• Map & Itineraries
  • Route Map
  • 6 Day Adventure
  • Dinosaur Trail
• Places to see
  • Townsville
  • Charters Towers
  • Hughenden
  • Richmond
  • Julia Creek
  • Cloncurry
  • Mount Isa
  • Camooweal
  • Tennant Creek
• Travel Tips
• Events
• Useful Info
• Contacts

Beginning at either the tropical city of Townsville or Tennant Creek, the heart of the Northern Territory, The Overlander’s Way offers sealed roads all the way for modern adventurers to travel with ease.

The Overlander’s Way follows the paths of our droving heroes who brought vast herds of live cattle from the east Kimberley to the coast. The route, which later served as an important supply line during World War II, takes in the Outback towns of Charters Towers, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Camooweal on the Queensland-Northern Territory border and Tennant Creek.

The Overlander’s Way promises a journey rich with discovery, unspoilt natural beauty and friendly local characters. Along the way, you’ll also find a wide variety of attractions.

Townsville

The wonders of the Reef

Before starting off on the Overlander’s Way, spend a few days in the city of Townsville. Townsville has come of age as the new “hot spot” for holidaying in the tropics! This progressive, modern and vibrant city is bustling with holiday ideas and experiences. The city has grown into a cosmopolitan hub of activity and ambience, from the magnificently restored heritage buildings, to the trendy outdoor cafés, restaurants, shops and galleries that add colour to the streetscapes. Get stranded! A visit to the Stand is essential when in Townsville. Undoubtedly one of the best inner-city beachfronts in Australia, the 2.5km of waterfront is sure to please everyone! Want to experience island life? A trip to Magnetic Island is a must. Only 8km from Townsville City Centre, visit this colourful and eclectic island retreat and relax, or join in the island’s village life. From Picnic Bay through Horseshoe Bay, the experience is friendly and delightfully tropical!

Charters Towers

Discover “Ghosts of Gold”

Inland 130km lies Charters Towers, the site of a massive gold rush in the late 19th century which resulted in the area becoming known as “The World”. This historic town boasts beautifully preserved architecture and a large number of parks and gardens. The Charters Towers “ghosts of gold” Heritage Trail brings to life this historic gold rush era. Start at the Visitor Information Centre then follow through to the Stock Exchange Arcade to see the “Calling of the Card”, an audio presentation re-enacting the trading of shares that once took place in this very arcade. Then on to the Venus Battery, the largest surviving battery relic in Australia. Interactive audio-visuals tell the story of how the mill operated and how the equipment was used to extract gold from the ore. In the evening visit Towers Hill to view a ½ hour film presentation of “ghosts after dark ”, which tells even more fascinating stories about the people who lived here in those days of gold, grandeur and greed. Along the way to Charters Towers you can turn off the highway at Mingela and drive just 40km to Ravenswood, a heritage-listed, working mining town with old mullock heaps, tall chimneys and 19th century pubs and other buildings. View the operations at the open cut mine from the lookout, or do a walking tour.

Hughenden

Gorge and Dinosaur Country

Call into the Flinders Discovery Centre and meet “Hughie”, a life sized Muttaburrasaurus, step back in time to over 500 million years ago at the Porcupine Gorge Light and Sound Show. Relive the battles and history of the shearing industry through its highs and lows in ‘Shearing the Straggler’. Wander the streets of Hughenden adorned with metal artwork or enjoy the new Eco Walk on Flinders with examples of different bioregions in the area. Get off the beaten track on one of many byway drives through sculptured landscapes, view the district a top of Mount Walker, promising a sunset you will never forget.

Richmond

Fossil Capital of Australia

Halfway between Townsville and Mount Isa you will find a clean and tidy town with lush green parks and Lake Fred Tritton. Stay at the Richmond Lakeview Caravan Park, overlooking the Richmond Community Bush Tucker Gardens – a Banksia Foundation Environmental Award Finalist. While the kids play on the lake’s beach or water park, dad can do a spot of fishing, while mum takes a walk around the 1.2km walking path. Visit Kronosaurus Korner, and be amazed by marine fossils, the Richmond Pliosaur and Australia’s most complete dinosaur, the Minmi. Ask about Krono’s Kids Club and stop for a coffee in the Moon Rock Café. Got ‘fossil fever’? Then ask our friendly staff for a map of the free fossicking sites. There’s a little bit of Outback in everyone’s backyard and a whole lot more in Richmond.

