Things to Do
Experiences Along the Drive
Discover unique attractions, local stories and hidden gems along the way. Every stop adds something special to the journey.
Cloncurry
History & Heritage
Discovered in 1954 and officially opened in 1958, the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine once powered a thriving outback community. At its peak, the nearby township was home to around 1,000 people, complete with schools, shops, a cinema, hospital and swimming pool – a fully functioning town built to support the mine. When uranium reserves were exhausted in 1981, operations ceased and the town was dismantled. Today, concrete slabs and remnants of the original layout remain scattered through the landscape, offering a quiet, haunting insight into the rise and retreat of Australia’s mining frontier.
Those wanting to explore further can join a four-hour interpretive tour with Northwest Tours, departing from and returning to Mount Isa. Led by knowledgeable local guides, the experience brings context and human stories to the site, helping visitors understand not just how the mine operated, but what life was like for the people who once called Mary Kathleen home.
Nature & Scenic
Just minutes from the centre of Cloncurry, the Cloncurry Lookout delivers sweeping 360-degree views across the township, river and surrounding plains. The striking water tank mural adds an unexpected splash of colour, making the lookout as photogenic up close as it is from afar. Time your visit for sunset and watch the sky shift through shades of orange, red and pink – a classic outback moment and one of the best places to capture the scale and beauty of the region.
Just minutes from the centre of Cloncurry, Chinaman Creek Dam is an easy introduction to the region’s natural beauty. From the water, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders can quietly trace the shoreline, where kangaroos and birdlife gather among the reeds. On land, walking tracks circle the dam, offering water views, seasonal wildflowers and peaceful spots to pause. A haven for birdwatchers – including sightings of brolgas, egrets, cormorants and the Cloncurry parrot – the dam is also a relaxed family-friendly space, with picnic areas, barbecues, a playground and plenty of room to spend the day outdoors.
A short drive from Cloncurry, Corella Dam is a wide-open outback escape made for slowing down. Bright blue skies reflect across the water, while wildflowers and birdlife bring colour to the landscape. It’s an ideal spot for fishing, kayaking, picnics or simply settling in for a night under the stars. Below the dam wall, Clem Walton Park offers a quieter camping option, with shady trees and grassy banks stretching down to the water’s edge. Both sites are free to camp and accessed via the same entry point, offering a peaceful, self-sufficient stay surrounded by nature. Travellers should stock up on supplies in Cloncurry before heading out and check access conditions with the Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Information Centre.
Tucked among dramatic rocky outcrops west of Cloncurry en route to Mount Isa, Fountain Springs is one of the outback’s most refreshing surprises. After a good wet season, this natural waterhole becomes a welcome place to pause – cool, quiet and alive with birdsong that echoes off the surrounding stone. The sense of stillness here is powerful, broken only by water, wind and wildlife. Fountain Springs also forms part of the Ballara Mining Heritage Trail, a 4WD journey through the rugged Argylla Ranges that traces the stories of historic mining towns and remote landscapes. Trail information is available from the Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Information Centre.
Outdoor & Family Fun
Take a break at Florence Clark Park, a great spot in the heart of Cloncurry for a family picnic or a quick stretch during your travels. With oversized vehicle parking nearby, it’s an easy stop for caravans and road trippers. Grab a takeaway coffee from one of the nearby cafés and let the kids burn off some energy.
The park features lush lawns, an undercover area, BBQs, a playground, skateable elements, a bike path, seating areas and amenities — making it a comfortable and convenient place to relax before hitting the road again.
Cool off at the Cloncurry Swimming Pool, a welcoming local facility perfect for travellers and families alike. Located on Daintree Street, the complex features an eight-lane, 25-metre pool, a dedicated learn-to-swim area and disability access, making it suitable for swimmers of all abilities. Younger visitors will love the playful water feature and toddler pool — a great spot for kids to splash and cool down after a day exploring Cloncurry. Open year-round except June and July.
Mount Isa
History & Heritage
Outback At Isa is where Big Sky Drive’s stories come together. Part museum, part hands-on experience, this is the place to go underground, step back in time and hear the deeper stories of the region. Explore the Hard Times Mine on a guided underground tour, uncover ancient history at the Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre and Laboratory, and gain insight into life, culture and country through Indigenous-led experiences and creative workshops. With a café on site, it’s an easy place to linger – and a natural anchor point for understanding the outback beyond the horizon.
