Birdsville

Deep in the far west of Queensland, in wild and isolated country, lies the frontier town of Birdsville. At the end of the famous Birdsville Track, on the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert, Birdsville is surrounded by the vast gibber plains of Sturt's Stony Desert and rich Channel Country.

Wirrarri, the first nation word for Birdsville, has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Yarluyandi, and is now part of the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Native Title area. In more recent history, white settlers started the town as a rest stop and watering hole for cattle drovers moving their stock. Today, it’s a thriving community where visitors to outback Queensland can enjoy a cold beer at the iconic Birdsville Hotel, back a winner at the world-renowned Birdsville Races as part of the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival, enjoy the amazing music of international artists at the Big Red Bash music festival, or relax watching the thousands of birds that inhabit the local waterhole.

There is plenty to keep you occupied in and around Birdsville. Watch the sun set over Big Red, the tallest dune in the Simpson Desert. History buffs will get a thrill from seeing one of the Burke and Wills scar trees on the banks of the Diamantina River. Spend an unforgettable day with family and friends at the Birdsville Billabong, where birdlife, fish, yabbies, and marsupials abound. Or visit the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre, where the small museum gives insights into living in this remote place.

Travellers are welcome in Birdsville with many services available.  Birdsville is an RV-friendly town, with an airport, hotel, tourist park, lodge, bakery, pub, general store, post office, modern sporting complex, gallery, medical clinic, fuel, and car repair services. Pet-friendly accommodation options are available. 

FAQ's

  • Mobile phone coverage in Birdsville is provided by Optus and Telstra. Please note – you must be on a full network plan to receive coverage here.

  • An ATM is located at the Birdsville Hotel. The Birdsville Fuel Stop is an agent for most major banks.

  • Yes. Our water comes from the Artesian Bore and is safe to drink. If you need to fill your water containers and caravan/RV tanks, there are lots of taps out at the free camping area on the Town Common.

  • Birdsville Hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily – bookings are highly recommended. Open from Autumn to Spring, Birdsville Bakery has a 'Best of Queensland' stamp of approval for tourism businesses that consistently deliver top-notch visitor experiences. Karrawa Wirinya Coffee in Graham Street sells coffee, breakfast wraps and toasties.

  • Bags of ice can be purchased from the Birdsville Hotel and Birdsville Roadhouse.

  • Yes. Wi-Fi is available at the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre and for guests staying at the Birdsville Tourist Park. The Birdsville Roadhouse also has Wi-Fi available.

  • No. There is no pharmacy in Birdsville so please make sure you bring an adequate supply of medication with you. There is a medical clinic for emergencies, however medication needs to be brought to Birdsville with you.

  • Fuel for your outback adventure and travels around The Diamantina is available at the Birdsville Roadhouse and Birdsville Fuel Services. Please note that there is no Auto Gas available in Birdsville. The Birdsville Airport has a supply of aviation fuel, and pilots requiring this need to contact the Birdsville Hotel to arrange.

  • Yes. Pop in and see the team at the Birdsville Roadhouse for mechanical or tyre repairs. Birdsville Fuel Service also does tyre repairs.

  • Not Just Hardware offers a gas bottle refill service.

  • The post office is located at Birdsville Fuel Service.

  • Permits are available online at www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/munga-thirri-simpson-desert-national-park or call 137468. You can also obtain a pass from the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre, where you can also buy camping permits for Queensland National Parks.

  • Flights: Rex Airlines fly into Birdsville from Brisbane on Mondays and Thursdays, and from Mt Isa on Tuesdays and Fridays. We are connected through these flights to the towns of Bedourie, Boulia, Windorah, Quilpie, Charleville and Toowoomba, as well as Brisbane and Mt Isa. Charter flights are also available, as well as scenic flights.

    Driving from the North: We are located 376km South of Boulia. There is roughly 30km of unsealed road, between Bedourie and Birdsville. Bedourie is the last fuel stop before Birdsville from this direction.

    Driving from the East: We are 382km west of Windorah, roughly 250km is an unsealed road. Windorah is the last fuel stop before Birdsville from this direction.

    Driving from the South via the Birdsville Track: We are 520km North of Marree; this route is all unsealed and is a track (not a highway, road or even a street). Mungerannie is the last fuel before Birdsville if travelling from this direction.

    Driving from the south via Innamincka: There are three different ways and they are all unsealed. Via Walkers Crossing is 340km (we recommend not towing anything along this route), via Cordillo Downs is 442km & via Planet Arraburry Road is 511km. All are outback, unsealed tracks and not suitable for inexperienced drivers or those in 2WD vehicles.

    REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CHECK ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE TRAVELLING, AND TAKE ENOUGH FOOD AND WATER FOR THE JOURNEY.

    Queensland Road Conditions: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/

    South Australian Road Conditions: https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads

    Northern Territory Road Conditions: https://roadreport.nt.gov.au/road-map

  • Accommodation is available at the Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville Tourist Park and Birdsville Lodge. The Birdsville Hotel offers hotel rooms. The Birdsville Tourist Park offers budget rooms, cabins, powered sites and unpowered sites. The Birdsville Lodge offers ensuited motel rooms. Alternatively, there is free camping available in Birdsville, on the Town Common.  

  • No. Big Red is on private property and no camping is permitted (with the exception of paying guests at the Big Red Bash).

  • The Birdsville Roadhouse stocks groceries.

  • There are public toilets located in Anzac Park and the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre. Showers are available at the Birdsville Tourist Park for a small fee. During the Big Red Bash and the Birdsville Races, there is a shower block available which is located across the road from the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre.