Convenient & Reliable Car Hire in Charters Towers

Experience a night at Tors Drive-In

Have you been to the drive-ins before? There's something special about experiencing a movie in the drive-ins. Stop by Tors for a nostalgic event that everyone should have at least once. Tors Drive-In has been dazzling audiences by putting movies on the big screen since 1966. With upgraded equipment, you'll be able to watch new movies with clear images and audio from your car radio. A film under the stars is a great romantic date night activity or a fun way to see a new movie with friends. Pop into the Café and Candy Bar to grab all your favourite movie snacks and hot buttery popcorn. And if you're craving something a little more, they even serve hot meals.

Unwind in Nature at Weir Park Charters Towers

Spend a day in nature at Burdekin Weir Park, a lovely destination 15 minutes from the centre of Charters Towers. Sit back and enjoy the scenery with stunning water views and lush bush surrounding the reservoir. There is much to see and do at Weir Park, like water sports. Take a dip into the reservoir for a swim in cool waters and enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding or boating, too. Weir Park is also a terrific local fishing spot with the opportunity to catch Barramundi, Black Brim, Mulloway and Sleepy Cod. Keep an eye out for wildlife with many species living in the area, including birds like Jabirus, Egrets, Brolgas, and Terns, to name a few, and animals like the Eastern Water Dragon, which can be found in trees in the river. On land, there are BBQ facilities to cook up a nice lunch and playgrounds where the kids can run wild. Weir Park offers a fantastic day of fun in the sun with family.

Try Gold Panning at the Miner's Cottage

Looking for something fun to do with the family? Bring the kids to Miner's Cottage and try your luck at finding gold! Miner's Cottage offers an exciting activity for the whole family, where you can learn how to pan for gold and see if you get lucky. Visitors will sift through gravel and sand sourced from local creeks and old mine tailings, trying to find any gold within. This experience was established over 30 years ago by a retired prospector who also runs private tours too. While there are no guarantees that visitors will strike gold, it's an amusing way to try prospecting right in the heart of town. Your session will give you just over an hour to sift through your scoops of sand. At the end, you'll be able to keep what you find, as well as receive a miner's licence certificate to remember the day by.

Climb Towers Hill

Towers Hill Lookout is said to be the focal point of Charters Towers. The lookout sits atop the town at 420 metres above and offers sensational views over the buildings and surrounding areas. Park at the bottom and climb to the top of Towers Hill. This walk is a great way to get some exercise, and you can take your time reading the informative signs along the way. The signs display the history of the area and the significance of this space. The story goes that an Indigenous boy named Jupiter Mosman first found gold here in 1872, which sparked the start of the gold rush era. Another highlight is the WWII Bunkers halfway up the hill. If you have your smartphone, you can download an app and participate in an immersive AR encounter, moving through military bunkers and interacting with artefacts. Discover the history in a wonderful setting, and for an even more memorable experience, grab some dinner and appreciate it with a spectacular sunset and a gorgeous view over Charters Towers.

Swap Ghost Stories

Visit the town after dark and walk the streets of Charters Towers with a haunted-historian guide. As the sun sets over this charming rural town, the ghosts and ghouls come out to play, bringing the eeriness of this once-thriving gold mining hotspot. Your guide will retell the haunted past, breathing life back into scary stories like the ghost in the glass, spooky goings on of a haunted hotel and, of course, the renowned tale of the 'Tragedy on Mosman Street'. You'll also get to see the creepy stock exchange building after hours and learn about the site's history. Whether you're a paranormal chaser or just coming to share the thrill of stories from across the veil, this haunted ghost tour is an exciting outing full of thrilling adventure. This isn't one for the faint of heart.

10,000 Steps Community Walkways

Don't spend a beautiful day cooped up inside. Instead, get your walking shoes on and get your steps up by walking around the local area. Seize the day and explore the town with one of the 3 walking trails that form part of the 10,000 Steps Community Walkways. There are paths for all fitness levels, like the short and easy Park Loop, which comes in at under 500 metres. For a moderate walk, take The City Trail, a 3 km pathway which you can walk, ride or jog. Lastly, if it's a challenge you're after, then consider the Towers Hill Trail, which takes an average of about 45 minutes to complete. Walking the streets is one of the best ways to get to know a new neighbourhood. So get your body moving and roam the town.

See Some Texas Longhorns

Jump in the car and head a short 15 minutes from Charters Towers to the Texas Longhorn Tours. It is an outback encounter where you can witness the unique herd of Texas Longhorns and see them up close. Embark on a tour through the farm to see some of the longest-horned cattle in the world, which are descendants of the herds that walked in the great trail herd from way back in the 1800s. Take one of the last horse-drawn wagon ride tours in Australia, or skip the wagon ride and get on board the safari tour. Each tour offers a remarkable encounter with some of the town's icons.