER GARDEN & TRAIL, CLONCURRY

The Mitakoodi people have a rich connection to the land around Cloncurry. Visit the Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Centre and Museum to see Indigenous artefacts and explore the garden and trail to find honeyberries, pigweed and native gooseberries.

RED RIDGE, BLACKALL

This not-for-profit community organisation undertakes a variety of community and public art projects, including visual and performing arts, fashion design, craft and textiles. Buy some art as a memento of your Outback trip.

OUTBACK AT ISA BUSH TUCKER EXPERIENCE, MOUNT ISA

The nutritional and healing properties of native plants is a respected knowledge passed through generations of First Nations people for thousands of years. Walk with an Indigenous heritage bush guide through Outback at Isa’s botanical garden and fish hatchery to learn about the traditional use of native flora and fauna, and discover the significance and meaning of Indigenous artworks and artefacts in the history museum.

THE STAR OF TAROOM, TAROOM

This 160kg ancient sandstone rock is carved with a large, beautiful star. Only recently returned to Country, it is now located at the Wardingarri Keeping Place at the Taroom Historical Museum. Open by request only – call: 0409 663 701.

TURRABURRA, VIA BARCALDINE

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The Iningai people share their ancient stories through a 200-metre-long natural wall featuring thousands of etchings, petroglyphs and paintings at Turraburra, formerly Gracevale Station near Barcaldine.

KIRRENDERRI, HEART OF THE CHANNEL COUNTRY EXHIBITION, BILOELA AND BIRDSVILLE

The Channel Country is an intersection for Aboriginal trade networks that connected Australia. The exhibition is presented by The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum, Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation and Diamantina Shire Council.

AUSTRALIAN STOCKMAN’S HALL OF FAME, LONGREACH

Indigenous peoples have played an enormous role in the pastoral history of Outback Australia. The ‘Songlines and Stock Routes’ exhibit explains the origins of stock routes and features over 350 video stories and interviews with Indigenous stockmen and women from across the country.

DESERT DREAMING CENTRE & TRACKERS TOURS, BARCALDINE

In honour of the ‘Desert Mob’, Barcaldine’s original tribes that interconnected far across the region, the Centre offers Indigenous and paleo cultural experiences through exhibits, workshops and a day tour of Barcaldine.