Winton Queensland Thrifty Guide

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Currently on a trip to Winton, I am realising to write about some fresh ideas to assist travellers to research for enhancing enjoyment of what ought to be a memorable outback holiday. While the iconic North Gregory Hotel, opal jewellery, bush poetry, founding of Qantas and dinosaur prehistoric life on the ancient inland sea are the basis of Winton as a public image and tourism product, I am thoroughly enjoying my stay for other reasons. I think such reasons are thrifty because they are about enjoying the town on a slightly lengthier stay and not even noticing the time is flying by, yet not about squandering money either. A café in the hotel opened at 6.30 AM and served me a minced meat and puff pastry pie that was adapted to Australian tastes with an outback-inspired meat gravy in the filling hence a fine way to give me energy for brisk chilly walks around the galahs. In Winton on a clear morning, I had never seen so many galahs ever - especially not congregated on urban infrastructure like powerlines etc. Such a scene has been reported worldwide - by the British newspaper the Daily Mail as an example - with the galahs in Winton topic linked here .

Winton didn't attract me with new or glossy things, instead the little township seems dated or worn until you spend a day here and then its novelties become impressive. So, I couldn't resist jotting some thrifty tips below to help you get the most out of staying/travelling there. Especially as there is a fair bit of excitement just in what I saw and the few novelties I experienced were only the 'tip of the iceberg' - which are more than enough to experience. It reflects my idea that it suits me as a person to leave some things a mystery, so Winton allowed me to try a lot of new things but leave some further new things in case I want to book another holiday there.

Tips for enjoying Winton:

1. Special Artesian Water has noticeable sulfur odour, note that the motel room kettle-boiled version is very sweet and delicious while the cold version tastes like the pungent fruit Durian. To be a bit tricky try cooling some boiled Winton artesian water and add to some of the fresh cold version - where the cold water straight from the tap can be left to stand for better taste and flavour. Note it stains and rusts so it makes several house fittings exposed to water look rusty and aged but the water appears brimming with healthy minerals. The steamed water omits the same odour so the steam can affect the scent of dwellings in Winton. Do check with a medical professional for advice on my claims of healthy minerals but I suspect it's not harmful if it is from the public water supply and it may be beneficial. Winton artesian water is especially sulfuric and it appeared different in effect to outback waters in other parts of Australia. On that note the town pool ( as seen on Facebook ) has a chlorinated lap pool and separate artesian bath, however the complex reopens on September 1 - a fact which I gather is due to the cold outback winter weather - it's directly behind the often fully booked (especially in tourist season) Matilda Motel.

2. Spirit of the Outback rail trip: I've reviewed it 3 years ago Brisbane to Longreach but this time got the additional bus journey to Winton. The rail bus driver was explaining to me quite interestingly awesome outback knowledge and his driving just seemed efficient in the not-so-easy task of driving people safely on nighttime outback roads. Whether it's the same driver every time I can't verify, but even just the fact he got selected for this job at least indicated to me the affiliate company to Queensland Rail had hired capably all things considered. You won't see Min-Min lights, even on the grounds the road has noticeably many reflectors to aid the use of high beam and minimise encounters with wildlife, however, in winter it is mighty cold, while I realise the driver made it look effortless, I just can't help realise that with warmer weather the kangaroo numbers would inevitably be higher, yet the service must run all-year round. On the other hand, why complain about a service that got me a great outback experience - including assuring I was safely accessing my accommodation upon arrival in Winton - however, I appreciated the manners of and conversations with the driver and passengers.

Unlike in my linked review of the Spirit of the Outback, this rail journey is accentuated in a sleeper carriage due to journey length and the slight but not impossible challenge of serving restaurant meals on a rail carriage. Needless to say, the meals are extra fun to see the socialising, the service and the scenery yet then just retire back to the cabin. Top tip for 'nightowls' is to bring your own coffee powder and make it up a cold brew in the provided drinking glass next to the little washbasin in your sleeper cabin (act fast before it gets banned by protocols), or for those who love their sleep, make sure to ask staff to set up your folding bed, because the cabins are an old design but a wonderful novelty to experience. Pillows, blankets, other bedding, neck cushion, and a set of complimentary goodies have been provided recently, but differ over the years hence my reluctance to specify them, while the service is improving towards or regaining its past excellent TripAdvisor status, based on what I encountered on my recent trip it is clear as to why.

3. Delightful fruit shop opposite of/and the Matilda Motel: The Matilda Motel delivers a compact and cabin-like motel unit on a single floor and on my stay, the split system heating was and needed to be reliable. But it just needed 24 degrees and switched off during walks and sightseeing to ensure it stays perfect for the long stay. The motel is very pet friendly, and if you arrive at night you'll wake up to cooling Queenslander buildings as well as dry arid grounds with a noticeably large artesian bath centre adjacent. But do take 24-48 hours to get to know the motel and Winton itself if wanting to criticise. However, I actually got to a point where I was feeling a bit impressed after 12-18 hours here and could relax and feel comfortable about everything. I actually feel happy to return as opposed to checking my bus ticket's scheduling, hence I hope this article reflects the local community's approach to working in the tourism industry - you have to book a fair bit ahead most winter weeks because they are delivering a tourism product that has guests returning, impressed and appreciative.

The fruit shop ( named Orlando Orchards ) had gourmet treats in the shop area proper and fresh fruits stored almost compulsorily in a separate cold room, but displays were clean and shiny but expensive although they were tasteful and gourmet - like the packaged food on offer. Thanks to its eclectic yet functional approach, I couldn't help but think of it as one of my favourite fresh food shops and a sign that the town was offering likeable novelties for the tourists that were related to its uniquely remote location. Remember, there are hundreds of square kilometres of unpopulated lands adjacent to Winton, so it has its geographical variations. I think you'll see a difference, which contradicts the stereotypes about barren lands with the occasional gum tree. Instead, the combination of all its likelier attractions with the less likely spin-off eclectic shops, its old buildings, unique geography and its interesting people got me something that was good to do work around, write reviews around, study around, and get fit and healthy around. The cold winter weather, fresh food, mineral-rich water and brisk walks were doing a fair bit for my health or feeling of well-being, as it wasn't cold enough to impact, and it was still nice and brightly sunny during the middle of the day in winter, as it is the drier season.



Winton was noticeably livable, however I suspect winter is a better time to visit. With a tourist trade that is heavily booked in winter and mainly vacant in summer, my thrifty tips can help enjoy both seasons. Do note tour numbers help increase the range of tours that can be run. In summer and perhaps even spring, the animal life is menacing sometimes and the heat can be unbearable at times. However, I doubt anyone would object to me hinting above that winter is the time to visit this town I couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised despite booking my first holiday there knowing about the product offered. Summer is a nice bonus trade for the tourism industry but not necessarily expected, and could be thrifty if you have a sense of adventure, despite low tourist numbers - like anywhere else there are pros and cons to basing the trip on a season. If you can get a booking and can travel to Winton, I hope my thrifty tips can help you think beyond the square. On that note, there is still scope for plenty of new shops, accommodations and experiences to be uncovered so my review motivates independent research and promotes tangible things about Winton to experience if one were to book there.


Photos in this review by its author in winter 2024.

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