Brilliant sunrises, boundless sunsets and endless starry nights are the hallmarks of outback Queensland.
In the north-west of the state, the small town of Hughenden has made its vast horizons and brilliant vistas the focus of a new festival.
Celebrating what makes the region unique, the Festival Of Outback Skies was launched on the weekend, attracting 2,000 visitors to its opening night.
The small town, with a population of just over 1,000 residents, welcomed visitors from across the country promising stunning views and outback hospitality.
Flinders Shire Deputy Mayor Clancy Middleton said it had been months of hard work to put the festival together.
He said that offering a bull-riding competition gave visitors a traditional bush experience, paying homage to the town's heritage.
Organisers expected about 500 people to come along to watch the event, but nearly 2,000 came through the gate.
Councillor Middleton said it has been years since Hughenden had hosted a rodeo event, and he "never dreamed" attendance would be so strong.
"Getting back to our western ways we had — with rodeo and stuff like that — is terrific," he said.
Cr Middleton said he could see a great future for the festival, with Hughenden becoming a drawcard.
'Like the ultimate freedom'
Jane Wolfe, from the Sunshine Coast, timed her stop in Hughenden on a round-Australia trip to coincide with the festival.
She said she had particularly enjoyed the sunsets and sunrises, getting up early to take photos of the horizon from Mount Walker.
"It was very soft colours as we started to drive up, and then the colours were very intense," Ms Wolfe said.
"It's like there is absolutely nothing penning you in. You can look anywhere and see the horizon, the scenery, the bush, the sky.
"Unless you've been in it, it's hard to understand. It is like the ultimate freedom, really."
Outback Queensland experienced its best tourism season on record in 2022 and it's hoped the festival will continue to grow the region's tourism industry.
On its busiest days of last year's tourism season, the town had around 500 visitors through its information centre.
Organiser Barbra Smith said she hoped the festival would become an iconic event that the community could embrace.
"Art, action and ambience is what we've come up with," Ms Smith said.
She said when she moved to Hughenden, it was the skies that first grabbed her attention.
"It gives me goosebumps thinking about it. I've come from the city and it was the first thing that really blew me away about the outback, just the incredible sunrises, sunsets and beautiful dark, starry night skies," she said.
"It is different every single day. It's just fabulous."
Something for everyone
Mayor Jane McNamara said the town had not had a festival on this scale since the Dinosaur Festival, which last ran around 15 years ago.
"Everybody is sort of on the festival trail and we wanted something that was a little bit different," Ms McNamara said.
She said by blending traditional events with arts and craft workshops, sightseeing, glamping and quirky events such as a raft race, organisers hoped to attract a wide variety of people to the town using the vast horizons and skies as a selling point.
"There's all these beautiful cirrus clouds. When it's blue, it is the most intense blue, and when there's clouds, it is just a painting all of its own," she said.
Junior bull riding champion Cade Ferguson travelled from Cloncurry to compete in the festival's bull riding competition.
The 16-year-old said he'd definitely be returning if the event is held again next year.
"Probably the best event I've ever seen in Australia for junior competitors … everything was perfect," he said.
"I've never seen so much money for events such as steer ride or a junior bull ride."
Hughenden local and third-generation cowgirl Heidi Middleton said the festival had been embraced by the community.
"It's been a big talk of the town," the 12-year-old said.
"It's a pretty small town and we've had a lot of people here … it's wonderful.
"It's a great opportunity for everyone who's not a part of this town to show them what this town really is."
Mark Franzmann, who was raised in Hughenden, said the festival would help keep the town alive.
"It's great to see your small town getting a bit of recognition and a lot of people coming in and spending money, because [towns] do die off if people don't visit," he said.
