If you’ve never taken part in a cattle muster, you now have the opportunity to come and take part in a virtual reality cattle muster at the Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre. For a small fee, you can don a Samsung VR headset, headphones and immerse yourself into being on the back of a dirt bike, inside a chopper, sitting on the rails of a cattle yard, watching cattle being loaded and more, all in air conditioned comfort!

For something different, visit the remains of a concrete building which housed a generating plant supplying power to a RAAF High Frequency / Direction Finding Station, called the ‘Round House’, installed in 1942 on the ridge nearby. These stations proved great importance as navigational aids during WWII and assisted in the detection of Japanese aircraft across Northern Australia. There were only ever two Round Houses constructed of concrete, the other being at Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands.

Standing proud at the Julia Creek RSL, Samson, the major sculpture was created by artist, Sue Tilley, from a range of vintage metal objects collected locally. Samson, together with the surrounding Light Horse Brigade silhouettes, form a prominent tribute to the spirit of the ANZACs. This is located on the corner of Mathews and Goldring Streets (heavy vehicle bypass).

There are a few versions of our historical town that you can do, whether you are after a short walk around the main area of town or the half day version. You can obtain a map from the visitors centre and walk the 38 signposted sites, reading their interesting and colourful history along the way and drive to the sites on the outskirts of town.

Just looking around town, one feature you definitely won’t miss is the 30m wine glass shaped water tower, which can be seen from up to 20km away. At night, the blue lights give the tower a completely different look and makes for some spectacular photography! Built in 1971, the tower has the capacity to hold 100,000 gallons of water and stands above one of Julia Creek’s bores. Not only does it serve to provide good water pressure in the town, but also allows the water to cool.

If you love history, you’ll enjoy the Duncan McIntyre Museum, home to countless relics from a bygone era. You’ll see a Willy Jeep Truck, steam engine, tractor plus an array of fossils formed in the Eromanga Sea. See items from the District’s wool heritage, history of the hospital, radio and telecommunications and much more. There are a host of fantastic historical images for viewing to give you an insight of what life was like in Julia Creek in the early days. Entry is free.

The Opera House you ask? Yes, this is our Opera House……so named because it was officially opened on the same day as the Sydney Opera House. The Julia Creek Opera House is home to an interesting collection of local and regional photographs of the past life of the people of the region. It’s located in Julia Street, just a short stroll from the Visitor Information Centre.

Whether you want to do laps for staying fit while travelling, just want a relaxing swim, be a big kid and have a go on the water slides or you have real children that want to have some fun, come on down to the Julia Creek Swimming Pool and Water Park. Entry is free if you are a paid guest at the Julia Creek Caravan Park, otherwise prices are $2 per adult and $1 per child. Please see the Visitor Information Centre for opening hours.

These newly constructed private bath houses are an unexpected surprise in the Outback, and something you’ll really enjoy. The baths are nice and roomy, two in each bath house, seating, pebble floor mats, authentic outback clothes hooks and a great view. Throw in some bath salts or bubble bath, sip on some chilled wine, snack on nibbles and enjoy the company of partner or friend or just on your own and enjoy the view.

‘Beneath the Creek’, another attraction at the centre, provides a hands-on interactive journey through many facets of life in the McKinlay Shire, and is also home to two very active and cheeky Dunnarts. Beneath the Creek allows you to hear about these remarkable tiny creatures and to view them in a habitat similar to that in the wild.