Red earth golf ‘greens’, full waterways teaming with fish and yabbies, polo crosse, water sports, clay shooting, rodeo and camp draft and a bike gymkhana and enduro all await sports lovers looking for adventure in one of Australia’s most spectacular outback settings.
Quilpie Shire Council has today announced the biggest ever sporting line-up for the region, as their peak tourist season is launched – with month after month of sport with a unique outback twist on offer in 2023.
Kick starting the season launch for the Quilpie Shire, the townships eponymous Visitor Information Centre will fly the flag for their region next week at the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards on March 17 having taken out gold – up against some major centres across Queensland – in the Queensland Tourism Industry Council Queensland Tourism Awards in the ‘Visitor Information Services’ category in 2022. And just this week Quilpeta – Quilpie Night Show Experience took out the Best New Visitor Experience Award at the Outback Queensland Tourism awards.
On the sporting front, red earth fairways will greet golf enthusiasts when they visit for the Quilpie leg of the Queensland Outback Masters – or just a round of golf at the Quilpie Golf Club – with the course recognised as one of the first and best established in the Queensland Outback, while the abundant waterways coloured with the red earth through which they flow await keen anglers and water sport devotees.
“2022 was an unusually wet year for us and we’re now reaping the rewards of all that rain. We’ve had wildflowers – and hope we may get them again this year, our waterways are full despite a hot summer and there’s still expanses of lush greenness dotting the beautiful red earth for which we’re renowned. It really is the best of both worlds at the moment – and for our 2023 season. Travellers can enjoy our full waterways for kayaking, water skiing and more, as well as fishing and yabbying. Happy fisherman are spoilt for choice with fresh fish and yabbies on the menu on a nightly basis at campsites across our region,” said Justin Hancock, CEO of Quilpie Shire Council.
Quilpie Shire has something to lure sports lovers of all persuasion to the region – whether it’s during a special event time, school holidays or just on a regular weekday or weekend.
“There’s no cramming into sports stadiums out here – all the action of our sporting fun is up close and under wide open skies and there’s something for both spectators and participants nearly all year round,” said Karen Grimm, Manager Tourism & Economic Development and part of the award winning Quilpie Visitor Information Centre.
And while sports are taking centre stage this year in Quilpie Shire , it’s not just sports lovers who are catered for with the launch of the key tourist season in Quilpie Region.
Those seeking a unique cultural experience will also be able to get their fix with opera, art, comedy, archaeology and indigenous celebrations all on the agenda for Quilpie Shire in 2023.
“We really do offer a well-rounded experience, and we’re also renowned as one of the friendliest towns in Queensland. I can’t think of anywhere else in Australia that you could be part of a Golf Masters, join the dig for a prehistoric dinosaur, fossick for opals, fish and yabbies hunt and enjoy world class opera and comedy in such a beautiful outback setting. We’re proud of what’s on offer and coming to our region this year, and it’s reflective of the passion that our award winning Visitor Information team put into creating and exposing some of the country’s best tourist attractions for visitors and locals alike. We’re hoping for another win for Quilpie’s Visitor Information Centre at the Australian Tourism awards this month. We’ve taken out top state honours, it would be amazing if we could add a national gong,” added Karen Grimm.
The peak tourist season of temperate warm weather and season activations runs in the Quilpie Shire from April – September 2023 however travel is encouraged all year round.
QUILPIE SHIRE KEY SPORTING EVENTS AND ACTIVTIES FOR 2023:
Water sports, fishing/yabbying, rock climbing, hiking and sand dune surfing – year round
Golf – year round and with a special focus with Quilpie hosting a leg of the Queensland Outback Masters on July 1 & 2, 2023
Adavale Muster in the Mulga – March 31 – Rodeo, Bikehana and Gymkhana
The Eromanga Rodeo and Camp draft – April 7 – 9, 2023
Toompine Easter Gunshoot – April 8 – day/night clay shooting with the renowned Toompine Pub back up and running ready to host travellers to the event.
The Quilpie Cup – April 29 – Outback horse racing at its best
2023 Toompine Polocrosse Carnival – June 24
Quilpie Polocrosse Carnival 2023 – July 1 & 2
Quilpie Sporting Clays Club Annual Carnival – August 12 and 13
2023 Mascot Quilpie Golf Open – August 19-20
Quilpie Rodeo – September 8
Quilpie Motorbike Gymkhana & Enduro – September 23 & 24
QUILPIE SHIRE KEY CULTURAL/ART/FOOD & HISTORIC 2023 EVENTS AND ACTIVTIES:
The Toompine Pub – the newly re-launched Toompine Pub is renowned as the pub with no town – operating year round serving meals and ice cold beers
The Elegant Emu & Unstable Coffee – high tea, a patisserie and world class tasting table await at the Elegant Emu in Adavale while Unstable Coffee serve up a seasonal menu of snacks, breakfast and lunch with the outback’s best coffee from a re-purposed horse float in the heart of Quilpie – Year round
Eromanga Natural History Museum – Year Round – Australian Dinosaur Giants Tour – meet ‘Cooper’ Australia’s largest dinosaur
Eromanga Natural History Museum Fossil Preparation Experiences – Year round
Eromanga Natural History Museum Dinosaur Insiders Package and Dinosaurs – The Grand Tour – Year round
Opal fossicking – Year round
Baldy Top Look Out and Rick’s Memorial – Year round
Quilpie Comedy Night – March 17 – Free comedy, music and dinner at Bulloo Park with comedy from touring comedians Mark McConville and Steve Allison and live music from Outback Queensland’s Scotty Mack. There will also be supervised movies for the kids.
Quilpeta – Quilpie Night Show Experience – Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the months of April and September. The Quilpeta won Best New Visitor Experience Award at the Outback Queensland Tourism awards on March 8, 2023. This award recognises excellence in the planning and development of new visitor experiences including tourism infrastructure and/or services.
ANZAC Day – April 25 – Throughout the day marches and band performances will commemorate ANZAC Day in Quilpie, with the new memorial in honour of fallen soldier and former Quilpie resident Rick Milosevic providing a poignant outback setting for remembrance
Eromanga Natural History Museum Dinosaur Dig – May 17 – 24 and May 24 – 31
NAIDOC Week – July 2 – 9
Eromanga Natural History Museum Megafauna Dig – August 4-10 and August 11 – 17
Mirusia Under the Stars – August 26 – World renowned Soprano Mirusia will perform at the spectacular Baldy Top lookout
Kangaranga Do Street Party – August 29 – Birdsville Race goers descend on Quilpie for a night out outback fun including a bathtub derby, wool bale rolling and the popular ‘get your rocks off’ competition.
Quilpie and District Show – September 8 and 9 – With Australia’s oldest scarecrow competition
