Kevin Runt, Bob Pork, and a camel called Geoffrey steal hearts in Outback Queensland
Winton may be the birthplace of Australia's most iconic anthem, Waltzing Matilda, but this legendary Outback place just added another feather to its well-worn hat, as the final town of the inaugural Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail.
Over one dusty, dazzling weekend, the town famous for poetry, dinosaurs and red dirt hospitality thundered to life as elite camels battled it out in front of roaring crowds, rounding out a month-long journey across five legendary Outback Queensland towns.
At the Winton finale, it was the exotically named Geoffrey, ridden by Tegan Beck, who thundered down the red dirt straight to steal the crowd's heart and claim the Cup, some 1,400km from Brisbane in the heart of Outback Queensland.
Across four unforgettable weekends, Geoffrey and his stablemate Polished Copper (ridden by third-generation cameleer Emily Sansome) have battled it out race after race, each claiming two titles apiece. Geoffrey triumphed in Boulia and Winton, while Copper reigned in Jundah and Bedourie. Now, after more than 4,000km on the road, they return to Oakfield Ranch near Newcastle as true Outback legends.
Emily Sansome said their Trail adventure had been incredible.
"The Trail has been amazing adventure for our entire team, and my whole family who all came along, and we're all making plans on how to come back next year. We'll have Geoffrey and Polished Copper back to defend their Cups, and a few new camel faces. Not even five blown tyres can take the mile wide smiles off all our faces!" she said.
Winton Shire Council Mayor Cathy White said the Trail was a brilliant initiative.
"Race day here 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. Bring on 2026!" she said.
The new Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail was launched this year, to be a cornerstone of sustainable tourism in Outback Queensland, drawing visitors to five iconic towns in Jundah, Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia and Winton over four huge weekends.
Almost 7,000 people attended the events across the Trail, an extraordinary result for the region. 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.
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 allowed 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."
A road-tripping, town-hopping celebration of Outback spirit, with unforgettable experiences at every stop, in addition to the iconic camel races, the Trail featured cameleer history telling, legendary Outback pubs, stargazing nights, and a once-in-a-decade canvas of blooming desert flowers, thanks to the region's recent rains.
Let the camel mayhem continue in 2026!
Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail – The Diamantina
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A Celebration of Outback Queensland The Desert Champions Way, produced by Diamantina Shire Council and supported by the Remote Area Planning & Development Board (RAPAD), Outback Queensland Tourism Association and Arts Queensland, is designed to enhance cultural tourism across the region. It aligns with the Diamantina Shire's tourism strategy to expand arts and cultural events that highlight the region's distinct identity while fostering sustainable economic growth.
