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Birdsville, QLD

Birdsville, between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibber plains of Sturt’s Stony Desert is the starting point of the famous Birdsville Track, which stretches to the south with the Simpson Desert to the west.

birdsville

Birdsville began life as ‘Diamantina Crossing’ in 1881 and was given its present name in 1885. It is said that one Robert Frew, a local identity, gave the name as a compliment to the birdlife of the area. Another theory on the town’s name is that locals wanted to name it Burtsville after a popular settler named J. Burt. Burt declined the offer and the name Birdsville was used as a compromise. The Diamantina River, to the east of the town, was named in 1866 by explorer William Landsborough.

birdsville

The town’s original function was as a ‘tariff wall’ between Queensland and South Australia. Tolls which had provided the town’s income, ceased in 1901 with the formation of the Federation and the town declined.

The town is now a starting point for many people travelling into South Australia along the Birdsville Track which was first developed in the 1880s as one of Australia’s first major cattle routes. Stories of stockmen who passed through Birdsville on this famous track are part of town legend.

Birdsville is best known for its famous pub and the annual race meeting when the population grows from 120 to 6,000 in two days.

Nearest Airport: Birdsville

Where to stay?

Experiences

  • 18-35's
  • Caravan and Camping
  • Rural/Country
  • Historic/Heritage
  • Remote
  • Self-Drive
  • Soft Adventure

Popular Activities

  • Off Road Driving
  • Bird Watching
  • Bush Walking
  • National Park
  • Adventure
  • Fishing
  • Outback

About Birdsville

  • Locality: Rural locality
  • Birdsville Postcode: 4482
  • State: Queensland
  • Region: Outback Queensland
  • Latitude: -25.59881
  • Longitude: 139.8557
  • Elevation: 51m
  • Population: 140
  • Median Income: $37908
  • Area (Sq/km): 32959.52
  • Timezone: Australia/Brisbane

Accommodation In Birdsville

Discover some of the accommodation in and around Birdsville

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains