The Overlander's Way - Great North Queensland
There’s no place like home. I’m so grateful to be born and bred in Queensland and to have been able to explore the Great North over the past week. I followed the Overlander’s Way from coast to country - Townsville to Mount Isa - stopping at Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek and Cloncurry along the way. I was always met with a smile and a helping hand, which were greatly needed on more than one occasion. What an adventure! Great North Queensland is just getting greater, especially as you go west - in my humble opinion!
THE OVERLANDER’S WAY
Generations of drovers shifted their cattle from the steep-sided mountain ranges of north-west Australia, across our wide brown land, to market on the north-east coast. The Queensland stretch of this route became known as the Overlander’s Way. I was excited to follow in the drovers’ footsteps and embark on a 1000-kilometre North Queensland trip stretching from the Port of Townsville to Mount Isa. Ideally, and time allowing, the Overlander’s Way would be traveled by car, but I made a good leg by plane. It’s up to you!
My visit up north was actually focused on the North West Minerals Province which hosts $680 billion of known in-ground commodities, as my day job is in the Queensland resources industry. My company, QEM Limited, is developing a green-fueled vanadium and oil shale project in Julia Creek. High on my agenda is to highlight the importance of projects like ours in Queensland’s renewable energy and critical minerals future. Hence, I was delighted to receive an invitation from the Department of State Development to an Industry Event in nearby Cloncurry (140km from Julia Creek). The stars aligned when I discovered that the QEM-sponsored Julia Creek Saints Junior Rugby League team would be playing their final game of the season the weekend before the event. Industry and stakeholder meetings aside, watching the kids play was definitely the highlight of the trip.
Travelling the Overlander’s Way offers dramatic landscapes, abundant bird and wildlife, and rich Indigenous and prehistoric history.
GETTING AROUND
Plane
Virgin or Qantas/Jetstar will take you from Brisbane to Townsville or to Mount Isa direct most days. However, Qantas cancelled our direct flight from Mount Isa to Brisbane and we spent an extra couple of hours in the Townsville airport on the way home. Once you do reach Townsville or Mount Isa to begin your own Overlander’s Way journey, there are a few options.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, regional airline REX flies between Townsville and Mount Isa, stopping in Hughenden, Richmond and Julia Creek along the way. I took this option to reach Julia Creek from Townsville and it allowed for stunning views from the small plane of North Queensland’s dramatic landscapes. The two-and-a-half hour flight, though broken with two stops, was uneventful with a friendly hostess offering chocolate chip cookies and drinks.
Train/Bus
The Inlander Train travels from Townsville to Mount Isa every Wednesday and Saturday, and from Mount Isa to Townsville on Mondays and Fridays. Otherwise Bus Queensland and Greyhound also have a semi-regular offering.
Automobile
The Flinders Highway, spanning the length of the Overlander’s Way, is a fully-sealed double lane highway and suited to cars, 4WDs, campervans and caravans. Visitor information centres in each town are happy to share off-the-beaten-track scenic routes and advise on road conditions. Here are some tips to ensure your safe road trip in outback Queensland. Since cars can only be hired from Townsville or Mount Isa, you need to think ahead if you’re going to follow my fly/drive plan. At the last minute I managed to get a ride with a kind mother and daughter who drive each Sunday from Julia Creek to Mount Isa. That’s one of the beautiful things about the outback, and I learnt a lot about rural Queensland life in those three hours.
TOWNSVILLE
Day One of my Overlander’s Way journey was in Townsville. A five kilometre run along the palm-tree lined Strand, taking in the sweeping views of the Coral Sea and Magnetic Island was the perfect way to wake up to my new surroundings and new (hot) tropical climate. The city’s buildings are a charming mix of eras, and I found a few shops for my next visit. Top of that list is Ugo Kennedy, Hat Maker. I was very privileged to meet with the Mayor of Townsville Cr Jenny Hill to discuss our Julia Creek Project. Great first day up north! I celebrated with an excellent Cosmopolitan at my hotel, The Ville Resort - Casino, and on a local’s recommendation also dined onsite, at Miss Songs Asian Kitchen.
CLONCURRY
Today we had an early morning start, driving from Mount Isa to Cloncurry for an Resources Industry Briefing Event led by the Department of State Development, and strongly supported by the Queensland Resources Council. The local networking afterwards was so important because we all want to employ local first. Of course we couldn’t leave Cloncurry without a visit to the Bakery, famous throughout the region!
JULIA CREEK
You know you’re in Julia Creek if you see a Dunnart! Have you heard of this tiny endangered animal? The Mckinlay Shire Council has received awards for its work in keeping this carnivorous creature from extinction and its survival has become a crucial symbol of the town. The nocturnal marsupial is only found in the Mitchell grass plains of the Shire. So naturally we headed to the ‘At the Creek’ information centre for Dunnart feeding time (daily at 10am and 2pm). We can see why the rare but feisty little fellas are so popular. The centre is located in town, diagonally opposite the Post Office, where you can also wander through historic fettlers’ cottages to take a step back in time and get an idea of what it was like here many years ago.
My company is so proud to support junior sport at Julia Creek. We were excited to be in town to watch the final game day of the season for the Julia Creek Saints Junior Rugby League teams, not to mention the club presentations and big BBQ. Grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome from everyone in Julia Creek and the Mckinlay Shire Council.
There are few things more relaxing than slipping into a luxurious Artesian Bath at the end of a long day, and the Julia Creek Caravan Park brings visitors from near and far for these glamorous baths with a view of the Aussie Outback. Pure bliss! Next trip I’m going to try out one of the self-contained units. PS you need to pre-book a bath.
I stayed at arguably the best place to eat and drink in town - the Julia Creek Hotel - Top Pub. The wine list was impressive, the pours large (thanks Lauchy) and the beer battered flathead delish. My colleague told me his house-made Chicken Kiev was the best he’d ever had! Be sure to ask for one of the double rooms when booking.
For breakfast time I found two great options, Corrina’s Cafe and Bakery and the Julia Creek Roadhouse.
Like all the towns along the Outlander’s Way, Julia Creek is packaged with a sincere welcome wagon, a lively coffee culture, and unique tours and attractions.
MOUNT ISA
Welcome to Mount Isa, the traditional lands of the Kalkadoon and Indjilandji people. In far west Queensland, located in prime cattle country, Mount Isa harnesses one of the world’s richest mineral resources and is set amongst the brilliance of the Selwyn ranges.
My company strongly supports women taking leadership roles in the Queensland resources industry, hence my appointment. So while in Mount Isa, I was delighted to meet up with key members of the organisation Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ). I’ve always found women in the resources industry tend to be supportive of other women because we are the minority but things are moving in the right direction with a growing number of diversity and mentoring programs. Hats off to these women who are all leaders in their fields at Mount Isa Mines.
I stayed at the Burke & Wills Motel and found my room to be large, comfortable and spotless. It was well-located down the street from The Isa Hotel, key spot to eat and drink in town. The glasses of Rosé were most generous!
It is widely considered that only once you visit the Isa do you become a ‘real’ Aussie. I’m already looking forward to return for the Mount Isa Rodeo, the largest event of its type in the southern hemisphere, and to discovering more about the people and places on the Overlander’s Way!
