Julija Posted on 04 February 2025

Get on board the Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail

Words Hema Maps Editorial Pics Supplied

A new month-long series of camel events will take place across several iconic outback Queensland towns in July 2025. The Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail will showcase the region’s rich cameleer heritage, vibrant arts and unique local culture, offering visitors a memorable cultural tourism experience.

Camel train in Birdsville, Queensland Camel trail in Birdsville, Queensland (Credit: Brett Stanley)

Running from 5 to 26 July 2025, the Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail will feature a combination of established events and new attractions, including the newly created Birdsville Camel Carnival. This inaugural event, taking place from 8 to 10 July, is expected to attract around 3000 visitors and will offer a range of immersive cultural experiences. Some of the key activities will include:

Evening concerts with headline acts at the iconic Birdsville Hotel
Camel rides and educational storytelling focusing on the region’s unique cameleer history and heritage
Entertainment by the Crack-Up Sisters, acoustic performances and pig races
Local artisan markets with products ranging from crafts to food, including the popular Camel Pies from the Birdsville Bakery

Boulia Camel Races (Credit: Boulia Camel Races Facebook)

An overview of the Outback Camel Trail

The Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail is made up of a series of exciting cultural events across Queensland’s outback region. These will include:

Jundah Camel Races (5 July): The trail will kick off in Jundah, where visitors can enjoy camel races, community markets, family-friendly entertainment and some true-blue outback hospitality.
Betoota Outback Muster (4–7 July): A new multi-day event celebrating music at the Betoota Hotel, marking the beginning of the trail in the beautiful Diamantine Shire.
Birdsville Camel Carnival (8–10 July): This new event will combine camel racing, local markets, live music and storytelling to highlight Birdsville’s unique heritage.
Bedourie Camel Races (12 July): Considered the ‘Town of Sand and Sun’ and known for its striking landscape, Bedourie will host an action-packed day of camel races alongside local food stalls and family-friendly activities, showcasing the hospitality of the Diamantina Shire.
Boulia Camel Races (18–20 July): Often referred to as the ‘Melbourne Cup’ of camel racing, the three-day-long Boulia Camel Races will be the signature event of the trail, attracting thousands for high-stakes racing, entertainment and festival fun.
Winton Camel Races (26 July): The final event of the trail in Winton will combine camel racing with the town’s rich arts and music scene and celebrate the town’s strong ties to outback storytelling and history.

The Outback Camel Racing Trail, supported by the Outback Queensland Tourism Association (OQTA) and local councils, aims to boost cultural tourism throughout the region and bring greater attention to outback Queensland’s unique attractions.

Denis Brown, CEO of the OQTA, said that the trail would offer an authentic outback experience like no other.

“The trail has been designed to celebrate one of the Outback’s most iconic attractions and allow visitors to have more opportunities to be involved with camel racing,” she said.

“Visitors are encouraged to explore a number of our townships providing a unique opportunity to meet more locals and really embrace an authentic Outback experience.

“Connecting our townships through a sequence of racing events will also provide ongoing benefits to our local operators and regional economies.”

Boulia Camel Races (Credit: Boulia Camel Races Facebook)