📍14 Best Things To Do In Miles & Wandoan. (Activities & Attractions 2024.)

LOOKING FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN MILES & WANDOAN?

Way out in the northwest corner of the Darling Downs is Miles, a notable town at the intersection of the Warrego(A2) and Leichhardt(A5) Highways. It’s 377 km west-northwest from the state capital, Brisbane and is the last place along the former before the terrain officially becomes known as the Outback. But if travelling the latter, it along with Wandoan, 70km north, are two stunning pitstops on the inland route between the major coastal city centres of Rockhampton and Newcastle or Sydney.

So whether you are heading along either of those highways on a long road trip through the countryside or are just curious to see what’s out in this part of country Queensland, you’ll be just as surprised as I was during my one-week adventure through the Western Downs to discover there are many fantastic things to do in Miles, Wandoan and the surrounding areas, like the Miles Historical Village Museum, the rare Nahkampfkanone artillery gun and the stunning Caliguel Lagoon that will make you want to do more than just stop and stretch your legs here.

1. Enjoy Walking Through History.
Miles Historical Village Museum. – $.

One of the best things to do in Miles is to explore the Miles Historical Village Museum. This fantastic attraction features many lovingly restored buildings of yesteryear along with numerous artefacts from days gone by. It’s a beautiful ode to the past and is one of the best small-town museums out there, so it’s well worth the entry price.

Better yet, while they are rebuilding the information centre next to it, you have to pass through it to get to the visitor information centre so you can have all your questions about the town answered, grab some souvenirs, and get a taste of what the museum is like before deciding whether you want to explore the rest of it.

2. Discover The Art Scene.
Dogwood Crossing.

Another great place to visit in Miles is Dogwood Crossing. This beloved Dogwood attraction is the local art and exhibition space in the middle of town and features rotating displays across its two galleries, so there’s always something new to see if you are a repeat visitor to this area.

3. See A Very Rare German Gun.
Anzac Memorial Park.

A short distance from Dogwood Crossing is Anzac Park. This small memorial space in the heart of town is a beautiful ode to the people who served and died for our country during various conflicts in which Australia was involved.

It’s a lovely place to remember them, but it is also home to an important artefact, the Nahkampfkanone artillery gun, an extremely rare German field weapon thought to be one of only three remaining in the world. The Australians captured it at Messiness during World War One, and it now resides at the park as a permanent loan from the Australian War Memorial, where you can learn the fascinating story of how the 10th Infantry Brigade of the Third Australian Division were able to obtain it.

What makes this gun even more poignant is that it has large cracks in its shield, which was purposefully not mended during restoration to serve as a sobering reminder of the brutality of war.

4. Head To The Local Waterhole.
Chinamans Lagoon.

If you’re looking for nature-based things to do in Miles, Chinamans Lagoon is a picturesque spot to enjoy a leisurely stroll, picnic or go birdwatching. It’s also home to rare pink water lilies. What makes this species of Nymphaea gigantea var rosea so exceptional is that they no longer exist in their natural habitat but can still be found in a handful of places around Australia, including Chinamans Lagoon.

Because of this, botanists and flower lovers travel from far and wide to see these stunning tropical water lilies. The best time to see them is in spring when these beautiful flowers begin blooming, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to see them when I visited in winter.

But if you’re curious about why the lagoon is called what it is, it has the most fascinating story behind it. As it suggests, it was named after a man of Asian descent who used to hang out by the waterhole. But that’s the least intriguing part of the tale because he wasn’t locally known as someone with the best reputation, which is why learning about him on the signboards is such a fascinating read. 

5. Stop By A Picturesque Creek.
Gil Weir.

Those looking for more nature-based things to do in Miles will love Gil Weir. This lovely spot is a beautiful impounded lake a few kilometres south of the township. Despite being only a 5-minute drive away along a national highway, it has such a dense thicket of trees surrounding it that it feels like you are “miles” away from anywhere.

It creates such a sense of wilderness and escapism and is a fantastic place to go out on the boat or kayak to get back in touch with nature, especially with so few dedicated wild spaces left in this part of the country.

Better yet, you can camp amongst the trees at Gil Weir, making it a great place to visit during the day and one of the best places to stay the night too.

6. Follow The Beautiful Flowers To Some Hidden Gems.
Wildflower Drive.

Between Miles and Gurlumundi and Drillham is the little-known Wildflower Drive, which, as the name suggests, is a stretch of road has many wildflowers growing alongside it. It follows the Leichardt Highway halfway to Wandoan before heading inland and ending up at Drillham along the Warrego Highway.

Unfortunately, it’s only a seasonal thing when the flowers bloom, typically during springtime. But the route also takes you to numerous hidden gems such as the Ulimaroa Silos and the Paddy’s Creek Historical Site, where Slim Dusty wrote about Clara Waters, which is doable any time of year, making it one of the best unknown things to do in Miles. It also crosses the Dingo Barrier Fence, the longest fence in the world which starts near Dalby.

Something else to note is that while any car can do the Leichhardt and Warrego Highway part of the route, a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the rest of it.

Wandoan lies 70 km north of Miles along the Leichhardt Highway, and while the town is smaller, there are a couple of fantastic things to see that make stopping in worthwhile.

