DETAILS

Getting there

By road, you can reach Birdsville via Windorah (386 kilometres), Marree (519 kilometres) or Bedourie (187 kilometres); 4WD recommended. Rex flies into Birdsville twice weekly from Brisbane (rex.com.au).

Staying there

BIRDSVILLE HOTEL (Adelaide Street; birdsvillehotel.com.au) has 27 motel units.You’ve got Buckley’s chance of getting one at race time, but there’s plenty of camping.

Eating there

Try a kangaroo and claret or curried camel pie at BIRDSVILLE BAKERY (Billabong Boulevard; birdsvillebakery.com).

Playing there

THE BIRDSVILLE CUP (birdsvilleraces.com) is the first Saturday in September. BIRDSVILLE TRACK (birdsvilletrack.com.au) is best driven late April to early October, to avoid extreme heat and the wet season.