The Outback Town in Queensland

Although Queensland represents a dream destination for craving surfers, swimmers and beach lovers, this huge and diverse Australian State has definitely more to offer to locals as well as to overseas travellers. Queensland offers the real australian outback experience!

Now you will think, where are the best places in Queensland to make a real outback experience ?

I have the answer for you: it's in Cunnumulla !

Cunnumulla is a small town in the Queensland's outback A small outback town with a population of 1,400 inhabitants in the middle of nowhere!! . The town has an interesting pastoral heritage and cultural background. Cunnumulla means in aboriginal language "Long Stretch of water ", referring to the Warrego river , which stretches for over 900 km.  In Cunnumulla you have the opportunity to get the feel of the authentic outback living , you can not only see the real working life at sheep and cattle stations, but you can also participate in the daily outback life : so be prepared to "get dirty and dusty" while doing the work! :)

You can get up close with nature , relish the abundant wildlife and the colourful flora, immerse yourself in the outback landscape with its colours, its smells, its prickling air.

On this post I will introduce briefly Cunnumulla with its major attractions. On separate posts you will read about more specific topics around Cunnumulla and about my personal outback living experience.

First of all let's see where Cunnumulla is located in Queensland , how to get there and what you can do there.

Where is Cunnumulla

Cunnumulla is located in the South West Queesland , on the Warrego River, at the crossroads of the Adventure Way and the Matilda Highway, one road running east to west, from St. George to Thargomindah and the other one running  north to south from Charleville to Bourke. To help you visualize where Cunnumulla is on the Australia map, I have attached a picture here below. Whichever direction you come from you will be travelling on the road for a long time. Cunnumulla is one of those remote outback town truly in the middle of nowhere. But the long journey is worth your time, once you are in Cunnumulla you will soon notice the warm welcome of the place and especially of its friendly people.

How to get to Cunnumulla

As said, Cunnumulla is far away from anywhere else in Queensland and the rest of the country.
The fastest way to get there is obviously flying to Cunnumulla . There is a small airport in town! Flights are available from Brisbane or from any other connecting town. Skytrans offer twice a week flights from Brisbane with 4 stops inbetween, this means that the flight journey takes approx 2 hours. Alternatively you can fly directly from Brisbane to Charleville and from there you can hire a car to drive further 200km west on the Matilda Highway to Cunnumulla. Next to flying you can also travel by rail on the Westlander Train from Brisbane or get on the Greyhound bus. Moreover you can also use the train bus (twice a week).

The major attractions of Cunnumulla

Cunnumulla is a fascinating little town in Queensland's Outback, one of those places that rewards you with an authentic outback living experience that will stay in your heart for ever. There are many ways you can discover Cunnumulla. I am giving you a short list of things you can do in Cunnumulla.

• Visit the Cunnumulla Fella Centre where you can experience the Artesian Time Tunnel : a simulation machine transporting you back in time 100million years and learn about the Great Artesian Basin Story . Moreover in the Cunnumulla Fella Centre you can visit the the museum with a large display of historical and cultural items, as well as a very intersting video about the history of evolution of Great Artesian Basin throughout the centuries. And you can also admire the Cunnumulla Fella Sculpture .

• The Warrego River is probably the very first place you will feel naturally attracted to when you arrive in Cunnumulla. This river has a deep significance to Aboriginal people as well as to the past generations of pioneers who settled down along its banks. But in some ways the Warrego touch the soul of travellers too. The river banks are peppered with Red River Gums, an abundant birdlife to make it to a gorgeous scenery for a boat cruise at sunset, a beautiful walk along its banks and more activities.

• Cunnumulla Wildlife and Flora Cunnumulla is a place where you can get up close with wildlife and relish the outback environment with vast grasslands and floodplains on red soil, mulga trees are found here and also the Yapunyah trees. Encounters with wildlife is a unique experience and you will see lots of Emus, Kangaroos around, wildpigs, more of mammals, reptiles and fishes can be seen all arond the place. Cunnumulla is also a paradise for bird lovers , with over 50 varieties and 200 bird species there are plenty of great bird watching locations spread over Cunnumulla's surrounds.

• The Australian Outback is all about meeting the locals! And there are many ways you can do it. The best way is to meet them in a pub, at a BBQ, in the art galleries, at the famous Cunnumulla Fella festival, everywhere you have the chance of meeting the local characters for a fun story about Cunnumulla's interesting past.

If you are curious about and want to visit Cunnumulla, I would say, you need at least 3-4 days. I wish I could go back soon and spend more time to explore Cunnumulla surrounds and learn more about this untouched, remote and awesome part of Queenslands's Outback .

Enjoy the real Australian Outback!

Michela

Read more about the Greatness of the Outback Isolation