Carved beneath the surface of the city, the Mount Isa Underground Hospital tells a remarkable story of ingenuity and community spirit. Built during World War II by local miners volunteering their time, Australia’s only underground hospital offers a powerful glimpse into life on the frontier. Wander through the original tunnels, step inside the heritage-listed Tent House – a clever response to the mining boom housing shortage – and explore the Beth Anderson Museum, where early medical equipment charts the evolution of outback healthcare. Finished with a cup of tea and ANZAC biscuits on the veranda – a simple, fitting way to reflect on the stories beneath your feet.
Held each August, the Mount Isa Rodeo is the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere and a true outback spectacle. For three days, the red dirt arena comes alive with world-class bull riding, bronc events and barrel racing, alongside live music and a strong community atmosphere that captures the bold spirit of the North West.
Nature, Scenic & Experiences
Just a short drive from town, Lake Moondarra is Mount Isa’s inland oasis. Popular for fishing, kayaking and sunset picnics, the vast waterway is framed by rugged ranges and open skies, offering a peaceful contrast to the city’s mining heritage and a favourite spot for locals to unwind.
For sweeping views across Mount Isa and the surrounding ranges, the City Lookout delivers one of the region’s most accessible vantage points. Visit at sunrise or sunset to watch the landscape shift through rich outback colours, with the scale of the North West stretching far beyond the town.
Part of the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites World Heritage listing, Riversleigh reveals one of the richest fossil deposits on earth. Ancient limestone deposits have preserved evidence of prehistoric ecosystems, offering rare insight into Australia’s evolutionary past and positioning the region as globally significant for paleontology.
Northwest Tours offers guided experiences that bring context and local knowledge to the landscape. From the Best of Mount Isa tour and Lake Moondarra sunset experiences to the Old Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine interpretive tour, each journey is led by knowledgeable guides who share the stories behind the region’s mining, natural and cultural history.
For sweeping views across Mount Isa and the surrounding ranges, Telstra Hill delivers one of the region’s best vantage points. An easy walk from the carpark just outside town, the red dirt track climbs steadily toward the communications tower, with the landscape opening up the higher you go. From the top, wide plains and distant mountain ranges stretch to the horizon, making this a favourite spot for sunrise and sunset. Access is on foot only beyond the carpark, preserving the quiet and sense of scale that make the view so memorable.
Outdoor & Family Fun
A relaxed community space featuring playgrounds, picnic areas and open lawns, ideal for families travelling the Big Sky Drive.
A seasonal water park offering pools and splash zones, providing a welcome cool-down during warmer months.
Short walking tracks around Lake Moondarra and local reserves offer opportunities to explore native flora, birdlife and open outback landscapes at your own pace.
Camooweal
Heritage & Stories
Set along the Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Camooweal, the WWII Site Rest Area offers a practical pause with a layer of history. Shaded by trees and easy to access from the highway, it’s a convenient spot to stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic or stop overnight. Interpretive signage and a memorial tell the story of the road’s construction during World War II, adding context to the landscape you’re travelling through. With basic facilities including toilets, picnic tables, a dump point and 3G reception, it’s a straightforward, well-used rest stop that fits naturally into a Big Sky Drive journey.
Just east of Camooweal on the Barkly Highway, the Drovers Camp is dedicated to preserving the stories and traditions of Australia’s droving heritage. Run by a passionate volunteer committee, the Droving Heritage Centre offers insight into the people, journeys and resilience that shaped life in the outback. Each August, the site comes alive during the annual Drovers Camp Festival, when former drovers, locals and visitors gather to share stories, music and traditions passed down through generations. From yarns with old drovers to poetry, horse events and country music under the big sky, it’s a rare chance to experience a living piece of outback history.
Freckleton’s Stores is a living reminder of Camooweal’s frontier days, standing much as it has for more than a century at the western end of Barkly Street. Built around 1900 as a general store supplying flour, sugar and tea to surrounding stations, it later gained a bond store and “gallon licence” to sell spirits, serving a town shaped by pastoral life and pre-Federation border trade.
Nature & Scenic
Just outside town, the Camooweal Billabong is a calm pocket of water in an otherwise wide-open landscape – a place locals come to cool off, cast a line or slow the pace of the day. Fed by the Georgina River system, the billabong comes alive after the wet, drawing birdlife, wildlife and travellers looking for a true outback waterside stop.
It’s a popular spot for fishing, picnics and sunset watching, where reflections stretch across the water and the sky puts on a show.