Outback stories in the stars
Far away from the bright city lights, the skies of Outback Queensland are said to be among the most impressive in the world.
Here, the night sky comes alive in an ancient map of stars, telling stories that have been shared for tens of thousands of years.
For Indigenous Australians, the night sky is a library of wisdom, law, and connection.
The stars have guided travel, marked the seasons, and preserved creation stories that explain life and our place within it.
In Winton, astronomy guides share these stories and explain the evolution of the night sky and links to earth as part of the Gondwana Stars Tour conducted at Australia’s first internationally certified Dark Sky Sanctuary.
Perched high on a jump-up at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton, the sanctuary is the perfect place to view one of the darkest skies in the world.
The sanctuary also offers a free viewing area that is open year-round. Bring your telescope, binoculars, picnic and enjoy the spectacular southern skies!
The Cosmos Observatory in Charleville.
Charleville is also a great location for star exploration with their Cosmos Centre offering both day and night-time experiences.
Here the stars feel almost close enough to touch with powerful telescopes revealing Saturn’s rings, distant galaxies and the shimmering Milky Way in breathtaking clarity.
The centre’s expert guides blend science and storytelling, exploring the history of astronomy and ancient stories of Australia’s First Nations peoples, to show how the sky has guided life, culture, and Country for tens of thousands of years.
Best of all, you don’t need to be in an observatory to enjoy Outback Queensland’s skies.
Whether you are soaking under the stars in a hot spring or watching the sun set over timeless vistas, where ever you are along the Matilda Way, simply look up to see the universe on show.
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