WHERE I’D RATHER BE: WINTON, AUSTRALIA
Lockdowns, and outbreaks and travel restrictions permitting, I’d like to be in the Australian Outback this week, in a tiny town called Winton, right in the heart of Queensland. It’s there that next week they’ll be rocking out at the Way Out West festival, a family-friendly music event featuring a massive line up of Aussie talent, venues all around town and free camping (there are fancier options too, including hiring a tent that has been erected for you, with a stretcher bed and linens provided). Campers, musicians and fans will be taking over this small town, where the main industry usually comes from sheep and cattle town, from April 6 to 11. wintonswayoutwestfest.com.au
Outside of the festival, there’s a fair bit to explore in Winton too. The town is the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda — it was written here by Banjo Paterson, and first performed at Winton’s North Gregory Hotel too
— as well as home to Australia’s first museum about the famous bush ballad. Visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, or make the trek out to Combo’s Waterhole, said to be the inspiration for the song. matildacentre. com.au
If I’m honest though, my first stop would be the Age of Dinosaurs. I can’t help it, dinosaurs are the best. This museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. Visit and you can take part in a dig — a real dig to find fossil material — or poke through the museum’s very cool discoveries, including a 93m-year-old pterosaur, and a 50m strip of dinosaur prints known as the Sauropods' Trackway that dates from when dinosaurs, rather than festival goers, roamed central Queensland. australianageofdinosaurs.com
As none of us are likely to make it that far into the heart of Australia by next week, follow along with Way out West on Instagram using #WWOWF2021.