Day trip to visit Camooweal, The Drover’s Camp and Camooweal Caves National Park

Walks, Birdwatching & Fossicking

Image by Rex Whitehead Local Markets 1st & 3rd Sunday

Australia Day Celebrations Jan 26 Julia Creek Dirt and Dust Apr 12 - 14

Mount Isa Races Apr 27

ANZAC Day Service & Gunfire Breakfast 25 Apr Bedourie Camel & Pig races Jul 13 Birdsville Big Red Bash Jul 16 - 18

Boulia Camel Races Jul 19 - 21

NAIDOC Week Celebrations Jul Winton Camel Races Jul 27

Qld Music Festival Jul 26 - 27 Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic Oct 25 - 27

Local Markets 1st & 3rd Sunday MineX May 30 - Jun 1 Remembrance Day Nov 11 Mount Isa Races Nov TBC

Image by Rex Whitehead

Image by Rex Whitehead

Slip on your walking shoes and get ready for a close-up look at Mount Isa’s local attractions. With its ideal outdoor environment and climate, it is a walker’s paradise. Whether you are attracted by the gorgeous outback views and want to feel closer to nature or you are keen to learn more about the historic city, seeing Mount Isa on foot is a fabulous idea.

The local community has been heavily involved in an ongoing project that has seen interpretive signs installed along the Mount Isa Cultural Walking Trail. The signs feature 10,000-step markers and provide information about local flora and fauna, artwork, Aboriginal culture and native plant gardens.

The Tharrapatha Way has benefited from native tree and garden plantings by the Indigenous community and provides an easy cultural walking trail that’s suitable for all abilities. Admire the thirty unique power poles painted by local children in 2014 in a competition designed to beautify the area.

If it’s views you’re after, then a slightly more challenging walk up to the Ray Donaldson Memorial Lookout should be on your itinerary. You can start at the top of Pamela Street and the vistas will become more beautiful the higher you walk.

Bird Watching There are many popular destinations for bird watchers where photo opportunities abound. In fact, Mount Isa is home to two endemic species; the Kalkadoon Grasswren and the Carpentarian Grass Wren as well as the very rare Yellow Chat (all pictured). Enjoy strolling around the banks of Lake Moondarra or the water tanks on Pamela St and explore the varying landscapes while keeping your eyes peeled for common and unusual species of local birdlife. Check out the Birdwatching Sign at the Lake Moondarra Lookout which will be your perfect guide in identifying the birdlife spotted at the lake. You can even drive out to Camooweal where the Georgina River is a prime birdwatching location. Obtain a list of birdwatching spots from the Visitor Information desk.

Fossicking You never know what you might find on a fossicking walk – gemstones, fossils, old relics, maybe even gold! Purchase your fossicking licence online at www.dnrm. qld.gov.au or at the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 13 Isa Street, Mount Isa. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. It must be carried at all times when fossicking.

Mount Isa St Patrick’s Day Races Around 17 Mar

Zonta International Women’s Dinner Mar Cloncurry Races Mar Gregory River Canoe Race May

Mount Isa Races May 25

Mount Isa Show Jun 21 - 22 Curry Merry Muster Aug 2 - 4 Mount Isa Rodeo Aug 9 - 11

Mount Isa Street Festival Aug 7

Birdsville Races Sep Camooweal Drovers Festival Aug 23 - 25

Great Western Clean Up Sep 1

Mount Isa Races Dec TBC

Mount Isa Cup Races Jun 8 Cloncurry Show Jun 14 - 15 Glencore Great Western Games Jun 22 - 30

Mayor’s Spring Charity Evening Sep