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Major city · Australia

ThargomindahThargo

One night, and only if you are already on the Bulloo road: the hydro plant, the river crossing and a pub meal are the whole town.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Thargomindah is a 270-person town on the Bulloo River in far south-west Queensland, the last stop before the South Australian border country. It is a fuel-and-sleep stop on the sealed road from Cunnamulla via Eulo, with a genuine oddity: the world's third hydroelectric plant, after London and Paris. Two weekly flights from Brisbane via Cunnamulla land at XTG. There is no public transport, no taxi rank and one sealed street.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (40 °C (104 °F)+ days, road closures after rain)
Airport
XTG
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Thargomindah000 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Thargomindah, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or takeaway sandwich at the fuel stationA$5–12 (≈ US$4–8)
  • Beerschooner at the pubA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Budget bedRiverside camp site, a night, per personA$0 (≈ under US$1)
  • Mid-range bedPub room (Bulloo River Hotel), a night, per roomA$130 (≈ US$90)
  • High-end bedPub room (Bulloo River Hotel), a night, per roomA$180 (≈ US$120)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$80 (≈ US$55) · Mid A$140 (≈ US$95) · High A$220 (≈ US$150)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Third hydroelectric plant in the worldBulloo River and the old Cobb and Co crossingArtesian bore gardensPlate-sized schnitzel at the Bulloo River Hotel
Airports
XTG Thargomindah Airport (About 1 km (0.6 mi) walk to the centre; Skytrans flies twice weekly from Brisbane via Cunnamulla (check current schedule))

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    38°C (100°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    37°C (99°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    34°C (93°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  5. May

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    35°C (95°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    37°C (99°F)

Best: Apr–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (38°C (100°F)), coolest Jul (5°C (41°F) low), wettest Jan (4 rain days), driest Apr (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Thargomindah: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

38°C (100°F)

23°C (73°F)

4 rd

Feb

37°C (99°F)

22°C (72°F)

4 rd

Mar

34°C (93°F)

19°C (66°F)

3 rd

Apr

29°C (84°F)

14°C (57°F)

2 rd

May

24°C (75°F)

9°C (48°F)

3 rd

Jun

20°C (68°F)

6°C (43°F)

3 rd

Jul

20°C (68°F)

5°C (41°F)

3 rd

Aug

23°C (73°F)

6°C (43°F)

2 rd

Sep

28°C (82°F)

10°C (50°F)

2 rd

Oct

32°C (90°F)

15°C (59°F)

3 rd

Nov

35°C (95°F)

19°C (66°F)

4 rd

Dec

37°C (99°F)

22°C (72°F)

4 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The town is a few blocks each way and the airport is about 1 km from the centre. Only the main road is sealed; side streets turn to dirt without warning. There is no public transport and no taxi service — your car or a lift from your host is the only option.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Eulo

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Sealed road east, about 100 km (62 mi)

Small opal-country town with a date farm and a pub; pairs with the drive to Cunnamulla.

Currawinya National Park

caution

Door to door: 2–3 h

Via Eulo, then park access roads

Some access is unsealed and 4WD-only after rain; check conditions first.

Cunnamulla

go

Door to door: About 2.5–3 h

Sealed road east via Eulo

The next town with full services, a hospital and a supermarket.

Birdsville

overnight

Door to door: A long day or more

Unsealed Strzelecki Track country via Innamincka or the Birdsville Track

Remote 4WD country with long fuel gaps; not a day return.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Dowling Street)

Oasis Hotel Motel and the general store; walkable to everything.

Bulloo River Hotel

Pub rooms and meals in one building; the social centre of town.

Bulloo River camp

Free riverside camping at the town edge on the Cunnamulla road; no facilities, so bring water and a toilet plan.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$80–130 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
Mid
A$130–200 (≈ US$90–140) excl. bed
High
A$200 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel room (Oasis Hotel Motel)1 × 1 night × A$150A$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$140A$280
Pub meal (schnitzel or steak)2 × A$30A$60
Fuel, 60 L at outback prices1 × A$150A$150
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$20A$40
Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$102
Trip total≈ A$391 per person per day, bed includedA$782≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Pub main (schnitzel, steak)A$25–35 (≈ US$17–25)
Coffee or takeaway sandwich at the fuel stationA$5–12 (≈ US$4–8)
Beer, schooner at the pubA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)
Fuel, per litreOutback pricingA$2.00–2.40 (≈ US$2)
Camping on the Bulloo RiverNo facilitiesFree

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are heat, distance and unsealed roads. Carry more water than you think you need, tell someone your route, and do not drive dirt tracks after rain.
  • Book ahead: one wedding or local event can fill every bed in town.
  • Fuel up here — the next reliable stop west is a long way off.
  • Unsealed roads become impassable after rain; check road conditions before leaving Cunnamulla or Hungerford.
  • The Cunnamulla road is one lane wide in places: pull a wheel onto the gravel to pass.
  • Phone coverage is thin outside town; two payphones operate, one outside the post office.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From a mobile
112
Road conditions (RACQ)
1300 130 595

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ThargomindahThargo

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112
  • Road conditions (RACQ)1300 130 595

Embassy

No consulates in town; the nearest are in Brisbane. US, UK, Canadian and other embassies and consulates-general are in Canberra and the state capitals.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Skytrans Brisbane → Thargomindah via Cunnamulla: twice weekly; fare varies, book direct (check)
  • Fuel, Thargomindah: about A$2.00–2.40 (≈ US$2) per litre
  • Pub room, one night: about A$90–180 (≈ US$60–120)

Say or show

  • How far to the next fuel? — How far to the next fuel?
  • Is the road sealed all the way? — Is the road sealed all the way?
  • Can I camp here tonight? — Can I camp here tonight?
  • Where is the nearest toilet? — Where is the nearest toilet?

Distances are long and coverage is patchy: save offline maps and a copy of this card before you leave Cunnamulla.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Thargomindah. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (40 °C+ days, road closures after rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for XTG: Skytrans arrival times, the 1 km walk, and a pub-room fallback when the flight is cancelled.
  2. Fuel and water plan west of town, with the last-sealed-road cutoff and the two fuel stations marked.
  3. Hydro plant operating window (4PM daily) and the Artesian Bore Gardens as a timed stop.
  4. River camp fixture: free site, no facilities, town toilets as the anchor.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources

Ask about Thargomindah

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