Activities & attractions

Whether you’re seeking an adventure, backpacking around Australia, embarking on a driving holiday or looking for an Australian cultural experience - the Isa is an outback playground with something for everyone.

For more information on what to do while in Mount Isa, visit the Visitor Information Centre at Outback at Isa.

Adventure & recreation

Lake Moondarra, 15 kilometres north of the City, is a popular recreation spot among visitors and locals for BBQing swimming, boating, canoeing, sailing, water-skiing and fishing for barramundi. The surrounding area is a wildlife sanctuary and popular among bird watchers.

Catch a glimpse of the region’s local wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, at Lake Julius situated along the Leichhardt River. Aboriginal cave paintings, nature trails and an old goldmine are also a short distance from the lake.

Lawn Hill National Park, 332 kilometres north-west of Mount Isa, offers around 20 kilometres of walking tracks leading to high peaks and swimming holes. Facilities include a camping area, tent accommodation and a shop with essential items.

If you’re an experienced caver looking for an adventure, visit the Camooweal Caves National Park featuring an extensive system of caverns and caves with vertical shafts up to 75 metres deep.

Mount Isa and the surrounding country is also a haven for 4wd and adventure enthusiasts.

Campbell's Tours & Travel offer a number of day and overnight experiences from discovering the delights of the City, an outback safari adventure or a surface tour of Xstrata Mount Isa Mines operations.

Attractions

Take a walk down Rodeo Drive and discover the City’s legendary rodeo riders and champion feature stock on the Isa Rodeo Walk of Fame or enjoy 360 degree panorama views of Mount Isa at the City lookout.

Visit the award winning Outback at Isa and experience what it is like to go underground with a Hard Times Mine Underground Tour.

While your there, visit The Isa Experience Gallery or go back in time at the Riversleigh Fossil Centre and discover the rich history of the nearby Riversleigh fossil fields - one of the world's 10 greatest fossil sites. Take a field trip to the actual World Heritage Listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields.

Visit the Mount Isa Underground Hospital & Museum - a fully equipped hospital built in a large air-raid shelter during World War II and the bombing of Darwin.

Get off the beaten track along the Fossicking Way. The signed tourist drive highlights scenic and historic places of interest between Mount Isa and Cloncurry. Take a drive to explore the history of the area with Mary Kathleen and Kajabbi now only ghostly reminders of their days as bustling mining centres.

Drop into the Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Centre and Mount Isa School of the Air to see how they operate in the Queensland outback.

And if you are interested in the region’s indigenous heritage, the Kalkadoon Tribal Centre & Cultural Keeping Place exhibit artifacts of the people indigenous to the area.

Dining out

Mount Isa boasts an array of dining delights for those looking to eat out.

Aside from the numerous fast food outlets, cafes and restaurants offering a variety of international cuisine, there are also a number of hotels with licensed restaurants and the local clubs always welcome visitors.

Events

Mount Isa plays host to a number of big events that draw visitors from around Australia and overseas.

The Isa Rodeo is the biggest event on the Australian rodeo calendar and attracts the best of local and overseas competitors. Held every August, the event promises prestige and prizemoney in excess of $200,000 and is nothing short of a two week long program of festivities.

Nightlife & entertainment

There is no shortage of nightlife in Mount Isa with numerous pubs and social clubs offering a variety of entertainment including live music, dining and poker machines.

While you’re here, why not catch a movie at Cinema Mount Isa or see what shows are on at the Civic Centre.