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Major city · Australia

Winton

Give Winton 2 nights if you have a car and want Lark Quarry; 1 night if you are on the coach and staying in town.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–Oct
avoid Nov–Mar (summer days often reach 40 °C and tours thin out)
Airport
WIN
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.

Winton is a small outback town on the Landsborough Highway between Longreach and Mount Isa, about 2 hours by road from Longreach. It is the birthplace of Qantas, the place where Banjo Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda in 1895, and the base for two dinosaur sites: the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum 11 km east and the Lark Quarry trackways 110 km southwest. Without a car you are limited to town sights and tours run out of Longreach.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Winton, 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.

  • Coffee2026 estimate, checkA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
  • BeerBeer in a pub2026 estimate, checkA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Qantilda)2026 estimate, checkA$3.50–10 (≈ US$3–7)
  • Budget bedCaravan park cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomA$150 (≈ US$100)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$180 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$280 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$120 (≈ US$80) · Mid A$200 (≈ US$140) · High A$350 (≈ 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.

Australian Age of Dinosaurs museumLark Quarry Dinosaur TrackwaysWaltzing Matilda and the Qantilda MuseumQantas historyArno's Wall and the Musical Fence
Airports
WIN Winton Airport (Flight availability and frequency are check for 2026: Regional Express has served Townsville–Winton, but confirm the current schedule and fares before you plan around it. Most travellers arrive by road or coach.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Winton: 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

23°C

6 rd

Feb

36°C

22°C

6 rd

Mar

34°C

20°C

5 rd

Apr

31°C

16°C

3 rd

May

27°C

12°C

2 rd

Jun

24°C

9°C

2 rd

Jul

24°C

8°C

2 rd

Aug

27°C

10°C

1 rd

Sep

31°C

14°C

2 rd

Oct

34°C

18°C

3 rd

Nov

36°C

21°C

4 rd

Dec

37°C

22°C

5 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

There is no public transport in Winton. A car makes the dinosaur sites and Bladensburg National Park reachable; hire cars are usually picked up in Longreach. Without a vehicle, town sights are walkable and out-of-town experiences run as tours from Longreach in season.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Australian Age of Dinosaurs

go

Door to door: About 2–3 h including the tour

Drive 11 km east of town, then an unsealed road up the jump-up

Guided tours only; entry around A$30 (check current times and price).

Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways

go

Door to door: 5–6 h return from Winton

Drive the Winton–Jundah road southwest, partly unsealed

Entry from about A$12 (check); a full day, so go only with a car and in dry weather.

Bladensburg National Park

caution

Door to door: Half a day

Drive 7 km south of Winton on dirt roads

Dirt access; check road conditions and do not attempt after heavy rain.

Combo Waterhole

caution

Door to door: About 4 h return

Drive 132 km northwest off the Landsborough Highway

Waltzing Matilda country; unsealed access, so treat it as a half-day with a car.

Longreach

go

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive the A2/Landsborough Highway southeast

The usual pairing: Qantas Founders Museum and the Stockman's Hall of Fame.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Elderslie Street (main street)

Pubs, the Qantilda Museum, the Royal Theatre and motels within a few minutes' walk; the only real choice in town.

Approach roads and station edge

Availability and exact locations are check: some motels and caravan parks sit on the highway approaches, and you need a car for everything.

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 (2026 estimate, check)
Mid
A$180–300 (≈ US$120–200) excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)
High
A$300 (≈ US$200)+ excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × A$180A$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$200A$800
Australian Age of Dinosaurs entry2 × A$30 · 2026 estimate, checkA$60
Lark Quarry entry2 × A$12 · 2026 estimate, checkA$24
Fuel, 300 km of outback driving1 × A$60 · 2026 estimate, checkA$60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$130
Trip total≈ A$359 per person per day, bed includedA$1,434≈ US$950

2026 estimate, check

2026 estimate in Australian dollars, check against current local prices; long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Pub counter meal2026 estimate, checkA$25–40 (≈ US$17–30)
Coffee2026 estimate, checkA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
Beer in a pub2026 estimate, checkA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)
Museum entry (Qantilda)2026 estimate, checkA$3.50–10 (≈ US$3–7)
Fuel, per litre2026 estimate, check; outback stations run higher than the coast.A$2.00–2.30 (≈ US$2)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The documented risks here are outback hazards, not crime: summer heat above 40 °C, long empty drives, unsealed roads after rain and patchy mobile coverage. Carry water, tell someone your route before heading to Lark Quarry or Combo Waterhole, and check road conditions first.
  • Summer heat: plan driving and walks for the morning, carry water, and do not walk far after 11:00 in Nov–Mar.
  • The road up to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum includes unsealed sections; check conditions after rain.
  • Lark Quarry is 110 km southwest with unsealed road; a return trip is most of a day.
  • Mobile coverage in and around town varies by carrier and can drop outside it; check with your provider and download offline maps before leaving Longreach.
  • Fuel and food options are few between Longreach and Winton: fill up before you leave.

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.

WintonWinton

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Embassy

No embassies in Winton; the nearest consular help is in Brisbane or Sydney. US, UK, Canadian and other citizens should register travel plans with their embassy before heading outback.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Coach Brisbane → Winton: about 16:00 departure, about 12:45 arrival next day (timetable check with the operator)
  • Coach Winton → Brisbane: about 13:25 departure, about 09:20 arrival next day (timetable check with the operator)
  • Winton → Longreach by road: about 2 h, 180 km

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Where's the servo? — Where is the fuel station?
  • Is it bitumen all the way? — Is the road sealed?
  • How many k's? — How far is it?

Mobile coverage varies by carrier and can drop outside town; download offline maps before leaving Longreach.

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 Winton. 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 (summer days often reach 40 °C and tours thin out) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 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 WIN: Rex service from Townsville (frequency check), coach fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster for the main street: Qantilda Museum, Royal Theatre, Arno's Wall, Musical Fence, pubs.
  3. Place pages with verified tour times and prices for the Australian Age of Dinosaurs and Lark Quarry.
  4. Road-condition and heat fixtures so out-of-town day trips can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources