Date: 22nd May 2021
Travelled: 360 kms from Cloncurry to Winton
Visited: Winton, Outback Queensland.
Stayed: Australia Hotel Car-Park, free, toilets + bin.ย S22.39123, E143.03764ย
Budget: 42 days @ $140 per day.
Long drive today. We continue our drive south along the Matilda Way. The first 30 kms or so is interesting enough as we pass old mine tailings, but once we turn onto the Landsborough Highway the countryside flattens out. Becoming somewhat featureless for the next 200 or so kms.
What you see is what you get, not much. 
Even the cattle cannot see the point of going anywhere. 
A couple of rusty water tanks brake up the monotony.
So the most interesting part of the drive is the cirrocumulus cloud that dominates the sky most of the day. Mind you the slower moving road trains add some interest to the drive.
Some four hours later we roll into Winton. It looks a bit dusty and desolate as we drive in but the centre of town has three lovely old pubs and the Australian Hotel has free parking for self contained vehicles. Pam is excited, firstly to avoid any more road trains and secondly a fee stop for the night.
Map of Winton, the icon on our overnight parking spot.
So we settle into the car-park behind the Australian Hotel, have a quick chat with the publican before going off to explore Winton.
Nice old house this one. 
Not so sure about this one.
With a tourist map in hand we go for a walk around Winton. There is information panels here and there and itโs obvious both the local council and many of the home owners have pride in how the town presents itself.
Some history panels if your interested, the open air movie still operates. John Wayne, Red River was on tonight.
The Australian, very popular pub in the early evening. 
The Tattersalls, just down the corner. Note the amazing pond in the medium strip.
Our guide book recommends a visit to Arnoโs Wall. 
Reading Arnoโs story, I doubt that I would like to be his next door neighbour. 
The video below shows only part of the wall.
Having wandered Winton we return to the Jayco with plans for eating out at the pub. We get a table out the front of The Australia Hotel, in the al fresco dinning area. We chat with some other travellers as we watch the sun slowly set. The food was as good as the view.
So thatโs Winton done, another long drive tomorrow so itโs a relatively early night.
Michael + Pam
3 thoughts on “Winton, Queensland ๐ฆ๐บ 2021”
Hi guys, Winton has certainly changed since we were there in our caravan. We were there just before the old Waltzing Matilda centre burnt down, we found it very interesting. Hope you’re going to the dinosaur fields.
Ha ha, You’ve been tracking my family since you left Townsville: Ingham and Cairns where my grandmother’s family had cane farms and she and my father were born, Mossman & Daintree where my grandfather’s family had cane farms and he was born, Cloncurry where my other grandfather had a sheep station and my mother was born, Winton where that grandfather and my grandmother were born … now if you only mosey into Muttaburra and be where I was born, you will have done an express trip through my life! ๐ Those seemingly boring acres on either side of the road, turn out the best wool and meat you’ll even come across. Enjoy!
Ops it does appear a though where stalking you.
Donโt be under the impression we are not enjoying outback Queensland. The towns are lovely and weโve meet some nice people along the way. The long drives are just part of touring Australia I suppose. Banging a long for 3-400 kms makes for a long day I suppose, but you have no choice I suppose.
Sorry we missed Muttaburra, we have spent the day in Barcaldine having a walk and just now getting ready to enjoy the sunset.
M+P