OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

Natural Encounters

The crisp morning air is shattered by a high pitched alarm signaling danger. One of the herd has given the warning. It’s a huge meat-eating Theropod! And it’s ready for breakfast! The small herd of Ornithopod dinosaurs flees, stampeding through thick mud surrounding a lake.

Fast forward 95 million years. The lake has disappeared but the dinosaur’s footprints remain. The area is now known as Lark Quarry, and visitors, of the human kind, flock here in their thousands to see the only recorded dinosaur stampede on earth.

If dinosaurs aren't your thing, there's still plenty of natural encounters to be had in Queensland's Outback. Nothing beats the thrill and excitement of venturing into the Outback and experiencing the inspiring, beautiful and vast landscapes up close.

Queensland's Outback has more than 20 National Parks. That's a lot of spectacular beauty for you to explore! Discover this for yourself as you visit breathtaking gorges, ancient Aboriginal rock art, peaceful waterholes, wetlands, desert sand dunes and much, much more.

National Parks are very special places. Their primary purpose is to conserve natural and cultural sites. The parks provide opportunities to explore and experience the diverse flora, fauna and landscapes of Outback Queensland.

Many national parks have camping sites and are top spots for nature-based fun. Choose a short bushwalk or tackle an overnight hike. If you don't want to camp or go for a walk, you can still enjoy the beauty of the Outback parks. Have a bush picnic, go birdwatching, paddle along the waterways, sit by a creek and simply relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of nature's beauty.

Visitors also flock to the tiny town of Eulo for a natural mud bath, said to be very therapeutic for the skin. A soak in one of several hot artesian springs will further rejuvenate the mind and body thanks to the highly mineralized waters originating from deep within the earth.

From deep down below to way up there — the Cosmos Centre and Observatory at Charleville will take you on a guided tour of the night sky through a powerful Meade telescope. The clear Outback sky makes for perfect star-gazing conditions. And while you’re in Charleville get to know the endangered Australian Bilby, and find out what we can do to ensure its survival.

View more Outback Natural Encounters here >