(From left) FleetCrew Co-Founder and Director Ben Harris, his wife Karen and guests enjoying the 2026 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
Mount Isa is a city that knows how to put on a show. Surrounded by rugged ranges and wide-open landscapes, this North West Queensland community combines its proud mining history with genuine Outback hospitality and plenty of reasons to stay beyond the working week.
The city’s biggest celebration is the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, one of Outback Queensland’s marquee events and the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere. FleetCrew was proud to return as a Major Partner of the Rodeo in 2026, supporting an event that means so much to the local community.
Our sponsorship reflects the genuine partnerships FleetCrew has formed with our regional agency branches. Together, we look for opportunities to support local events and give back to the communities in which we operate. Events such as the Rodeo bring people together, attract visitors, support local businesses and generate valuable economic activity throughout the region. The benefits continue well beyond the arena, which is why FleetCrew is proud to support an event that means so much to Mount Isa and the wider North West Queensland community.
Held over three days in August at Buchanan Park, the 2026 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo attracted cowboys and cowgirls from every Australian state and New Zealand, including competitors from rodeo communities across regional and rural Queensland.
The program brought together some of Australia’s best rodeo talent across bull riding, bareback bronc, saddle bronc, barrel racing, roping and steer wrestling. The field included 200 female competition starts and 240 junior competition starts, with the youngest riders aged just six.
More than a sporting event, the Rodeo is an important meeting place for people from across the Outback. It brings competitors, families, visitors and businesses together while placing Mount Isa and the surrounding region firmly in the national spotlight. The event has been part of the city since 1959 and now attracts crowds of more than 25,000 people each year.
As a locally operated business with strong ties to the community, FleetCrew was pleased to support the organisers, volunteers and competitors who made the 2026 event possible.
Enjoying the rodeo are (from left) FleetCrew Cloncurry Agency Owners Ray and Ash; FleetCrew Co Founder and Director Ben Harris with his wife, Karen; and FleetCrew Mount Isa Agency Owners Troy and Liza.
The action in Mount Isa does not end when the final Rodeo event finishes for the day. During Rodeo Week, Fred Brophy’s Boxing Troupe sets up its famous tent in the car park of the Isa Hotel, where the unofficial festivities continue well into the night.
The troupe is Australia’s last remaining travelling boxing tent and carries on a form of Outback entertainment that was once common at agricultural shows, race meetings and rodeos. Fred Brophy, a fourth-generation showman, introduces his travelling fighters before beating his drum and calling for willing challengers from the crowd to step forward.
Fred then matches each challenger with a member of his troupe and referees the bout. Visitors and participants regularly describe the experience as great fun, with good sportsmanship between fighters and a lively atmosphere inside the tent. For most visitors, the appeal is simply being part of the enthusiastic crowd and watching one of Australia’s most distinctive Outback traditions.
The troupe travels to selected events throughout regional Queensland and the Northern Territory. Fred Brophy has been bringing his boxing tent to Mount Isa for more than 40 years, and it has become one of the best-known traditions surrounding Rodeo Week.
Inside the famous Fred Brophy Boxing Troupe Tent
Mount Isa also reached a national television audience in 2026 when it featured in the Outback Queensland episode of Channel 9’s Travel Guides.
The episode followed the travellers on a journey through Mount Isa, Winton and Longreach, introducing viewers to some of the experiences, characters and landscapes that make this part of Queensland so memorable. Their time in Mount Isa included a taste of rodeo life and a visit to the Hard Times Mine at Outback at Isa.
FleetCrew Mount Isa made an appearance while our vehicles were featured throughout the episode, helping the travellers make their way across the region.
FleetCrew welcoming some of the Guides
Around 17 kilometres from the centre of Mount Isa, Lake Moondarra offers a striking change of scenery from the surrounding red dirt and rocky ranges.
The lake is popular with locals and visitors for fishing, boating, canoeing, birdwatching and picnics. It is also one of the best places around Mount Isa to slow down and watch the colours change across the water as the sun sets.
Visitors can now experience the lake from a new perspective with Moondarra Cruises. Launched in 2026, Mount Isa’s first commercial lake cruise operation offers another way to enjoy this local landmark, with cruises aboard The Thomson Princess. It is an exciting addition to the city’s tourism experiences and another reason to leave some spare time in your Mount Isa itinerary.
The Thomson Princess on her maiden voyage on Lake Moondarra.
Explore Our Recreational 4×4 Range
Located between Mount Isa and Cloncurry, the former Mary Kathleen uranium mine and township is one of the region’s most fascinating historical sites.
Mary Kathleen was established during the 1950s and once supported a community of around 1,000 people, complete with a school, cinema, hospital, banks, sporting facilities and shops. Mining ceased in 1981, and the town was subsequently closed.
Today, visitors can still see remnants of the old township, including concrete slabs, roads and parts of its original layout. The former mine site, with its distinctive blue water, has also become a well-known sight for travellers passing through North West Queensland.
Conditions can vary and access to some areas may be restricted, so check current local advice before travelling. Visitors should remain on permitted roads, obey all signage and never enter closed or unsafe areas*.
Provided you follow the safety instructions and respect the site, Mary Kathleen offers an interesting walk through an important part of North West Queensland’s mining and community history.
* There are important safety precautions to follow. Mary Kathleen is a former uranium mine, and the Queensland Government identifies naturally occurring and residual radioactivity, the open pit, waste rock stockpiles and asbestos-containing building materials as potential risks. Do not swim in or make contact with the mine water
Ben Harris of FleetCrew taking in the eerie blue water of the old Mary Kathleen mine
After a day at the Rodeo or exploring the region, Mount Isa has plenty of good options for a meal or coffee.
Bambino Espresso is a popular local stop for breakfast, brunch and specialty coffee. It is an ideal place to begin the day before heading out of town.
For relaxed pub dining, the Isa Hotel’s Rodeo Bar & Grill serves steaks, barbecue favourites, burgers, pizzas and familiar pub classics. The Rodeo theme makes it a particularly fitting stop during your visit.
The Buffs Club is another Mount Isa institution. This not-for-profit community club is open seven days a week and offers dining at the Frog & Toad Grill, a café, sports bar and regular entertainment. It is a comfortable choice for families, groups or anyone looking for an easy meal after a long day on the road.
The Buffs Club, a Mount Isa institution, dating back to the 1930s
Having a suitable vehicle gives you the flexibility to see more of Mount Isa and the wider North West Queensland region at your own pace.
FleetCrew Mount Isa and nearby FleetCrew Cloncurry offer comfortable, recent-model and reliable recreational 4WDs for short and long-term hire. Whether you are flying into the region for the Rodeo, visiting friends and family or planning a longer Outback road trip, our local teams can help you select a vehicle suited to your journey.
Both branches are operated by experienced local automotive businesses with their own workshop facilities and mechanical teams. Along with preparing and maintaining FleetCrew vehicles, they can provide valuable local knowledge about regional driving conditions and the places worth adding to your itinerary.
From the atmosphere of the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo to a sunset at Lake Moondarra and the remains of Mary Kathleen, there is plenty to discover across North West Queensland.
Contact FleetCrew Mount Isa or FleetCrew Cloncurry to enquire about recreational 4WD hire for your next Outback Queensland trip.
If you have an enquiry or would like more information then please fill in the enquiry form and we will get back to you asap during business hours.
If you are seeking a quote for a particular vehicle/s, please visit our Get A Quote page or if want to further information, please visit our FAQs page.
Providing 4WD Hire Vehicles to Australia’s Eastern States from QLD, ACT and NSW.
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5.00pm
