Key Facts:
- 3 & 4 July - Jundah Camel Races
- 6 to 9 – Birdsville Carnival
- 11 – Bedourie Camel and Pig Races
- 17 to 19 – Boulia Camel Races
- 25 July – Winton Camel Races
The Outback Camel Trail IS BACK
Dust, drama & desert legends to return as camel racing creates a bucket-list red dirt tourism experience
This road-tripping, town-hopping celebration of Outback spirit, with unforgettable experiences at every stop, is anchored by classic Outback Camel races that are as chaotic as they are competitive. Fans can expect a bucket-list adventure showcasing cameleering history, legendary Outback pubs, camel everything (!), some of the quirkiest pig, yabby and mower races (at Boulia), stargazing nights, and a once-in-a-decade canvas of blooming desert flowers, thanks to the region's recent rains.
- 3 & 4 July - Jundah Camel Races
- 6 to 9 – Birdsville Carnival
- 11 – Bedourie Camel and Pig Races
- 17 to 19 – Boulia Camel Races
- 25 July – Winton Camel Races
THE CHAMPIONS ARE RETURNING!!!
Last year the Camel Racing competition was hotter than an Outback summer's day. A gorgeous camel from Oakfield Ranch near Newcastle in NSW called Geoffrey, ridden by Tegan Beck, and his stablemate Polished Copper (ridden by third-generation cameleer Emily Sansome) battled it out race after race, each claiming two major titles apiece. Geoffrey triumphed in Boulia and Winton, while Copper reigned in Jundah and Bedourie. They shared the ultimate Camel of the Trail trophy.
This year, Geoffrey, Polished Copper and a road train of their fellow elite runners will again make the 4,000km round trip back to the Outback, to battle it out on the famous red dirt racetracks. Almost 7,000 people attended the Trail last year, an extraordinary result. There were more than 20 individual camel races, as well as 14 pig races (with Kevin Runt the overall champion, closely followed by Bob Pork), along with yabby and ride-on-mower races at Boulia, broom throwing at Bedourie, and camels in a bar at the Birdsville Hotel. It was an Outback Queensland adventure for the ages, and it's set to bigger and better this year.
Whether cheering on racing camels in Jundah, dancing under the stars in Birdsville, watching the Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing in Boulia, or soaking up Outback storytelling in Winton, the Desert Champions Way invites Aussies to explore a rare side of the desert — and this year, it is spectacularly ALIVE with colour and waterways!
Cameleer Emily Sansome said their Desert Champions Way Trail adventure last year had been incredible. "The Trail was an amazing adventure for our entire team, and my whole family who all came along. We are preparing now for 2026, with our camels back in training. We'll have Geoffrey and Polished Copper back to defend their Cups, and a few new camel faces. Not even five blown tyres could take the mile wide smiles off all our faces last year!" she said.
Winton Shire Council Mayor Cathy White said the Trail was a brilliant initiative. "Race day here last year was a massive success, and we're already gearing up for an even bigger, better and bolder event in 2026! The new Trail initiative has been a game-changer, giving camel riders and racers a full circuit to compete on, and giving travellers more chances to experience these incredible towns and events under one epic adventure banner."
Outback Queensland Tourism Association (OQTA) CEO, Denise Brown said the Trail offered an authentic Outback experience like no other. "The Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail was designed to celebrate one of the Outback's most iconic attractions. Events like this aren't just fun, they're ingrained in the social and economic fabric of Outback Queensland communities," she said. "The Trail allows visitors to experience camel racing up close and personal, and to meet the camels and their cameleer owners, to get to know the locals and explore more towns in Outback Queensland. Weaving the camel racing events together into an easy-to-follow trail has been an outstanding success. It's a great example of the Outback spirit and what can be achieved when tourism communities collaborate."
Let the camel mayhem continue in 2026! Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail – The Diamantina
The Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail:
Jundah Camel Races – July 3 & 4, 2026:
Kicking off the Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail, the Jundah Camel Races has added a day because one just wasn't enough!! Joining the camel races will be sheep racing, working dog jumping, sheep penning on the Friday night, live entertainment and FREE CAMPING! This little Outback town with a big heart is home to incredible hospitality, great fishing, bird watching, sightseeing, swimming, canoeing, and boasts spectacular sunrises and sunsets! Last year powerhouse camel racer Polished Copper charged down Jundah's red dirt track to take out the Cup ridden by his owner Emily Sansome. Right on his tail were stablemates Geoffrey and Foxy Lady, while Barry brought the grunt for fourth. All are returning to race again!
