17 Best Things to Do in Longreach
Are you looking for something fun to do in Longreach, Queensland?
If you are looking for things to do during your visit to Longreach, there are plenty of options. In fact, there are so many fun things to do in Longreach that it is hard to do them all!
I wasn’t excited about our family trip to Longreach, but it ended up being one of my favorite holidays. I thought we would be bored, but now I want to go back to Longreach to do all of the things we didn’t get to do the first time.
If you are taking a tour, be sure to book early to avoid disappointment. Most of the tours on this list run from April until October, with some of them open year-round. The busiest months in Longreach are July and August, so book your accommodations and activities early if you plan on visiting during the busy season.
Keep reading to find out the best things to do in Longreach and decide which items on this list are the best things for you.
The Best Things to Do in Longreach
Qantas Founders Museum
Tour the museum to learn about the history of Qantas, or join a tour to see inside some of the airplanes at Qantas Founders Museum.
You can even wing-walk on a Boeing 747 and a Boeing 707!
Read more about the Qantas Founders Museum and decide which tour is best for you.
The Qantas Founders Museum has a restaurant and a gift shop inside.
Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame
Learn about the stockman who lived in outback Queensland by watching a video and taking an audio tour of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.
Kids can take a special kid-friendly audio tour that includes a scavenger hunt.
During the season, there is a Stockman’s Live Show that includes animals, stories, and songs.
The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame has a restaurant and gift shop inside.
Cobb and Co Stagecoach Experience
Take a 45-minute ride on an old stagecoach, enjoy morning tea, and watch a classic bush movie on the Cobb and Co Stagecoach Experience with Outback Pioneers.
Learn more about the Cobb and Co Stagecoach Experience by reading our review.
Check current prices and book your Cobb and Co Stagecoach Experience.
Longreach School of Distance Education
Kids who live in remote areas in Queensland aren’t able to attend traditional schools. The kids who live too far from a school take online classes through distance education.
The kids who attend LSODE only visit a few times a year, but attend daily classes.
Longreach School of Distance Education (LSODE) offers tours of the school through the P&C. We got to learn about the school, see some of the projects the kids have worked on, watch a lesson, and chat with a teacher.
LSODE has a small gift shop at the front.
Powerhouse Museum
Learn about the past at the Longreach Powerhouse and Historical Museum.
The Powerhouse Museum has 3 sections: the former Longreach Powerhouse Generating Complex, a local history collection, and displays of agricultural machinery.
Nogo Cottage can be viewed at the Powerhouse Museum and the original town swimming pool.
Tour a Working Station
Learn about life in the Outback by visiting a working station.
There are multiple options for station tours in Longreach, including Camden Park and Nogo Station.
Both station tours run during “the season” and do not run daily, so be sure to check what day they are available when you are visiting Longreach.
Nogo Station is the longer of the two tours, lasting 3-4 hours. Nogo Station Tour includes a safari-type bus ride through the outback, where you will see animals such as kangaroos, donkeys, camels, and eagles. You will learn about the wildlife and the history of the area, and see how a working station runs with sheep, cattle, and horses. Brunch is included in the Nogo Station Tour.
The Camden Park Station Tour leaves later and includes lunch in the 2.5-hour-long tour.
Check current prices and book the Nogo Station Tour.
Smithy’s Cruises
Take a morning cruise or an afternoon cruise on the Thomson River with Smithy’s Outback Tours.
Explorer’s Smoko Cruise is 3 hours long and includes morning tea and a short walk. Smithy’s Arvo Cruise is 2 hours long, including an hour on the Thomson River. Drinks are available for purchase on board.
Explore the Town
Walk down Eagle Street, the main street of Longreach. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and pubs on Eagle Street, as well as a grocery store and library.
The Station Shop is a fun place to wander and purchase souvenirs.
Go for a Swim
It gets hot in Longreach, and if your hotel doesn’t have a swimming pool, you can head to Longreach Memorial Pool to swim.
There is both an outdoor and an indoor pool at Longreach Memorial Pool and Aquatic Centre, as well as a splash pad.
Plan your Outback Queensland Holiday with a 7 Day Longreach to Winton Itinerary
The Best Things to Do at Night in Longreach
Sunset Stagecoach Experience
Ride on the Cobb and Co stagecoach, watch the sunset in the outback, and return to town for a 2-course dinner at The Welcome Home with the Sunset Stagecoach Experience through Outback Pioneers.
This tour has a maximum of 10 guests and is not wheelchair accessible.
The Sunset Stagecoach Experience lasts about 3.5 hours. The tour begins and ends in the same location, 128 Eagle Street in Longreach.
Check current prices and book your Sunset Stagecoach Experience
Starlight’s Cruise Experience
Cruise down the Thomson River in a paddleboat, enjoy dinner around the campfire, listen to bush poetry, and watch a movie about the Outback on Starlight’s Cruise Experience with Outback Pioneers.
Learn more about Starlight’s Cruise Experience by reading our review.
Check prices and book your Starlight Cruise Experience.
Smithy’s Sunset Cruise
Cruise down the Thomspon River at sunset while enjoying complimentary snacks and purchasing drinks at the bar with Smithy’s Sunset Cruise.
Those who want can add on Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show after their sunset cruise by booking Drover’s Sunset Cruise.
Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show
Dine under the stars with a 2-course meal while enjoying music and storytelling at Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show.
A full bar is available. Billy tea and damper are included at the end of the night.
If you prefer taking a sunset boat ride before your dinner and show, book Drover’s Sunset Cruise.
