Exploring Corner Country: For Offroad Caravanners & 4WDers

Explore Australia’s remote Corner Country with our 4WD guide. 8-day itinerary, camping spots, iconic pubs & essential prep for offroad caravanners. Corner Country, where Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia converge, is a remote outback region steeped in history, rugged beauty and adventure.

This vast, arid landscape offers offroad caravanners and four wheel drivers a chance to disconnect, explore untouched terrain and retrace the footsteps of explorers and First Nations peoples. With its iconic landmarks, historic pubs and sprawling national parks, Corner Country is a bucket list destination for those seeking an authentic Australian outback experience.

Corner Country Key Attractions At A Glance Infographic

Key Attractions And Activities In Corner Country

Corner Country’s stark beauty and layered history provide endless opportunities for exploration. Below, we’ve expanded the list to 10 must-see attractions and activities, blending adventure, culture, and natural wonders.

1. Tibooburra Aboriginal Keeping Place and Pioneer Park

Located in the heart of Tibooburra, this dual-site attraction offers a deep dive into the region’s Indigenous and settler histories. The Aboriginal Keeping Place houses artifacts from the Wangkumara and Malyangaapa peoples, including tools, ochre paintings, and oral history recordings. Just steps away, Pioneer Park showcases early European life with restored wagons, farming equipment, and a replica slab hut.

• Highlight: Don’t miss the “Tibooburra Madonna,” a rare 19th-century painting salvaged from a local homestead.
• Tip: Join a guided tour (book ahead via [Visit Corner Country](https://visitcornercountry.com.au/first-nations/)) to gain insights into Dreaming stories and pastoral struggles.

Replica Of Sturts Whaleboat At Tibooburra

2. Pooles Grave and Sturts Cairn

These two historical markers near Milparinka commemorate the harsh realities of 19th-century exploration. Pooles Grave marks the burial site of a member of Charles Sturt’s 1845 expedition, while Sturts Cairn is a stone pile built by the explorer’s team during their search for inland seas.

• Highlight: The cairn’s location on a low rise offers sweeping views of the arid plains Sturt described as “gloomy and dismal.”
• Tip: Visit at dawn or dusk to avoid midday heat and capture dramatic lighting for photography.

Depot Glen Near Milparinka

3. Mount Wood and Olive Downs Loop Roads

This 72km 4WD loop in Sturt National Park traverses rocky ridges, claypans, and wildlife-rich plains. The track passes Mount Wood Homestead, a relic of early pastoralism, and Olive Downs, where ancient river gums frame waterholes frequented by emus and kangaroos.

• Highlight: The “Sea Lake” lookout provides a surreal vista of salt flats that shimmer like water in the distance.
• Tip: Pack binoculars—this area is part of the Outback Birding Trail, home to Major Mitchell’s cockatoos and wedge-tailed eagles.

4. Cameron Corner and the Corner Store

The iconic Cameron Corner marks the intersection of Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. Nearby, the Cameron Corner Store serves as a social hub, offering fuel, cold beers, and hearty burgers. Climb the store’s lookout tower to snap a photo of the tri-state survey marker.

• Highlight: Chat with the store’s owner, a local legend who’s collected decades of outback tales.
• Tip: Time your visit for the annual Cameron Corner Races (September), a quirky event blending horse races and bush humour.

Dingo Fence At Cameron Corner

5. Dead Horse Gully

Named for the tragic fate of drought-stricken stock, this gorge near Milparinka features striking sandstone formations and fossilized marine remnants. A short walking trail winds through the gully, revealing plaques detailing its geological and pastoral history.

• Highlight: The “Pudding Tank” rock formation, a natural sandstone dome resembling a colossal dessert.
• Tip: Combine your visit with a stop at Sturts Depot Campground, a shaded rest spot with picnic tables.

6. Sturt National Park’s Dingo Fence

Stretching 5,600km across three states, the Dingo Fence is one of the world’s longest man-made structures. In Sturt National Park, you can drive alongside this engineering marvel, which was built in the 1880s to protect sheep from predators.

• Highlight: The Packsaddle Roadhouse section offers interpretive signs explaining the fence’s controversial ecological impact.
• Tip: Visit at sunset to photograph the fence’s stark lines against the outback’s fiery skies.

7. Milparinka Heritage Precinct

This open-air museum in Milparinka preserves the town’s 1880s gold-rush heyday. Explore the restored courthouse, Royal Hotel cellars, and Sturts Tree, a coolibah where the explorer allegedly carved his initials. The Heritage Walk links 20 sites via a self-guided trail.

• Highlight: The Albert Hall displays a 19th-century wool wagon and original miner’s diaries.
• Tip: Download the [Corner Country Stories Drive](https://www.outbackqueensland.com.au/drive/corner-country-stories-drive/) audio guide for immersive storytelling.

Milparinka Turnoff

8. Betoota Ghost Town

Once a thriving pit stop for cattle drovers, Betoota is now a haunting collection of ruins 160km east of Birdsville. The skeletal remains of the Betoota Hotel (closed in 1997) and overgrown cemetery evoke the impermanence of outback settlements.

• Highlight: The Betoota Racecourse, where dusty tracks and rusted signage hint at long-abandoned race days.
• Tip: Visit in winter to avoid summer’s blistering heat and snake activity.

