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Lock it in. On 29 April 2026, under wide open Queensland skies, Longreach comes alive as the Queensland Music Trails: The Outback festival rolls into town.
Set against the backdrop of the Qantas Founders Museum, the Spirit of the Bush event brings Australian country music icon Lee Kernaghan to the stage, alongside rising local talent Riley Ziskey. Together, they capture both the legacy and the next generation of Australian country.
It’s the perfect setting for music shaped by love, loss and life on the land. Out here, those stories run deep.
Kernaghan’s songs have long captured the spirit of regional Australia, but hearing them here, beneath a sky full of stars and in the very landscape that inspired them, brings a whole new depth. Ziskey adds something fresh. A local voice, grounded in the same country, stepping out in front of a hometown crowd. It brings a sense of connection you don’t always find at bigger shows.
A place that’s earned its reputation as an outback icon
Longreach is one of Australia’s most iconic outback towns, rich with stories and landmarks that have shaped our nation’s history. It’s where Qantas first took flight and where stock routes shaped the land. The Thomson River still draws people in at the end of the day with its sunset cruises aboard historic paddle boats along scenic riverbanks.
Visitors arrive expecting a handful of well-known attractions. What they find is something deeper. Open skies that stretch on for miles. Nights where the stars feel close enough to count and a community that welcomes you in without fuss.
It’s why Longreach has become a defining stop on any Outback Queensland road trip. And why it now sits firmly on the map for the Queensland Music Trails. If you’re looking for things to do Longreach, there’s plenty to fill your days, but it can also be less about ticking off attractions and more about settling into the rhythm of the place. It’s up to you.
Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
Staying close to the experience
Longreach Tourist Park, is a Longreach institution and a smart, easy choice for a comfortable outback stay.
You’re within walking distance to town and key attractions like the Qantas Founders Museum, so you can park the car and explore on foot, saving on fuel and keeping your days simple.
For travellers looking for Longreach accommodation, the park makes it easy to settle in and stay your way. Choose from modern, self-contained cabins or a wide range of sites, including ensuite, powered slab sites and options for big rigs. Everything is designed to give you space, flexibility and a comfortable base without the need to spend more than you have to.
With facilities that let you cook your own meals, relax on-site and enjoy the journey at your own pace, it’s a stay that helps your travel budget go further while still delivering a great experience.
And with flexible booking options available, you can plan ahead with confidence, knowing your trip can adapt if needed.
Book your stay at Longreach Tourist Park and enjoy an outback stop that’s easy, comfortable and makes sense right now.
Start the night early at a local favourite
In Longreach, big nights don’t begin when the main act steps on stage. They start earlier, with good food, a cold beverage and a bit of time to settle in.
Before the show, head to the Woolshed Bar and Grill located at the Longreach Tourist Park. It’s a local staple. A proper outback steakhouse where the meals are generous and the atmosphere stays relaxed.
It will also play host to the official pre-show pop-up event, where travellers and locals can gather, swap stories from the road, talk music, and ease into the night ahead.
Plan your trip and follow the Queensland Music Trails
The Spirit of the Bush event is part of something bigger.
Running from 24 April to 9 May, the Queensland Music Trails: The Outback turns the region into a connected journey of music, places and people. It’s not a typical festival. It’s an Outback Queensland road trip with a soundtrack.
From Charleville through to Mount Isa, each stop brings something different. Red dirt horizons replace busy streets. Nights are spent under open, star-spangled skies. Meals are shared, stories come easy, and the drive between towns becomes part of the experience.
Longreach sits right in the middle, making it a natural place to pause and take it all in. If you’re planning the trip, give yourself time. Map your route, lock in your tickets, and leave space for the moments in between. Because out here, the music might bring you in but it’s the experiences, the landscapes and the community you’ll meet along the way that stays with you.