Top 5 things to do in Birdsville

Thinking of heading to Birdsville? Scored yourself some tickets to the Big Red Bash? Here are 5 things you can do when you get there.

At the end of the Birdsville Track is the outback town of Birdsville. Situated on the edge of the Simpson Desert to the east, the expansive gibber plains of the Sturt Stony Desert to the south, and open Mitchell plains to the north, Birdsville is in isolated country. Despite this, there is plenty to see and do when you get there. Here are some of our favourites.

Check out the Waddi Trees

It’s a 12 km drive north along the Buderim Road to a stand of ancient Waddi trees. Some of these trees are up to 1000 years old! And there are approximately 1.5 million of them over an area of 100 to 120 square kilometres. Waddi trees are a rare and ancient species and are known to exist in only three areas in Australia.

The timber of the tree is almost impossible to burn and it’s so hard it can damage an axe. You can’t try it though as these trees are protected. Growing up to three-four metres in height, the trees are thought to be remnants of the last ice age.

Visit the Birdsville Bakery

When the Birdsville Bakery first came to town, the locals didn’t think it would last. But original owner Robert ‘Dusty’ Miller defied the odds and created a ‘must-stop shop’ in one of the most remote towns in Australia. It was Dusty who created the famous curried camel pie, one of the most sought-after pastry items in the country.

The Birdsville Bakery is ideal for picking up some freshly baked products. It’s hard to miss the iconic building and it is open for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy a breakfast roll, curried camel pie, sausage roll or freshly made pastries while sipping on a barista coffee. Check out the photos hanging on the wall that portray life in the Birdsville region and tell so many stories.

Relax at the Birdsville Hotel

Birdsville Hotel is a mainstay of the town and has been since William Blair built it in 1884. You can’t visit Birdsville without checking out the weathered sandstone corner building opposite the airport. Explorers such as Ted Colson (1936) and Cecil Madigan (1939) have enjoyed a cold beverage here. Of interest are the walls and roof, which are covered in hats owned by local legends. The beer is cold, even when the outside temps are pushing the mercury past 40° Celsius. Open for lunch and dinner, the meals are exceptional and Sunday Roast night is a must do. You can also get takeaway liquor if needed.

The Birdsville Hotel is busiest when the Birdsville Races and Big Red Bash come to town, and it can be challenging to get a meal or liquid refreshment during these times. Other times it is as simple as booking a table and you’ll be sweet. You can also dine in the public bar during quieter times.

The beer garden is a popular choice when the sun goes down and the temperatures drop a little. The pub also boasts a 28-room motel that has recently undergone a refurbishment, guaranteeing you the best sleep in town. For an authentic outback pub experience, drop into the iconic Birdsville Hotel.

Tackle Big Red

Big Red, the largest dune in the Simpson Desert with a height of nearly 40 metres, is on the bucket list of every overlander in the country. Sitting at its base on the western side, trying to pick which line you’re going to drive can be intimidating, even more so when a crowd of people sits up the top waiting for you to have a crack. It is an impossible challenge for some, especially those overloaded for a desert crossing, but for many, you can’t leave until you’ve driven to the top.

Situated 35km west of Birdsville, the road is bitumen to the Little Red Crossing these days (thanks to the Big Red Bash), so this makes it easy to drive out to watch the colours of the dune change during a stunning outback sunset. You aren’t allowed to camp out at Big Red as it is on private property, but you can certainly enjoy an evening picnic before heading back to town.

Tackle the town walk

The best place to start the town walk is at the Wirrarri Visitor Information, where you can check out the work of local artists in the gallery, watch a DVD on the history of the region, and of course, find out what to see and do in Birdsville and the surrounds.

A walk around Birdsville is a breeze as the ground is mostly flat and starting early in the day is wise as it doesn’t take long for the temperature to heat up.

Some of the points of interest are:

• The Geothermal Power Station, which was used to supply up to 20 per cent of the town’s power in days gone by.
• The town bore, sunk to a depth of 1292 metres in 1961, the water rises to the surface at a temperature of 98° Celcius and flows to cooling ponds before being pumped 20 metres up into the holding tanks.
• Enjoy coffee and cake or a freshly made sandwich at Karrawa Wirinya Coffee Shop.
• The Old Royal Hotel was built in 1883 using dehydrated gypsum mixed with sand and water to create a bond with the stonework. It is now listed for restoration and preservation by the National Trust.
• Thutirla Pula Dreamtime story place where you will learn about the Two Boys who were kingfishers who lived on the western side of the desert before undertaking a journey to the eastern side and turning into the Two Boys Thutirla Pula, along the way.
• We also suggest you visit a few places that are a little out of town, so driving is recommended, including Pelican Point the ideal place for a picnic and birdwatching, Burke and Wills Camp LXXVI, Birdsville Racetrack, and the Diamantina River bridge.