- Sep 7, 2023

Explore Hughenden

Updated: May 2

Hughenden - Queensland

Hughenden is located 1,588 kilometres northwest of Brisbane on the banks of the Flinders River; at 1004 kilometres long, it’s Queensland’s longest river.

The small town of Hughenden has a lot to offer travellers: free camping, local supermarkets, a bakery, a hotel, a recreational lake, unique street art and lots of walking tracks.

During our recent visit, we wandered around town, saw the street art, murals and sculptures, walked around the lake, and checked out the Coolibah Tree.

We visited the Discovery Centre, wandered along the eco walk and explored Porcupine Gorge and Mount Walker.

In Brodie Street, you will see the Federation Windmill Rotunda, built in 2001 with 20-foot windmills and some educational information boards. If you walk a bit further along the street, you will see Darby the Dinosaur on the wall of the library. He is made from scrap metal, and there are several other dinosaur sculptures in this area.

Hughenden’s Alyss Street Water Tower was painted in 2021 by renowned artists The Zookeeper and Drapl and depicts a young boy playing with his toy dinosaurs. The McLaren Street Water Tower showcases the region's stunning sunsets and the recreational lake. Near the bakery, you will find “Mutt”, a life-sized replica of a Muttaburrasaurus.

The historic Coolibah Tree is a monument to the history of Australia and the two relief expeditions that went in search of the Bourke and Wills expedition in 1861.

The track around Hughendens Recreational Lake is a great place to wander and watch the birds, and you can swim and kayak on the lake.

The Flinders Discovery Centre is home to ‘Hughie”, a life-size skeletal replica of a Muttaburrasaurus; it also has interactive dinosaur exhibits, a shearing and sheep industry section and a fantastic light and sound show about the formation of Porcupine Gorge.

Sydney Williams and Co. made this giant Comet windmill; only 15 of these windmills were ever constructed, and this one is number 11 and was initially used at the Wirilla bore. On the northern banks of the Flinders River is the eco walk, with interesting sculptures and local artworks.

Porcupine Gorge is 74 kilometres north of Hughenden, along a sealed road. We take the 2.4-kilometre return, walk down into the gorge, admire the Pyramid and take a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear water.

Mount Walker is a Jump-Up 10 kilometres south of Hughenden; it’s 478 m above sea level and has six lookouts where you can view the landscape.