Outback At Isa

Mount Isa is the capital of outback Queensland and one of the rising stars of Northern Australia.

Connected to the international airports of Townsville and Brisbane by daily flights, it’s a mere hop away from anywhere in the world in around two hours by plane.

Exporting our natural wealth and our expertise to over 70 countries, Mount Isa is a household name across the globe. That might be because we are one of the world’s richest ore bodies of copper, lead, zinc and silver – elements that drive everything from global health care to telecommunications.

Since its humble beginnings nearly 100 years ago, Mount Isa City has developed from an outback mining lease to one of Australia’s largest inland cities.

A dynamic, multicultural community, home to the world’s oldest living culture – the Kalkadoon people – we love to celebrate through music, art and events that bring people from across the globe to become a part of our extended family.

Being located 900 kilometres inland has distinct advantages; our natural environment is vast and much of it remains unexplored, we have room to grow, and we have the longest main street on earth at 190km long! But there’s no need to panic – we’re totally civilised! We have barista coffee and the best steaks in Australia.

Always happy to help, the Outback at Isa Visitor Information Centre (VIC) provides every visitor to Mount Isa, as well as members of the local community with past, present and future information, coupled with exceptional customer service. The VIC is ideally located within Mount Isa’s major tourism facility, Outback at Isa on the ‘Overlanders Way’ which links Tennant Creek with Townsville.

Our popular multi award-winning Riversleigh Fossil Centre and Isa Experience Museums provide visitors with a sense of the past. The documents, photographs and artefacts tell vital stories and allow an understanding of how cultural, social and societal values and landscapes all developed differently in Queensland’s outback.

In 2002, the closure of Mount Isa Mines’ underground tours led to the planning and development of Outback at Isa and the Hard Times Mine tour facility. Thanks to this alternative underground experience, open since August 2003, we can continue to offer visitors a unique attraction that is intrinsically ‘Mount Isa’.