7. See Mick The Cattle Dog.
O’Sullivan Memorial Park.

The first place to visit in Wandoan doesn’t even require going into town as it sits right along the highway. O’Sullivan Memorial Park is a fantastic little rest area next to the highway. It has the local visitor information centre inside a historic building, a large windmill, a playground and a skate park perfect for letting the kids burn off some energy after a long drive. It’s also a great place to enjoy a picnic or a BBQ.

Be sure to check out the Mick The Cattle Dog statue, a memorial to the local puppy who saved his human’s life when he was injured.

8. Go For A Relaxing Stroll.
Waterloo Plain Environmental Park.

Waterloo Plain Environmental Park is a beautiful lagoon on the edge of town and is an excellent place to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Take a relaxing walk around the picturesque pond and discover the prominent bird life that lives there. It’s a birdwatcher’s and photographers’ paradise, especially during the early morning hours and when the water is high.

But these things aren’t the only reason why this place is worth going to, it’s also a free overnight rest area, so no one in a motorhome or caravan has to drive elsewhere if they are tired, especially when the closest town is 60kms away. Just park in the car park and sleep until you’re rested and ready, but more on that in the Accommodation: Where To Stay section of this post.

9. See What’s Happening Next Door.
Chinchilla.

The town east along the Warrego Highway is Chinchilla, and it’s well worth a day trip. It’s most notably famous for being the melon-producing capital of Australia and hosting the Melon Festival, but there’s so much more to do in this quaint country town year-round than its iconic bi-annual event. 

For starters and keeping on theme, there’s the Big Melon to take a selfie with. It’s obligatory. A small town right on passage. You can also fossick for Chinchilla Red, a unique type of petrified wood with a red hue owing to millions of years trapped on lava flows that are abundant around here, hence the name. Cap off the day by visiting my favourite place around town, the picturesque Chinchilla Weir where you can not only swim, kayak and boat, but it’s also one of the many picturesque free overnight campgrounds scattered around the Western Downs region.

10. Enjoy Hanging Out At The Lagoon.
Caliguel Lagoon, Condamine.

Gil Lagoon is a lovely spot. But somewhere similar that offers much better facilities for people looking for water-based things to do in Miles and surrounds will want to head 40km south to Caliguel Lagoon near Condamine. This spectacular place beside the Leichhardt Highway is one of the most beautiful places in the region and the perfect place to enjoy some time by the water.

The newly renovated open space has picnic tables, a playground and easy access to the lagoon, making it a great place to have lunch, let the kids play, go for a splash or do some kayaking or boating.

It’s such a beautiful and serene spot, but that’s only part of its appeal. The other half is that this is not just a fantastic day park, but also a magnificent night spot, because you’re allowed to camp there for free too making it our favourite place we stayed in the Western Downs! But more on camping there in the Accommodation: Where To Stay section of this post.

11. Pay Respects To Those Who Died In Service Of Our Country – $.
Meandarra Anzac Memorial Museum, Meandarra.

One place you won’t want to miss if you’re south of Miles is the Anzac Memorial Museum at Meandarra. This small but beautiful remembrance hall covers the First and Second World Wars and is filled with numerous military vehicles, a full-size Canberra Bomber and homages to the local heroes who fought the good fight.

It’s a touching ode to all those who served to protect our country’s freedoms during those tumultuous years and is what I consider to be, by far, one of the best small-town memorials I’ve ever come across in Australia, making it well worth the detour.

12. See The Local Statue.
Me & Darra Statue, Meandarra.

Were you wondering how Meandarra got its name? It sounds like “me and Darra.” But surely it’s not that simple. It turns out that it is. The town was named after a man and his dog, Darra and you can see the statue of them together next to the Meandarra Anzac Memorial Museum.

13. Go Wild Swimming.
Brigalow Creek, Meandarra.

Also in Meandarra is Brigalow Creek, a beautiful local waterhole just on the edge of town. So it’s it’s a hot day, this is a fantastic spot to cool off.

Better yet, it’s another one of the Western Downs’s many picturesque free overnight rest areas, which not only makes it an excellent place to visit after visiting the museum and going for a swim, but you needn’t go far back to your vehicle to sleep until tomorrow.

14. Drop By A Small Memorial.
Fettlers Memorial.

If you’re between Miles and Drillham, drop by the Fettlers Memorial. Located right next to the Leichhardt Highway, the small memorial remembers the women and children who died at the Fettlers Camps created for the workers to stay in while they built the railway extension between the two towns.

15. Go Stargazing.
Everywhere Outside Of The Towns.

When you’re this far away from the cities, and the distance between towns is as far as they are out here, the stargazing is excellent. So grab some chairs and some warm clothes find yourself a suitable spot and enjoy looking up at the starlit skies.

Miles & Wandoan Attractions & Activities Map.

Accommodation: Where To Stay In Miles.

➡️ Starline Motor Inn.

The Starline Motor Inn sits the along Murilla Street in the middle of Miles and is within walking distance of Dogwood Crossing and Anzac Memorial Park. It features modern rooms and a saltwater swimming pool. They also have dedicated pet-friendly rooms.

Whether heading east-west along the Warrego Highway or North-South via the Leichhardt Highway, two places you’ll want to spend some time at are Miles and Wandoan.

From the fascinating throwback to the past of the Miles Historical Village Museum to the rare military gun held at ANZAC Park to the amazing free camping sites scattered throughout, there are plenty of things to do in Miles and Wandoan you’ll want to add to the Western Downs portion of your itinerary.

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