OVERLANDERS WAY
TOWNSVILLE – MOUNT ISA – TENNANT CREEK
The Overlanders Way stretches from the tropical coastline of Townsville to the mining powerhouse of Mount Isa, continuing west to Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. More than a road trip, this legendary route forms the backbone of the MITEZ Corridor — a corridor where industry, community and country intersect across the heart of Northern Australia.
Following approximately 1,100 kilometres of sealed highway, the Overlanders Way links seven Queensland Local Government Areas, dozens of communities, and thousands of years of cultural, economic and environmental heritage. It is a pathway of opportunity for locals, visitors, investors, workers and the industries that power the North.
A Corridor of Possibility
MITEZ champions a region of Queensland where mining, minerals processing, agriculture, logistics, renewables and outback tourism intersect. The Overlanders Way forms the principal east–west spine that moves freight, visitors and ideas – linking pit, processing and port, and strengthening the liveability and prosperity of our communities.
Community & Culture
From First Nations stories and droving heritage to modern industry and events, the route binds together a shared identity. That unity is central to our region’s resilience and future growth.
One of Queensland’s Great Drive Journeys
For travellers, Overlanders Way is a chance to follow in the footsteps of drovers, pioneers and adventurers. Along the route you will experience:
- Dinosaur country and worldclass museums
- Historic mining sites and outback heritage
- Warm, welcoming local communities
- Spectacular gorges, sunsets and open skies
- Sealed, safe, family friendly roads
- Unique Queensland and Territory attractions
Whether you travel a few hours or the full journey to Tennant Creek, you’ll discover places shaped by country, community, and the wide-open spaces of the North.
The Route at a Glance (Town by Town)
From oceans to outback, from ancient landscapes to bustling industry, the Overlanders Way is an unforgettable east–west journey across the heart of Northern Australia.
Explore the route. Meet the communities. Discover the opportunities.
Your journey starts here:
- Townsville – Coastal gateway, major port, and defence/industry hub
- Charters Towers – Historic gold city, agriculture and heritage tourism
- Hughenden & Richmond – Dinosaur discoveries, renewable energy potential, access to Porcupine Gorge
- Julia Creek & McKinlay – Artesian experiences, iconic outback hospitality
- Cloncurry – Minerals, logistics, heritage museums and rail connections
- Mount Isa – Mining powerhouse, processing, Outback at Isa experiences
- Camooweal – gateway to the Northern Territory and outback landscapes
Trip Planning
For itineraries and trip planning, visit these official tourism pages:
QUEENSLAND.COM - Overlanders Way Road Trip Itinerary | Queensland
OUTBACK QUEENSLAND - Outback Queensland Overlander's Way - Outback Queensland
NORTHERN TERRITORY - The Overlanders Way in 4 days | Northern Territory
DRIVE QUEENSLAND - Overlander's Way
Visitor Information Centres along the Overlanders Way
“Key Stops Along the Way”
- Townsville – Reef meets Outback – start your Outback adventure
- Charters Towers – Goldrush heritage
- Hughenden – Dinosaur country
- Richmond – Marine fossils, Kronosaurus
- Julia Creek – Artesian baths
- Cloncurry – Drovers & mining history
- Mount Isa – Rodeo, mining tours, Lake Moondarra sunsets
- Camooweal – gateway to the Northern Territory and outback landscapes
Why MITEZ Supports the Overlanders Way
MITEZ plays a central role in strengthening, promoting and advocating for the towns and industries along this corridor. Our vision is to:
- Support sustainable regional development
- Elevate the stories and strengths of each community
- Improve liveability and connectivity
- Highlight the region’s tourism, cultural and economic significance
- Foster collaboration with councils, operators and partners
As the economic development organisation for the inland North, we see the Overlanders Way as both a journey for travellers and a lifeline of regional opportunity!
Wellness on the Overlanders Way: Slow Travel, Soak and Reconnect
There’s a new kind of road trip unfolding along Queensland’s iconic Overlanders Way, one that’s less about rushing from place to place and more about how the journey makes you feel.
Increasing in popularity, wellness-focused travel is shifting the spotlight toward experiences that restore and reconnect. Across the stretch from Townsville to Mount Isa, that doesn’t just mean spas or retreats – It’s found in stillness, open space, and the simple act of slowing down.
Why Wellness Travel is Trending
For many, travel has become a way to reset. Swapping packed itineraries for open time, and screen-heavy days for meaningful moments, travellers are seeking experiences that feel grounding.
The Overlanders Way offers exactly that. Long stretches of road invite reflection, vast skies encourage perspective, and each stop offers an opportunity to pause, whether you’re soaking in warm mineral water or watching the sun dip below the horizon.
Restorative Moments, Naturally
In Julia Creek, the Artesian Baths are a standout. Naturally heated, mineral-rich waters drawn from the Great Artesian Basin. By night, soaking beneath a canopy of stars becomes something more than relaxation; it’s a shared pause, a moment of quiet connection to place and self.
Further west in Mount Isa, the mineral pool at Sunset Top Tourist Park delivers a different kind of calm. As the sky shifts through warm hues at golden hour, the combination of still water and vast views creates a sense of perspective that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
But wellness along the Overlanders Way isn’t limited to soaking.
The Art of Slowing Down Along the Way
Between destinations, the journey itself becomes part of the experience.
Near Mount Isa, a stop at Lake Moondarra offers space to breathe. Calm water, open skies, and the kind of quiet that makes it easy to switch off. In Cloncurry, peaceful places like Chinaman Creek Dam or the striking landscape of nearby Mary Kathleen invite you to wander slowly, with no real agenda beyond being present.
Further east, the landscape begins to shift, and with it, the opportunity to reconnect in different ways. At Porcupine Gorge near Hughenden, walking tracks trace the edge of dramatic natural formations, encouraging you to pause, take it in, and let the scale of the outback reset your thinking.
Even small moments carry weight. A swim or picnic at Lake Fred Tritton in Richmond, or standing quietly at a lookout in Charters Towers as the sun rises over the town, becomes part of a broader rhythm, one that prioritises presence over pace.
And as you reach the coast, that sense of ease continues. The oceanfront pathways of Townsville’s Strand, or a short escape to Magnetic Island, invite a softer finish to the journey where walking trails, beaches and slower island life round out the experience.
A Different Kind of Escape
What makes wellness travel along the Overlanders Way so appealing is its simplicity. There are no rules, no rigid itineraries, just the freedom to take your time and follow what feels good.
It might be soaking in artesian water under the stars.
It might be standing at a lookout, and realising you don’t need to go far to feel a sense of escape.
Or it might be something even smaller, a quiet roadside stop, a deep breath, a moment of stillness in a wide, open landscape.
The invitation isn’t just to travel… it’s to slow down.
Wellness isn’t a single destination. It’s something you find, gently, all along the road.
Plan your trip - THE OVERLANDERS WAY | Mitez
Let’s Connect
Have a story, partnership idea or enquiry? We’d love to hear from you.
How MITEZ can help:
• Media or partnership enquiries
• Tourism operator engagement
• LGA content coordination
• Story submissions and community features
• General questions about the route
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the Traditional caretakers of the land, seas, and waterways across the MITEZ region. We recognise their enduring connection to this region as places of community and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge community leaders who have shared knowledge and stories with us.
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