Journey Along the Queensland Dinosaur Trail Through Winton

Looking to explore the Queensland Dinosaur Trail beyond the brochures? From Charleville’s clear night skies to Winton’s world-class fossil discoveries, this outback road trip reveals prehistoric Australia at its most compelling.

WHERE to from Lightning Ridge? North! We’re heading to Winton, but there are a few interesting stops on the way.

I’d head north from Lightning Ridge through Hebel, Dirranbandi and Ballon on the A2 highway.

The most direct and shortest route to Longreach and Winton is the A2 and it will take you through historic Barcaldine, home of the 1893 Shearers Strike and the birth of the Australian Labor Party.

However, let’s not rush. Just north of Boatman, I’d take a left turn to Charleville.

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Charleville: Cosmos Centre and Bilby Experience

Bilby. Photo: Creative Commons

I’d do that because there are a couple of attractions in Charleville that I think are worth a look, and we’re not in a hurry, are we?

Charlieville boasts the Cosmos Centre. It is an open-air astronomical observatory that is a treat for young and old.

We nomads know the night sky is an unfathomable wonder, way out there, but the Cosmos Centre will take you even closer.

There are other observatories around Australia, but I don’t know of one with as consistently clear skies as Charleville.

The next morning, you can visit the Charleville Bilby Experience at the local railway station.

These little critters are adorable and surprisingly little known.

If, however, Australia is serious about guarding and preserving this wide brown land we are fortunate to be custodians of, we could start with the bilby.

Clear your mind of the Easter Bunny; take the legend of the Easter Bilby home to your families and grandchildren.

Barcaldine and Longreach: Historic Outback Stops

Author Peter Woodland at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Winton — standing where Queensland’s prehistoric giants once roamed.

Heading north again, we return to the A2 and will eventually arrive in Barcaldine.

It’s only a short trip to Longreach and then Winton.

There are attractions in both of these centres worth dallying for, but we’re interested in dinosaurs and they are tantalisingly close.

Winton: Heart of the Queensland Dinosaur Trail

In Winton, apart from the tourist parks, there are several hotels and motels from which to choose. Of note is the historic North Gregory Hotel.

Banjo Patterson wrote Waltzing Matilda while staying nearby at Dagworth Station, and it is reliably reported that it was first recited at the North Gregory on April 6, 1895.

On the subject, the Waltzing Matilda Centre, in Winton’s main street, is a trove of detail about the era and the human faces behind this quintessential Australian piece.

Neon lights and warm verandahs at the North Gregory Hotel, Winton — a classic outback stay on the Queensland Dinosaur Trail.

Savour the Outback at Home

Before setting out on Queensland Dinosaur Trail — or after you’ve returned from Winton — savour a true taste of Australia. Kakadu plum grows wild in Australia’s remote regions and has long been valued for its natural properties. It’s a way to stay connected to the landscapes that shape our prehistoric story.

DISCOVER KAKADU PLUM

Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum and Lark Quarry

Now, as to the Dinosaurs, I hear you ask.

The area around Winton was, again, on the edge of that erstwhile sea, mentioned previously, during the early to mid-Cretaceous, 145 mya to 110 mya.

It abounds in dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptile fossils.

The district boasts the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History and Lark Quarry.

These attractions are spectacular, world-class facilities, and both are an easy drive from the centre of Winton.

Dinosaurs at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History near Winton. Photo: Jocelyn Watts

Lark Quarry, Winton. Photo: Jocelyn Watts

WINTON PHOTO GALLERY

Extend Your Journey: Boulia and Eromanga Fossil Discoveries

Together, Lightning Ridge and Winton form one of Australia’s most compelling prehistoric road trips — a journey linking opalised fossils in New South Wales to the vast dinosaur landscapes of Outback Queensland.

If you wish to venture further afield while based in Winton, discoveries and a comprehensive display of some of the denizens of the Eromanga Sea can be found in Boulia.

Alternatively, head to Eromanga and the Eromanga Natural History Museum to meet Cooper, the largest dinosaur found in Australia to date.

Travel Insurance for Regional Australia

For rail journeys and extended road trips, comprehensive cover provides peace of mind — especially for mature travellers.

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If you go: Queensland Dinosaur Trail

Base: Winton, Outback Queensland
Distance from Longreach: Approx. 180 km (2 hours)
Distance from Brisbane: Approx. 1,350 km (15–16 hours by road)

Best time to visit: May–September for milder temperatures. Summer heat can exceed 40°C.

Allow: 3–5 days to explore Winton, Lark Quarry and surrounding fossil sites at a relaxed pace.

Don’t miss:

• Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum

• Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways

• Waltzing Matilda Centre

• Optional side trips to Eromanga and Boulia

Map: View Winton on Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Winton+QLD

Continue your journey from Part One at Dinosaur Trails Australia in Lightning Ridge.

About the author

Peter Woodland is a contributor to Jocelyn Magazine. A former teacher and school librarian, his interests include computing, geography, palaeontology and good food.

*This piece was first published in Jocelyn Magazine in 2022. It has been lightly edited to update travel information.