General News
11 June, 2025
Tourism season officially launched in Mount Isa
Some fresh ideas were touted at last week's Civic Centre function.
FROM eco-trails to promoting historic sites between Cloncurry and Camooweal, some of the future plans to attract tourists to the North West have been revealed at a gathering last week.
Mount Isa City Council officially launched this year’s tourist season at the Civic Centre last Wednesday with the release of its 2025 Visitor Guide.
Joint-Mount Isa City Council and Cloncurry Shire Council tourism, recovery and resilience officer Michelle Cyster said the guide was more than just a printed product – it’s the region’s welcome mat.
“It showcases the best of who we are and what we offer,” Ms Cyster said.
“It encourages visitors to stay longer, explore deeper, and support local businesses — from caravan parks to cafés, museums to markets.”
Ms Cyster, who has recently taken on the role at council with the assistance of a state and federal grant, revealed to the gathering that she was currently working alongside local businesses and community leaders on a raft of new attractions for the region.
Among the concepts being mooted is a walking eco-trail built along parts of the old stock route that linked Mount Isa and Cloncurry.
“These routes connected our two towns not just physically, but culturally and economically,” she said.
“It’s about encouraging people to explore between the major centres, not just stop at one.
“It’s about linking our regions in a way that reflects who we are – active, connected, and proud of our landscape – a place for locals to enjoy and for visitors to remember.”
Ms Cyster said another project in the pipeline called the Cloncurry-Mount Isa-Camooweal Experience will focus on the less known historical and geographic locations along the highway.
“This isn’t just about the road – it’s about what surrounds it. We want to encourage travellers to slow down, explore, and discover the richness that exists off the highway – the hidden gems that make the journey as rewarding as the destination,” she said.
Ms Cyster said Mount Isa businesses would also soon have access to an online tool to help navigate the at-times difficult process of locating available funding streams.
“The portal will take the guesswork out of grant-hunting,” she said.
Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae said the council’s Future Ready Economy Roadmap, which was released in February, identified tourism as a key pillar of diversification of the local economy.
“Mount Isa is home to a distinctive Outback environment that will be leveraged to strengthen Mount Isa’s profile with a wide range of potential domestic and international travellers,” she said.