Outback and country Australia has some very quirky events – world class festivals, rodeos, concerts, regattas and more…
We’ve asked people travelling with the CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App and books to share some of their favourite regional events across this vast land.
Here’s a guide to the best festivals and gatherings – a smorgasbord of music, culture, sport and Aussie icons! Enjoy six months of fun, just waiting to be experienced.
MAY
May 13
OODNADATTA GYMKHANA & MOTOKHANA
Oodnadatta, SA
http://oodnadattaraceclub.org.au/
May 18-21
MUSIC IN THE MULGA
Eulo, QLD
www.musicinthemulga.com.au
MAY 16-22
FESTIVAL OF OUTBACK OPERA
Winton and Longreach, QLD
https://www.oq.com.au/festival-of-outback-opera-2023/
MAY 19-27
ORD VALLEY MUSTER
Kununurra, WA
https://ordvalleymuster.com.au/
JUNE
June 8-11
NORMANTON RODEO AND CAMPDRAFT
Normanton, QLD
www.facebook.com/Normanton-Rodeo-502138009852739/
June 9-12
FINKE DESERT RACE
Alice Springs, NT
https://finkedesertrace.com.au
June 11-17
RAINBOW BEACH FISHING CLASSIC
Rainbow Beach, QLD
www.facebook.com/www.rainbowbeachfamilyfishingclassic.com.au/
June 16-18
THE 34TH COOBER PEDY OPAL FESTIVAL
Coober Pedy, SA
www.opalfestival.com.au
June 23-26
ALICE SPRINGS BEANIE FESTIVAL
Alice Springs, NT
https://beaniefest.org/
June 23 – July 1
VISION SPLENDID OUTBACK FILM FESTIVAL
Winton, QLD
http://www.visionsplendidfilmfest.com
June 24
ALPHA RACES
Alpha, QLD
https://alphajockeyclub.tidyhq.com/
June 29 – July 2
CUNNAMULLA FELLA ROUND UP
Cunnamulla, QLD
https://cunnamullatourism.com.au/roundup/
JULY
July 2
MARY POPPINS FESTIVAL
Maryborough, QLD
marypoppinsfestival.com.au
July 4-6
BIG RED BASH
Birdsville, QLD
www.bigredbash.com.au
July 5-9
The KARIJINI EXPERIENCE
Karijini National Park, WA
https://www.karijiniexperience.com/
July 11-16
CLONCURRY STOCKMAN’S CHALLENGE AND CAMPDRAFT
Cloncurry, QLD
www.currychallenge.com.au
July 15
OODNADATTA BRONCO BRANDING
Oodnadatta, SA
https://oodnadattaraceclub.org.au/
July 14-16
THE BOULIA CAMEL RACES
Boulia, QLD
https://bouliacamelraces.com.au
July 16
DARWIN LIONS BEER CAN REGATTA
Darwin, NT
https://beercanregatta.org.au
July 29
HUGHENDEN RUGBY 7S CARNIVAL
Hughenden, QLD
https://hughendenrugby7s.com.au
AUGUST
August 7
GREAT NORTHERN DARWIN CUP
Darwin, NT
https://darwinturfclub.org.au
August 5-13
GEMFIELDS FESTIVAL
Sapphire, QLD
https://www.gemfieldsrocks.com.au/gemfields-festival
August 10-13
MOUNT ISA MINES RODEO
Mount Isa, QLD
https://www.isarodeo.com.au/mount-isa-mines-rodeo/
August 11-13
Cardwell UFO Festival
Cardwell, QLD
https://www.cardwellufofestival.com.au/
August 17-20
#BETTERINBLACKALL FESTIVAL
Blackall, QLD
www.betterinblackall.com
August 19
THE HENLEY-ON-TODD REGATTA
Alice Springs, NT
henleyontodd.com.au
August 19-26
HAMILTON ISLAND RACE WEEK
Hamilton Island, QLD
https://www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au/
August 17-19
MUNDI MUNDI BASH
Broken Hill, NSW
https://mundimundibash.com.au/home/
August 24-27
THE GYMPIE MUSTER
Amamoor, Gympie Region, QLD
www.muster.com.au
August last weekend
LONGREACH YELLOWBELLY FISHING COMP
Longreach, QLD
https://www.facebook.com/LongreachYellowbelly
SEPTEMBER
September 1-2
THE BIRDSVILLE RACES
Birdsville, QLD
birdsvilleraces.com
September 7-11
BROKEN HEEL FESTIVAL
Broken Hill, NSW
www.bhfestival.com
September 16 – October 15
FLORIADE
Canberra, ACT
https://floriadeaustralia.com/
September 19-23
WINTON OUTBACK FESTIVAL and DUNNY DERBY
Winton, QLD
https://outbackfestival.com.au/
September 29-30
THE DENILIQUIN UTE MUSTER
Deniliquin, QLD
deniutemuster.com.au
OCTOBER
October 1
BOOROWA IRISH WOOLFEST & RUNNING OF THE SHEEP
Boorowa, NSW
http://irishwoolfest.com.au/
September 30 – October 1
TIBOOBURRA GYMKHANA, BIKEKHANA & RODEO, 2023
Tibooburra, NSW
www.facebook.com/pg/tibooburrasportsclub
October 5-8
BATHURST 1000
Bathurst, NSW
www.mount-panorama.com.au/events/repco-bathurst-1000
October 14
TULIP FESTIVAL WYNYARD
Wynyard, TAS
www.tablecapetulipfarm.com.au/#bloomin-tulip-festival-section
If you have an event you think should be added to this list – please send us an email!
If you need campsites or caravan parks to go with these wonderful events, please check out the CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App and books. Called the “Traveller’s Bible”, they hold more than 21 years of camping history – the CAMPS App is updated every day!
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