Spotlight on the Winton Outback Festival
Australia is chock full of quirky festivals, but the Winton Outback Festival really takes the cake. With racing dunnies and outback sports that include throwing cow pats, there’s nothing else like it.
Held every second year in the Queensland September school holidays, the festival has grown from a small-town event attracting less than 1,000 visitors to a significant regional festival that welcomes just under 15,000 people over five days. That’s pretty damn impressive for a town with only around 1000 people.
However, given that Winton is smack in the middle of Outback Queensland, it’s a bit of a drive to get there. Wandering if it’s worth it? Speaking from personal experience, it’s definitely worth the effort to whip out to Winton for the Outback Festival. Not only is the festival a lot of fun for families, but Winton itself has many reasons to visit while on an outback adventure.
Here are some fun things to see and do at the Winton Outback Festival as well as fantastic things you won’t want to miss in and around Winton while you’re there:
Fun things to do at the Winton Outback Festival
Cheer along the Quilton Australia Dunny Derby contestants
Get settled trackside in your camping chair and cheer on the fastest loo at the quirky Quilton Australia Dunny Derby. Loaded with toilet humour, teams of five race past obstacles on a DIY thunderbox to claim the golden porcelain bowl. Think of it like a chariot race, except the chariot is a questionably made thunderbox on wheels, and the horses are people.
With themed costumes, tongue-in-cheek team names and a whole lot of entertainment, this event is the crowning glory of the Winton Outback Festival.
At the end of the races, stick around for the evening concert and enjoy some music under the stars.
Watch the Outback Iron Man, Women and Juniors (or challenge yourself)
The Winton Outback Festival features unique Outback Iron Man, Women, and Junior events for those who want to test their strength and endurance. Held over multiple days, participants compete in outback-themed challenges. Watching and cheering on the participants is great; however, if you’re up for the challenge, consider signing up before you arrive.
There’s even a fun competition for younger kids called the Little Swaggies. We can personally attest that this is a lot of fun! (see next)
Sign the kids up for the Little Swaggies competition
Little Swaggies Events are a series of events linked to the story of Waltzing Matilda. Kids participate in several fun challenges spread over the five days of the festival, including the Swaggie’s Hat Toss, the Tucker Bag Relay, the Billy Can Dash, and Dodge the Jolly Jumbucks.
Little Swaggies is for boys and girls aged 7 – 9 years old, and all entrants receive a special Little Swaggies shirt. As only 25 nominations are accepted, you must sign up for this event as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Enjoy the live music and roving entertainment
The Winton Outback Festival features five days of excellent live music. You can bring the kids along to party as the festival has a family-friendly atmosphere. In fact, some of the concerts are specifically for the kids.
You’ll find live music throughout the day at various locations around town as well as at larger signature events like the opening concert, Friday night concert and Saturday night concert. If you stick around for the Saturday concert, you’ll also be treated to the finale fireworks.
Dance the night away at the Sunset Gala Charity Dinner
Since the beginning of the Winton Outback Festival, the event has fund-raised over $100,000 for many worthwhile charities, with the Sunset Gala Charity Dinner being a major contributor. So pack your bling, dancing shoes and bow tie for a fantastic night out under the stars celebrating the outback sunset.
Expect a three-course meal, live entertainment, return coach transfers, guest speakers and the opportunity to bid on some unique items.
Unfortunately, this event is not suited for children under 18 years of age. Also, tickets sell out fast, so you’ll need to get in quickly.
Get a team together for the True Blue Aussie Sports Pub Crawl
For 18+ only, get a team together and test your skills across eight Aussie events at every ‘watering hole’ in Winton. Sports include golf, marbles, cow pat discus, darts, pool, basketball and if you make the final, Troo Bloo Roo Poo.
If you don’t make the final, never fear. You can still win the best-dressed group prize!
Compete in the less boozy Outback Aussie Sports
Got no one to look after the kids or travelling with young ones? Join in the family-friendly and less boozy Outback Aussie Sports. Work in pairs for the bushman’s egg throw, swap a javelin for a broom and swag, or see how far you can set your wool bale rolling.
Cheer on those in the Outback Century Cycle Challenge or the Western River Run
Despite being a flat 100-kilometre circuit, the Outback Century Cycle Challenge is touted as being the toughest cycling event in the Outback. According to ride organiser Chris Carson, the challenge is mental. With a distinct absence of geographical features, miles of wide-open space and more emus than cars, it can be hard to get your head around the vastness of the circuit.
Those who prefer to hoof it may like to compete or cheer on the challengers in the Western River Run. Choose from either a 5-kilometre or 10-kilometre trail through the Western River Channels of Winton, starting and finishing at the Waltzing Matilda Centre in town.
Learn new skills in a workshop
Learn some new skills at one of the many cool workshops at the Winton Outback Festival, most of which are family friends. Join in a music workshop, learn how to crack a whip, discover how to model with balloons and more.
Other cool stuff
Whip-cracking championships, anyone? Do you want to see a strongman pull an actual truck? Heck, wanna see a whole convoy of cool trucks?
Fantastic things to do around Winton while you’re there
Winton packs a huge punch of things to do for a small town in the middle of nowhere. You could easily base yourself here for a week and still come up with something new for your family to do every day. Make sure to do a few of the following while you’re here:
- Visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs
- Catch a flick at the Royal Theatre open-air picture show
- Day trip out to the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument
- Noodle for boulder opals at Opalton
- Cool down at the waterpark in Winton
- Play the musical fence
- Visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre
- Explore Bladensburg National Park
- Check out the Heritage Truck and Machinery Museum
- Stroll past Arno’s Wall
Because there are so many other things to see and do in Winton (besides the Outback Festival), we’ve actually gone over all of these in more detail in another article. Click on the button below to learn more about what to see and do in Winton.
How to get to Winton for the Outback Festival
On the map, you’ll find Winton firmly in the outback and almost smack in the middle of Queensland.
If you take the A2 from Brisbane, it’s around 1,350 kilometres. However, if time is on your side, a slightly longer trip of 1,480 kilometres from Brisbane along the Capricorn Highway/A4 and Burnett Highway/A3 is worth considering. Why? Because this route takes you through the lucrative Central Queensland Gem Fields for a spot of sapphire fossicking.
Both routes meet up at Barcaldine, and once you reach Longreach, Winton is a two-hour cooee from there.
Alternatively, you could fly into Longreach (another fantastic Outback QLD destination) and hire a car for just under a two-hour drive.
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