MITCHELL EXPLORE CENTR

Oasis At the Gateway To The Outback

Discover an oasis brimming with naturally therapeutic waters and local wisdom at the Great Artesian Spa and Mitchell Explore Centre.

Perched at the gateway to Queensland’s Outback, the welcoming and friendly town of Mitchell is a must-do stop on your next inland adventure. Despite its small size, Mitchell offers visitors a wealth of unique things to see and do to enrich your Aussie Outback experience. Rejuvenate body and soul at the Great Artesian Spa, pay a visit to the Booringa Heritage Museum, or visit a host of historic sites nestled around the town. Unleash your inner maestro at the Musical Cattle Grid, or simply take time to relax with a picnic at a park or on the banks of the Maranoa River. In this laid-back country community, you’ll find freedom to explore at your own pace.

The Mitchell Explore Centre is the perfect place to begin your adventure. Here you’ll find insightful interpretive displays, a wealth of travel information and brochures on things to see and do in the area, as well as a team of local legends eager to share their first-hand knowledge and expertise with visitors to the area. Our Mitchell Explore Centre also houses the Great Artesian Spa, where you’ll have the rare opportunity to soak your travel-weary body in the mineral-rich waters of the legendary Great Artesian Basin.

We also have a convenient café onsite, making Mitchell Explore Centre the total package for sourcing information, travel inspiration, rejuvenation and caffeination – all under one roof!

Mitchell Explore Centre

Mitchell Explore Centre is on the corner of Cambridge and Elizabeth Streets, with bright yellow and blue accredited Information Centre signs adorning its entrance. A wide, cobbled concrete path lined with cooling shade trees and shrubbery beckons you in.

Follow the path up the stairs or accessible ramp and turn left to enter the interpretive room of the Mitchell Explore Centre. Tap a sensor situated on the right-hand side as you enter to hear a stockman named Jack, along with his dog Joey, share the story of the natural spring waters of the Artesian Basin. You can touch this audio-visual display, to feel the textures of the stockman’s clothing, the scruffy coat of his dog and the woolly fleece of his sheep.

In this same entry room, to your right, is a hand-made ‘pipe statue’ promoting the Booringa Heritage Museum, which is located at the rear of the facility. The sculpture represents the Kenniff Brothers – known as the last bushrangers captured in Mitchell.

Turning right into the Explore Centre, you’ll find travel information brochure stands against the left-hand wall. An oblong information stand is set in the centre of the room, and a large map of Queensland adorns the back wall. To the right is a large wooden and corrugated iron counter where you might find our friendly staff, when they’re not outside manning the back deck. Our staff are happy to help with accommodation enquiries, advice on local road conditions, and a wealth of knowledge on local attractions and events. Throughout the room, four cushioned stools provide comfortable seating for researching your travel plans.

The aroma of freshly ground coffee lingers in the air, drawing you out onto the spa deck (behind the Explore Centre) for a caffeine fix or tasty treat at Spa Java, our all-day onsite café.

Great Artesian Spa

Throughout the ages and around the world, the therapeutic qualities of natural mineral waters have been widely recognised. At the Great Artesian Spa, located onsite at the Mitchell Explore Centre, you’re invited to take a soothing soak in these waters, drawn deep from the mineral-rich reservoir of the Great Artesian Basin.

Opened in 1998, the spa comprises two large pools of artesian water, providing the perfect antidote to daily stresses and the aches and pains of travel-weary souls. One pool is naturally heated and maintained at a comfortable temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, designed to relax tired muscles, ease tension, and revitalize both body and mind. A bore simulation cascades water into our hot pool, providing a soothing soundtrack to your bathing experience. Lay back in the buoyant warm waters and feel your worries melt away as you are gently lulled into a more tranquil state of mind.

The other pool is designed for those who prefer a cooler experience, providing a refreshing reprieve from the heat on hot summer days, or an invigorating cool off after a warm water soak. In the spring and summer months, a subtle floral fragrance from surrounding gardens lingers in the air.

A free gym is also available on the western side of the building, for those seeking the complete wellness experience.

Other Local Highlights

While visiting our centre, be sure to ask our friendly team about the wealth of other unique experiences available in the area.

Just behind our premises in Elizabeth Street you’ll find the intriguing historical displays of the Booringa Heritage Museum. This community-run enterprise endeavours to preserve the heritage of the former Booringa Shire in Mitchell, through a fascinating collection of artefacts and information that takes visitors on a nostalgic journey back in time, to share the history and stories of the area.

Mitchell rests on the banks of the Maranoa River, the second fastest flowing river in Australia. Head to the riverbank behind the Booringa Heritage Museum to bang out some beats and release your musical genius on one of Australia’s most unique outdoor instruments – the musical cattle grid and yards! It’s sure to be a hit!

For those seeking culture and creativity, check out the Mitchell on Maranoa Gallery, housed within the beautifully transformed historic Picture Theatre. This unique arts precinct includes an impressive gallery area, library, movie projection room display, outdoor artists’ workspace and sculpture garden.

Journey back to where local life began on the ‘Yumba’ Indigenous Cultural Trail, on the eastern side of town. Then explore more modern history with a visit to Major Mitchell’s campsite. Our town’s namesake explorer, Sir Thomas Mitchell, camped here in 1846 during his fourth expedition to map an overland route from Sydney to Darwin.

Visit the capture site of the Kenniff brothers, said to be Australia’s last bushrangers, at Arrest Creek on the south side of town. A monument here depicts an artistic interpretation of the event in 1902, and commemorates the police force who fought the bushrangers. Then follow the dramatic tale back to Old Kenniff Courthouse, where the bushranger brothers were committed to stand trial, and view informative displays about the contentious verdict.

Accessibility

The Mitchell Explore Centre and Great Artesian Spa is centrally located at 2 Cambridge Street, Mitchell, at the intersection of Elizabeth Street. Mitchell is approximately six and a half hours’ drive west-northwest of the Queensland capital city of Brisbane. The nearest airport is in Roma, approximately 80 kilometres away. Queensland Rail operates The Westlander service between Brisbane and Charleville, with a stop available at Mitchell, providing a relaxing option for getting to and from the town. While public transport is not available in Mitchell, we do offer a Community Courtesy Bus through the tourist season from April to October, offering transport from all accommodation (including free camping sites) into most locations within the town centre.

Accessible parking is available close to the entrance of our facility. Our Visitor Information Centre and Great Artesian Spa are located all on one level, with wide doorways and wheelchair access. Two ramps are available for easy access on both street-facing sides of the building.

Accessible bathrooms are available onsite. A grassy area suitable for toileting assistance dogs is available on the banks of the Maranoa River, approximately 50 metres from our front entrance.

The Great Artesian Spa has been designed for easy access, which includes a hydro chair for those with restricted mobility.

We love welcoming visitors of all abilities to our centre. If you have any questions ahead of your visit or would like to chat with a member of our friendly team, please feel free to contact us on 07 4624 6923 or email mitchell.spa@outlook.com. The centre is open seven days except Christmas Day, with reduced hours on Anzac Day. Opening hours vary slightly on a seasonal basis. At the time of publishing, our standard hours were 8am to 6pm from 1st April to 30th September, and 8am to 7pm 1st October to 31 March.