DIAMANTINA SHIRE

WHERE THE DESERT MEETS THE CHANNEL COUNTRY

Birdsville; Bedourie; Betoota

@TheDiamantina @diamantinaqld

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Simple Pleasures, Great Adventures

Birdsville

BIG RED – Sunrise or sunset on Big Red, the tallest dune in the Simpson Desert, is a must. Only 35km from Birdsville on a mostly sealed road, either test your 4WD skills and conquer the sand dune, or work your leg muscles and walk to the top. The view is worth it!

Please be respectful of this ancient landscape – it is a natural environment on a private pastoral property. BYO snacks and drinks. Tours and scenic fl ights are also available.

PELICAN POINT, BIRDSVILLE’S BEACH – A great idea is to have a dip at Pelican Point if you have done a lap of the Birdsville Racecourse, or taken a walk around town following the Footprints of Time paintings by local Indigenous artists or explored out at the cemetery. A swim in the calming waters at Pelican Point is sure to rejuvenate after your long trip. The bird life is truly remarkable at the billabong and so is sunset.

Bedourie

BEDOURIE ARTESIAN SPA & AQUATIC CENTRE

– The healing waters of the Great Artesian Basin await you in Bedourie. The spa at the Aquatic Centre is naturally heated, bubbling up from underground at 30-40 degrees Celsius.

After your spa, cool off in the Bedourie swimming pool located onsite. Entry passes can be purchased at the Bedourie Outback Visitor Information Centre. PISE HOUSE – A mud hut in the main street of Bedourie dating back to the 1880s that reminds visitors of the simple and harsh pastoral life of old.

Betoota

THE SERPENT SCULPTURE – A sight to behold! Just outside Betoota, local First Nations people designed and constructed this creature of ancient times. Nearby is Deon’s Lookout where you can survey the vast plains of the Channel Country before you, and learn about the pastoral history of the area.

Make sure you check out these sites while visiting the town of Betoota.

One to watch out for…

A new attraction due to open in Birdsville is the Birdsville Courthouse Experience which will give visitors an insight into justice in remote Queensland, encompassing storytelling/history from the point of view of both Indigenous and white settlers. You may even get to sit in on a court proceeding thanks to holographic technology.

BIRDSVILLE Population: 60

BIRDSVILLE

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

29 Burt Street, Birdsville P 07 4564 2000 E info@diamantina.qld.gov.au thediamantina.com.au

BEDOURIE Population: 90

BEDOURIE OUTBACK

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

13 Herbert Street, Bedourie P 1300 794 257 E visitors@diamantina.qld.gov.au thediamantina.com.au

Top Tips

▶ Pubs – Birdsville, Bedourie and Betoota all have watering holes which are alive with history, where you can get to know the locals and make great memories.

▶ Places to Eat – Each pub has delicious meals that make the Outback drive worthwhile. Bedourie and Birdsville Roadhouses also serve meals, and no trip is complete without a curried camel pie at the Birdsville Bakery!

▶ Outback Rivers and Billabongs – Water abounds, with Eyre Creek and the Diamantina River winding through the region. Cuttaburra Crossing on Eyre Creek is beautiful, with abundant bird life making it a restful spot as you meander through the Outback. It is a well-renowned birdwatcher’s paradise.

▶ The Munga-Thirri (Simpson Desert) –Whether going overnight to Poeppel Corner, or travelling right across the desert and its 1,100 sandhills, it’s a magical experience which immerses you in the wonders of nature. Remember, preparation and research are critical for a desert trip.