9. Fort Grey Campground and Historic Ruins

Nestled in Sturt National Park, Fort Grey combines camping with history. The site features the stone foundations of an 1860s stockade built to protect settlers from Indigenous resistance. Today, it offers toilets, barbecues, and shaded sites.

• Highlight: The Fort Grey Bird Hide, a quiet spot to observe waterbirds like black swans and cormorants.
• Tip: Use this campground as a base to explore the park’s western trails, including the Jump Up Loop.

10. Sunset Hill and Golden Gully

In Tibooburra, Sunset Hill and Golden Gully are twin attractions showcasing the region’s ochre-hued geology. Sunset Hill offers panoramic views of the town and surrounding plains, while Golden Gully is a short walk through eroded cliffs that glow amber in the late afternoon.

• Highlight: The gully’s “Hoodoos”—tall, thin rock spires shaped by centuries of wind and rain.
• Tip: For photographers, the best light occurs 30 minutes before sunset.

Key Attractions And Activities In Corner Country Comparison Table

An 8 Day Corner Country Itinerary

This itinerary balances driving challenges, cultural immersion and opportunities to soak in the region’s stark beauty.

Days 1–2: Birdsville to Poeppel Corner

Begin in Birdsville, a quintessential outback town famed for its annual races. Tackle Big Red, the towering sand dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert, testing your 4WD skills. Camp nearby, then drive 150km west to Poeppel Corner, where three states meet. This isolated marker offers a surreal photo opportunity and a tangible connection to Australia’s surveying history.

Days 3–4: Haddon Corner to Cameron Corner

Head to Haddon Corner, another state border junction and explore the ghostly remnants of the Betoota Hotel. Continue to Cameron Corner, marked by the iconic Corner Store, where you can enjoy a cold beer and chat with locals. Camp under the stars at the nearby basic campground.

Days 5–6: Sturt National Park

Enter New South Wales and traverse Sturt National Park via the Mount Wood and Olive Downs Loop Roads. These tracks reveal dramatic mesas, wildlife and the Fort Grey Campground, a historic site with basic facilities.

Days 7–8: Milparinka to Broken Hill

Visit Milparinka, a heritage rich town showcasing 19th century outback life. Explore Sturts Depot Glenn, a vital water source for early explorers, then conclude your journey in Broken Hill, a cultural hub with art galleries and modern comforts.

Remote Area Camping In Corner Country

Camping here requires self sufficiency, but rewards with solitude and star filled skies. Below is a comparison of some of the better known camping sites in corner country.

Pubs and Hotels In Corner Country

These watering holes are lifelines for travellers, offering camaraderie and cold drinks:

• Cameron Corner Store: Sip a beer at the “corner” of three states. The store sells basic supplies and fuel.
• Tibooburra Family Hotel: Adorned with vibrant murals, this pub offers hearty meals and air conditioned rooms.
• Milparinka Hotel: A restored 1880s inn with rustic charm and tales of the region’s pastoral history.
• Tibooburra Hotel: Recently rebuilt after a fire it is a favourite of the locals.

Family Hotel Tibooburra

History Of Corner Country

Aboriginal Heritage

For millennia, the Maliangaapa, Wadigali and Wangkumara peoples thrived here, using intricate knowledge of soaks and claypans to survive. They traded tools and ochre across vast distances, leaving behind artifacts now preserved in Tibooburra’s Aboriginal Keeping Place. Learn more about their legacy via the [First Nations Cultural Guide](https://visitcornercountry.com.au/first-nations/).

European Exploration

Charles Sturt’s 1844 expedition, aiming to find an inland sea, relied on Aboriginal guides to locate water. By the 1860s, pastoralists displaced Indigenous communities, establishing sheep stations and altering the landscape. Ruins like Pooles Grave and Sturts Cairn commemorate this turbulent era.

Tips For Remote Camping:

• Carry 40L+ of water per person and a satellite phone for emergencies.
• Use a portable solar setup to power devices, as most sites lack electricity.
• Respect fire bans and always leave no trace.

Vehicle And Caravan Preparation

Corner Country’s unsealed roads and extreme temperatures demand meticulous preparation:

1. Vehicle Essentials:

• Fit all-terrain tyres (e.g., BFGoodrich KO2) and a snorkel for dusty conditions.
• Equip a dual battery system and carry extra diesel (distances between fuel stops exceed 600km).
• Pack recovery gear: snatch straps, Maxtrax and consider a high-lift jack.

2. Caravan Readiness:

• Opt for offroad rated caravans with independent suspension.
• Secure loose items with heavy-duty straps to withstand corrugations.
• Check wheel bearings and brakes before departure.

For detailed checklists, consult the [Outback Road Trip Preparation Guide](https://theoutbackloop.com.au/travel-tips/vehicle-preparation-outback-road-trip/).

Final Tips For Travellers To Corner Country

• Check road conditions via the [NSW National Parks Alerts](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au) page.
• Visit in autumn or spring to avoid 45°C summer heat.
• Support remote communities by purchasing supplies locally.

Corner Country isn’t just a destination – it’s a journey into Australia’s heart, blending challenge, history and raw beauty. With careful planning, your adventure here will be unforgettable.

6 Frequently Asked Question FAQs About Corner Country