Luminescent Longreach
Learn about the history of Qantas Airlines with a sound and light show projected onto airplanes at the Luminescent Longreach show at the Qantas Founders Museum.
The show lasts about 25 minutes and takes place at night in Longreach.
Starlight’s Lookout
Head out of town to get a stunning view of the stars at Starlight’s Lookout, a 45-minute drive from Longreach.
Starlight’s Lookout is open 24 hours a day and offers a beautiful view of the night sky.
Go to the Movies
See what movie is playing at Star Cinema in Longreach. One movie is played per day on the first weekend of each month.
Head to the Pub
If you are looking for something to do in Longreach any night of the week, head to one of the local pubs.
The Birdcage Hotel is a popular pub in Longreach, and they have both a kids’ room and games for adults in addition to their bar and restaurant. The Birdcage has a complimentary shuttle and will take you back to your hotel.
The Longreach Tavern is another pub with a complimentary shuttle service. The Tavern has a pet-friendly beer garden, pool tables, and pokie machines.
Need insurance for your holiday in Longreach? Check out Cover-More Travel Insurance.
Day Trips from Longreach
Winton
Best known for the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton is a 2-hour car ride from Longreach.
While there is enough to do in Winton for a few days, including the Waltzing Matilda Museum and Royal Theatre, for those who don’t want to rent a car, there is a day-trip option from Longreach that includes the best of Winton with lunch and morning tea included.
Check the current price and book your day trip to Winton.
Ilfracombe
Just a 20-minute drive from Longreach, Ilfracombe is a great day trip with a few things to see.
The only restaurant in town is the Wellshot Hotel, offering coffee at the Coffee Hatch in the morning and lunch and dinner in the pub.
Across the street from the Wellshot Hotel is Machinery Mile, which is a free museum with plenty of machines on display, including excavators, stagecoaches, and tractors.
Ilfracombe has an artesian spa with mineral water. Admission into the spa is just a couple of dollars per person.
The only shop in town is at the Post Office, which includes a second-hand boutique and the Ilfracombe Library.
On the 3rd Sunday of each month, the Men’s Shed has a market in Ilfracombe.
If you want to spend the night in Ilfracombe, the Wellshot Hotel has budget-friendly options.
Barcaldine
An hour east of Longreach is the town of Barcaldine, best known for the Tree of Knowledge. Barcaldine has a lot of street art on display in addition to the Tree of Knowledge, which is located right outside the train station.
Barcaldine has a golf course, race course, and showgrounds, as well as plenty of pubs and accommodations.
If you want to spend the night in Barcaldine, check out the current prices and available dates at the Barcaldine Country Motor Inn.
Muttaburra
A little more than an hour outside of Longreach is Muttaburra, the geographical center of Queensland.
Besides seeing the sign in the center of the state, Muttaburra has a golf course and a museum.
On the way in (or out) of town, there is a place to spot gems by the side of the road.
We saw a few emu and lots of cows on our drive from Longreach to Muttaburra.
Planning a trip to Winton too? Here are the best things to do in Winton.
How to Get to Longreach
Besides driving to Longreach, which is approximately a 13-hour drive from Brisbane, visitors can take the bus, the train, or fly to Longreach.
Longreach Airport is located near the Qantas Founders Museum. Flights arrive from Brisbane daily. The flight time from Brisbane to Longreach is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The Spirit of the Outback is a 26-hour train journey to Longreach from Brisbane. Sleeper cars are available, and those rooms are all-inclusive. Economy seats are available as well.
Read about our experience on The Spirit of the Outback and learn more about the train ride from Brisbane to Longreach.
Greyhound Bus Service takes about 16 hours to drive from Brisbane to Longreach.
Most hotels in Longreach offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, train station, and bus station if you let them know what time you are arriving.
If you need to rent a car in Longreach, check RentalCars.com for current prices and availability.
Looking for a hotel in Longreach? Here are the best family-friendly accommodations in Longreach.
Things to do in Longreach Wrap-Up
Though Longreach is a small town with just 3,500 people, it is a popular Outback town in Queensland that offers plenty to do both during the day and at night.
Longreach has multiple museums and tours for all ages, as well as a street filled with shops and restaurants.
The amount of time you need to spend in Longreach depends on the activities you are hoping to do. Longreach has many tour options through Outback Pioneers and Outback Aussie Tours, including boat rides on the Thomson River, Cobb and Co Stagecoach Rides, Dinner Shows, and Station Tours.
Some activities in Longreach aren’t running in the summer months. The “season” in Longreach runs from April until October, with the busiest months being July and August.
Things to do in Longreach FAQ
You need at least 3 full days in Longreach, though you can find ways to keep busy for 5-7 days.
Many of the attractions in Longreach close early, so keep that in mind when deciding how many days to spend in Longreach.
Longreach is known for the Qantas Founders Museum, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, and as the Gateway to the Outback.
While you do not need a car in Longreach, it does come in handy.
The hotels in town are within walking distance of shops and restaurants, and tours will pick you up at your hotel. It is possible to walk to the museums, though it can be a bit far on hot days.
A few of the hotels are nearer the museums, but require a walk into town for a wider variety of restaurants.
Most hotels in Longreach offer a free shuttle to and from the train station, bus station, or airport.
Taxi service is available in Longreach.
You May Also Like
- Spirit of the Outback Train from Brisbane to Longreach
- The Staging Post Hotel
- Best Family-Friendly Accommodations in Longreach
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Longreach
- Qantas Founders Museum
- Cobb and Co Stagecoach Experience
- Starlight’s Cruise Experience
- Family-Friendly Accommodation in Winton
- Things to Do in Winton
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Guide
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