Outback Queensland has plenty of iconic and memorable events lined up this year! Out here, character and history loom larger than even the red dirt plains or million-year-old gorges that carve out the landscape. You’ll see we don’t take ourselves too seriously, either: Fashions on the Field takes a comedic turn, open-air film festivals are held under the twinkling Milky Way, and our triathlons get a little down-and-dirty.
Check out this outback events guide, pick your favourite, and turn it into the road trip of a lifetime.
Birdsville Big Red Bash
Be part of the crowd at the world’s most remote music festival and you’ll be dancing with new friends under the shadow of Big Red, the biggest sand dune in the Munga-Thirri National Park, or Simpson Desert. Big Red Bash is a music festival like no other. And when you’re not witnessing Aussie rock royalty like Icehouse, the Hoodoo Gurus, Pete Murray and Troy Cassar-Daley belt out their biggest hits, you can surf the sand dunes, watch a movie on the big screen, ride a camel, stretch at sunrise yoga, or just kick back at your camp. Find out more about the Birdsville Big Red Bash.
When: 2 – 4 July 2024
Grab your tickets and your camping gear – getting here is all part of the adventure.
Boulia Camel Races
The Boulia Camel Races are far removed from the first Tuesday of November at Flemington. But, the ‘Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing’ is an outback event not to miss. The 1500-metre Camel Cup is the longest camel race in Australia, and these desert-loving creatures are a sight to behold as they come lumbering down towards the post. The races aren’t just about the camels; they include live entertainment, fireworks, novelty races, and scenic helicopter flights over the Outback terrain available from the racecourse. Whether you camp onsite or indulge in a luxury glamping experience, keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious Min Min Light while you’re here. Find out more at the Boulia Camel Races.
When: 12 – 14 July 2024
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
Eight seconds feels like a lifetime on the back of a bucking bull. Luckily, you’ll be watching in the crowd. If there’s one rodeo you travel to experience this year, make it the largest and richest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere that every cowboy and cowgirl dreams of riding in – the Mt Isa Mines Rodeo. Expect four days of non-stop rodeo action: bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback bronc, rope and tie, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and breakaway roping. There’s also live entertainment, a street party, rodeo rock concerts, outdoor markets and more. Find out more about the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.
When: 8 – 11 August 2024
Birdsville Races
Since 1882, travellers and punters alike have made the pilgrimage to Birdsville for the iconic Birdsville Races. And if you’re planning to be one of them in 2021, make sure you don’t forget your costume. Swelling from a mere 100 people to more than 6,000 overnight, Birdsville comes alive like no other time of the year for a race day like you’ve never seen before, with live entertainment, a fun run, and laughs. Find out more about the Birdsville Races.
When: 6 – 7 September 2024
