This Saturday, Winton – the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda – will welcome Australia's champion camels, colourful cameleers and visitors from across the country for the final stop of one of Australia's most extraordinary travelling sporting spectacles.
Blending camel racing with music, comedy, Outback storytelling and legendary country hospitality, Winton will bring the curtain down on a month-long journey that has taken visitors through Jundah, Birdsville, Bedourie and Boulia, showcasing the very best of Outback Queensland.
All eyes will once again be on Newcastle husband-and-wife team Luke and Emily Parrott, whose champion camel Polished Copper arrives in Winton fresh from the biggest victory of his career.
The legendary racer stormed home to win the prestigious 1200-metre Pacific Fuel Solutions Boulia Camel Cup Final – Australia's richest camel race – while Emily was crowned Star Jockey of the Carnival, further cementing the family's place among Australia's camel racing elite. "We've had Polished Copper since the beginning, so to see him come from nothing to winning Australia's richest camel race is incredibly special," Emily said. "I've been the only jockey to race him, and Luke has handled him every step of the way. After finishing second the last two years, I honestly didn't know we'd won until we crossed the line."
Joining the action in Winton will also be crowd favourite Peter "PJ" Shield, the 54-year-old New South Wales truck driver who has become one of the most recognisable faces on the Trail. Racing in his trademark tartan and plaid silks, inspired by his grandfather's jockey colours, PJ will once again ride Beatie – a camel named in honour of his grandfather, Norman Beatie. "It's really special," PJ said. "My grandfather was a huge influence on my life, so to have a camel carrying his name across Outback Queensland is something I'll always be proud of."
While the camels provide the action on the track, Winton will celebrate everything the Outback is famous for, with live entertainment from the much-loved Crack Up Sisters, music, family fun and a celebration of the town's rich storytelling heritage. Known around the world as the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda, Winton provides the perfect finale for a trail that has become far more than a series of camel races.
Winton Shire Council Mayor Cathy White said the Trail had become a game-changer for Outback tourism. "Race day here last year was a massive success, and we're already gearing up for an even bigger, better and bolder event this year," Cr White said. "The Desert Champions Way has been a game-changer, giving camel riders and racers a full circuit to compete on, while giving travellers more opportunities to experience these incredible towns and events under one epic adventure banner. Bring on Saturday!"
Over four unforgettable weeks, the Desert Champions Way Outback Camel Trail has celebrated the people, places and personalities that make Outback Queensland unlike anywhere else on earth, drawing thousands of visitors to iconic communities and proving the region is one of Australia's great road-trip destinations.
Desert Champions Way Outback Camel Trail 2026
- Jundah ✅
- Birdsville ✅
- Bedourie ✅
- Boulia ✅
- Winton – Saturday July 25
Winton Camel Races – July 25, 2026
The Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail:
Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail – The Diamantina
