Visitor Information -- The Outback@Isa Visitor Information Centre is at 19 Marian St., Mount Isa, QLD 4825 (tel. 1300/659 660 in Australia, or 07/4749 1555; www.outbackatisa.com.au). It is open daily from 8:30am to 5pm.

Getting There

By Car

Mount Isa is 893km (558 miles) west of Townsville on the Flinders Highway. From Longreach, take the Landsborough Highway northwest through Winton and on to Cloncurry. Mount Isa is about 120km (75 miles) west of Cloncurry on the Barkly Highway. The total trip from Longreach is 633km (395 miles). Motorists should check all road conditions with local authorities before setting out.

By Train

Queensland Rail Traveltrain (tel. 1300/131 722) operates the Inlander train from Townsville to Mount Isa every Sunday and Thursday, returning on Monday and Friday. The 977km (610-mile) journey takes 22 hours and costs A$123 per adult for a seat or A$182 to A$280 for a sleeper.

By Bus

Greyhound Australia (tel. 1300/473 946 in Australia) services Mount Isa from Townsville. The trip takes about 12 hours and costs A$157 one-way.

By Plane

Qantas (tel. 13 13 13 in Australia; www.qantas.com.au) serves Mount Isa from Brisbane.

Getting Around

Car hire companies Avis (tel. 07/4743 3733), Budget (tel. 13 27 27 or 07/4749 1828), and Hertz (tel] 07/4743 4142) have offices in Mount Isa.

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