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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Australia

Longreach

Give Longreach 2 nights in the April–October season: one full day for the Qantas museum and Stockman's Hall of Fame, one evening for a river cruise. Outside the season, skip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–Oct
avoid Nov–Mar (40°C+ days, many tours closed)
Airport
LRE
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Longreach is a town of about 3,000 people on the Thomson River in central Outback Queensland, 687 km from Rockhampton and the terminus of the Spirit of the Outback train. It exists for visitors in the cooler months: two big outback museums, a sunset river cruise and station experiences. In summer the heat and the closed tours make it a poor stop.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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

  • CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
  • BeerBeer in a pubA$7–10 (≈ US$5–7)
  • Budget bedBackpacker or cabin bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$170 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$260 (≈ US$180)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$120 (≈ US$80) · Mid A$200 (≈ US$140) · High A$320 (≈ US$250)

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 →

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.

Qantas Founders' MuseumAustralian Stockman's Hall of FameThomson River sunset cruisesCobb & Co stagecoach and station toursSpirit of the Outback rail terminus
Airports
LRE Longreach Airport (QantasLink from Brisbane about 3 h, once daily; Rex from Townsville twice weekly, about 2.5 h. Timings vary by day.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Longreach: 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

37°C

24°C

6 rd

Feb

36°C

23°C

6 rd

Mar

34°C

21°C

5 rd

Apr

31°C

17°C

3 rd

May

27°C

12°C

3 rd

Jun

24°C

9°C

2 rd

Jul

24°C

8°C

2 rd

Aug

27°C

10°C

2 rd

Sep

31°C

14°C

2 rd

Oct

35°C

18°C

3 rd

Nov

37°C

21°C

5 rd

Dec

38°C

23°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

No public transport. A car makes the 2 km museum strip and day trips easier; taxis work in town and tour operators collect from accommodation. Some motels hire bikes and pick up from the airport. Petrol costs about 20c a litre more than on the east coast.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Winton

go

Door to door: About 2 h each way

Drive the Landsborough Highway northwest

Dinosaur tracks and the next town on the highway; doable as a long day or better as an overnight.

Ilfracombe

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive east on the highway

Small heritage stop with a machinery mile; pairs with a museum morning.

Barcaldine

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive southeast on the Landsborough Highway

A half-day of driving for a small town; only worth it if you are heading that way.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Eagle Street (town centre)

Shops, pubs and several motels on one street; walk to dinner.

Highway strip east of town

Motels and cabins 2 km east, opposite the airport and the two museums; walkable only in cool weather.

Apex Riverside Park

Unpowered bush camping near the Thomson River, about A$3 a night, busy at Easter; pay at the visitor centre.

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$120–180 (≈ US$80–120) excl. bed
Mid
A$180–280 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
A$280 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × A$170A$340
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$200A$800
Qantas Founders' Museum entry2 × A$21 · check; aircraft tours cost extraA$42
Stockman's Hall of Fame entry2 × A$31 · checkA$62
Sunset river cruise with dinner (in season)2 × A$99 · check; summer cruises without dinner are cheaperA$198
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$149
Trip total≈ A$410 per person per day, bed includedA$1,641≈ US$1,100

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

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
Pub or café mainA$20–35 (≈ US$14–25)
PizzaA$15–20 (≈ US$10–14)
Beer in a pubA$7–10 (≈ US$5–7)
Petrol, per litreAbout 20c above east-coast prices (check)
Unpowered bush camp, per nightA$3 (≈ US$2)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Longreach is a small, low-crime town; the real risks are heat, long empty drives and wildlife on the road at dusk. Carry water and tell someone your route.
  • Summer days often pass 40°C: plan indoor museum time and water, or come April–October.
  • Off-season tour and dinner offerings drop sharply; check dates before booking travel.
  • Mobile coverage fades about 10 km out of town; Vodafone has none. Download offline maps.
  • Long drives between outback towns: carry water, fuel up when you can, and avoid dusk animal strikes.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From a mobile
112

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.

LongreachLongreach

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Embassy

No embassies in Longreach; consulates are in Brisbane and embassies in Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi in town: short hops, ask the driver for the fare (check)
  • QantasLink Brisbane → Longreach: about 3 h, once daily (check)
  • Spirit of the Outback Brisbane → Longreach: about 26 h, twice weekly (check)

Say or show

  • G'day — G'day
  • Thanks — Thanks
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • I need water — I need water

Tipping is not expected in Australia.

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 Longreach. 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–Oct · avoid Nov–Mar (40°C+ days, many tours closed) · 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. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LRE: QantasLink and Rex schedules, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with shade anchors: Eagle Street, the museum strip, the river camp.
  3. Place pages with verified opening hours and season dates for both museums and the cruises.
  4. Heat and isolation fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources