EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

MITCHELL is a delightful, single-street town right on the western rim of the downs beside the Maranoa River, 88km west of Roma on the Warrego Highway. As at Roma, Mitchell has its local outlaw legend; the protagonists this time were the two Keniff Brothers , who raided the district for cattle and horses in the early 1900s. After killing a policeman during one arrest attempt they were finally ambushed south of town and dragged off for trial in Brisbane; unlike Captain Starlight, they were sentenced to death, though one brother had this commuted to a prison term.

All this aside, there are two reasons to stop at Mitchell: either to follow the 200km-long track north to Mount Moffat in Carnarvon National Park; or to make use of the town's hot artesian springs , which have been thoughtfully channelled into an open-air swimming pool and spa (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-noon, Sun 10am-noon; $5.50) in the grounds of the old Kenniff Courthouse - good, steamy fun on a cold winter's morning. The courthouse itself now houses an information centre (daily 8am-7pm; tel 07/4623 1133), the Healthy Byte Café , an internet terminal and a weekend cinema; and you can stay for free for two nights ($5.50 a night thereafter) at the council-run campsite back across the Maranoa. The information centre can also arrange hour-long river cruises ($8.80), or 4WD day tours to Mount Moffatt ($88 per person, minimum of four).

Moving on , all transport and the Warrego Highway continue a further 180km west to Charleville; the train station is 500m from the courthouse at the western side of town, and the main-street newsagent doubles as the bus agent.