The adventure of a journey to Boulia’s Camel Races no doubt reaches its peak for travellers when they first see the camels hurtling down the racetrack, followed by plumes of red dust.

This vast 1500m racetrack has earned Boulia the title ‘the Melbourne Cup of Camel Races’, the longest camel race in Australia.

The most adventurous travellers may gain a mouthful of Boulia’s red dust, if they fearlessly enter in the hilarious trackside fun of the ‘camel tagging’ competition.

Camel tagging sees competitors entering an arena with some of the younger and livelier camels and the object is to get close enough to stick a piece of duct tape onto one of the camels.

The challenge is timed and requires competitors to return to the starting position, and then retrieve their duct tape from the camel before the clock is stopped.

Organisers say it’s hard to say who has the more laughs, the competitors in the arena, or the crowd gathered to cheer them on.

Boulia’s Camel Races are firmly on the itinerary in 2017 with increasing numbers of visitors planning a Simpson Desert adventure around its iconic events.

With Birdsville’s Big Red Bash attracting crowds to the remotest parts of Queensland in early July, visitors are taking advantage of the opportunity to continue north for Boulia’s iconic Camel Races the following week.

According to Boulia’s Tourism Officer, Shelley Norton, Big Red Bash’s timing (July 4-6) couldn’t be better for the camel racing circuit. which kicks off with Bedourie Camel Races on July 8, Boulia’s ‘Melbourne Cup of Camel Races’ follows on July 14 – 16 and finishing in Winton on July 22.

“The camping offered at all the camel races is really affordable and talking to visitors that’s what’s really appealing to them as they make their 2017 travel plans,” Ms Norton said.

“The word is really out therenow and chatting to travellers they seem to have it on their bucket-list to get to our Boulia Camel Races.”  

Throw in a live band, children’s entertainment, fireworks and yabbie races and the Boulia Camel Races makes for an exciting 3-day Outback family adventure.