Julia Creek

Gateway to the Gulf

Next is Julia Creek, one of the friendliest towns on the Overlander’s Way. The town comes alive each year in April, when the annual Dirt n Dust Festival takes place, including events such as a triathlon, horse races, PBR Bull ride, Australia’s Best Butt Competition and Bog Snorkelling. The 30m wineglass-shaped water tower can be seen up to 20 kilometres away. The tower stands above one of four bores supplying water to the town from the Great Artesian Basin. Only found in the Mitchell grass downs of North West Queensland, the Julia Creek Dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi) is a small nocturnal insect-eating marsupial thought to be extinct until 1992, now considered to be an endangered species. Obtain a map from the Information Centre and walk the 38 signposted sites reading their interesting and colourful history. While visiting Julia Creek why not try something different and visit the Proa Redclaw Farm. The 12 ponds use artesian water, some containing up to 16,000 redclaw.

Cloncurry

Home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Few places in Australia can claim to be as influential in shaping Australia’s identity as Cloncurry. Birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and destination of the first Qantas flight, it is a town that celebrates outback life the true Australian way. There are many ways to discover more about the region and its history. Visit John Flynn Place Museum & Art Gallery and learn about the beginnings of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the man who started it. Take the town’s heritage walk and admire the nostalgic architecture of yesteryear, including the art deco styled Cloncurry Shire Hall. Other features of Cloncurry include the historic streetscape, airport and the cemeteries of Chinese and Afghan graves. Take a break at the Cloncurry/Mary Kathleen Memorial Park Complex, with picnic area, playground, lookout, outdoor machinery display and also the Cloncurry Information Centre with the attached Museum which houses memorabilia from Cloncurry and the former uranium mine, Mary Kathleen. See the splendid rock and gem display and history of Burke and Wills, including Burke’s water bottle.

Mount Isa

Underground Mines and Aboriginal Heritage

From Cloncurry, the Overlander’s Way winds its way through the spectacular Selwyn Ranges where rugged red hills contrast with huge white gum trees to Mount Isa, one of the world’s great mining cities. Mount Isa’s newest attraction, Outback at Isa, is a onestop- shop for the visitor. The precinct includes wonderful displays on the history and development of the city as well as the area’s prehistory that is unlocked at the Riversleigh Fossil Centre interpretive exhibit and laboratory. An underground mine experience has always been high on the list of the visitors to the Isa, and at Outback at Isa’s Hard Times Mine you’ll be guided underground by a real Mount Isa miner, who’ll take you through the 1.2km of tunnels to experience what it’s like to be a miner down below. Other must-see attractions include the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the School of the Air, the unique Underground Hospital built during World War II, the National Trust Tent House, the ever popular mine surface tours, Lake Moondarra and Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park.

Camooweal - Tennant Creek

Northern Territory

From “the Isa” it’s a further 188km west to the historic droving township of Camooweal, gateway to the Northern Territory. The remaining 443km over the Overlander’s Way takes travellers across the mighty Barkly Tablelands and through some spectacular Outback landscapes. The first major fuel and rest stop is the Barkly Homestead Wayside Inn which offers a full range of fuel and motoring services as well as comfortable motel accommodation and caravan and camping facilities including a swimming pool. The Overlander’s Way joins the Explorer’s Way at Three Ways, 187km from the Barkly Homestead where travellers can take a break, have a meal and refuel at this popular truck stop. Just 25km south is the mining township of Tennant Creek. One of this historic town’s main attractions is the Nyinkka Nyunyu Centre which showcases the culture of the local Waramungu people. Their culture can be experienced through personalised guided tours. Visitors can wander through the art gallery or relax in the Jajjikari Café. The Creek, 11km north from what is now the township of Tennant Creek, was named by one of the Territory’s early explorers, John McDouall Stuart during an expedition in 1860. The Creek later became a vital link in the Overland Telegraph Line during the 1870s and the gold rush era of the early 1900’s before the Tennant Creek township was established as a gold mining settlement in 1934.