The Outback may not immediately come to mind as a great place to take children, but in reality it has much to offer to families and can also be an affordable but exciting roadtrip. Many kids love following the dinosaur trail, and seeing these massive creatures brought to life is enough to awe the most imaginative of minds. For many kids, reliving life in the old west is a dream come true, so visiting a station and learning how to do ranch chores and ride horses is a fun and exciting way to enjoy the region. It can also be great for burning off all the excess energy that kids seem to pack with them! If a stay at a station isn’t quite what you are looking for, try a visit to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, where visitors can learn about the past through interactive displays, and also a show that includes working dogs, horses, mules, and authentic Outback stockmen.
The Min Min Encounter, in Boulia, gives visitors a show unlike any other, complete with fibre optics and special effects. It tells the true story of the Min Min light, a ghostly light that residents of the area have claimed to have seen for more than seventy years. If traveling with smaller children, the Tambo Teddies workshop may be more appropriate. Here you can watch the famous teddy bears being made from scratch. The Bilbies Centre in Charleville is home to Queensland’s most endangered species, a loveable little marsupial that is being bred at the centre as part of the effort to save the animals.
Older children will enjoy the Cosmos Centre and Observatory in Charleville, where they can enjoy films about the universe and at nighttime view the skies up close. The Qantas Founders Outback Museum in Longreach is an aviation museum full of interactive displays that are sure to please children of all ages.
Part of Queensland’s northern coast, these two areas share a common history in that both were important places during Captain Cook’s journey of exploration to the area in the 1770’s. Cape Tribulation is where his ship ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef, and Cooktown is where he settled to make subsequent repairs to the ship. Today, both are somewhat isolated and do take a little planning to get to, but are definitely worth the effort.
There are two roads from Cairns that take visitors into Cooktown – the coastal and the inland. The coastal route is more direct but is recommended only for four wheel drive vehicles as there are several creek crossings, while the inland road is suitable for all vehicles. Although a cyclone destroyed the town in 1949, it was rebuilt and is now becoming a tourist centre for visitors heading to the Cape York region. As a small frontier town, Cooktown’s population is only about 1300 and the town literally only has a few streets. However, the town is rich in history, has a multitude of recreational opportunities such as fishing and river cruises, and offers exceptionally friendly hospitality. Be sure to check out the Grassy Hill Lookout for a tremendous view of the area.
Cape Tribulation is a lush and rainforest-covered national park. It is a unique area since the rainforests stretch right out to the wide, sandy beaches, allowing visitors to enjoy the best of both worlds. There are many ways to enjoy the park, including walking, swimming, and diving. Horse-back riding, particularly on the beach is also a very popular activity and the Marrdja Botanical Walk is an easy boardwalk where visitors can explore the rainforest. There are tours available from Cairns, and if you are planning on taking your own vehicle be sure to call ahead to the Daintree Ferry to ensure that you’ll be able to cross the river to get into the park.
