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Town in Queensland, Australia
Photo: Stuart Edwards, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Birdsville is a remote town in outback Queensland, right on the edge of the Simpson Desert. It has a population of around 300, but a steady stream of visitors heading outback or returning from the desert. The Birdsville track occupies a place in Australian folklore, but with a few sensible precautions this is an outback town accessible to all.
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The centre offers visitors Wi-Fi, maps, souvenirs, library facilities, road conditions and weather reports throughout the Diamantina Shire and adjoining areas.
Simpson Desert National Park
Queensland's largest national park that contains largely untouched sand dunes where you could 4WD across. They're 200 kilometers long, and range between 10 and 35 m in height, having formed about 30,000 years ago. Due to the heat, it's closed during summer (Dec 1 to Mar 15), so plan carefully if you're visiting this remote park.
Held each year in September in Birdsville, this is so much more than just a race day. Easily the biggest thing to happen in Birdsville. Funds are raised in aid of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. During the races the population is swelled to around 7,000 people for the two-day event.
A music festival in the desert. A short distance from Birdsville itself, most people spend the duration of the festival camping on site in the desert
The bakery includes a café themed on old world Australiana offering coffee, cakes, fresh pies and sausage rolls. The homemade pie range includes Curry Camel, Kangaroo and Claret, Chunky beef and Mince pies.
Delicious counter meals can be ordered in the historic ‘Green Lizard Bar' at the Birdsville Hotel. Lunch is served daily 12:00-14:00 and evening meals 18:00-20:30.
"Australia's most legendary Outback pub" Birdsville.
The Birdsville Caravan Park has 9 fully serviced units with fridges and TV's plus 3 deluxe fully self contained cabins.
By car
A two-wheel drive vehicle is usually okay along the Birdsville track. Check local road conditions, and the predicted weather. The roads can close to all or just 2 wheel drive vehicles.
Shuttle buses run to the races and to the music festival when they are on. The town itself is very small you wouldn't need a car to get between the Caravan Park, the pub and the billabong.
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