Charleville Cosmos Centre, Media Release, 22 June 2026
The stars have aligned for Outback Queensland, with the Charleville Cosmos Centre earning national recognition as one of Australia’s must-visit experiences in Tripadvisor’s prestigious 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.
The Charleville attraction secured the No. 6 spot in Tripadvisor’s Top Attractions in Australia, placing it alongside some of the country’s most iconic tourism experiences and landmarks.
Based entirely on reviews and ratings from travellers, the annual awards recognise experiences that consistently deliver exceptional visitor experiences. Less than one per cent of Tripadvisor’s eight million listings worldwide receive the coveted Best of the Best distinction.
CEO of Outback Queensland Tourism Association, Denise Brown, advised the recognition was worthy.
“We’ve been saying for a long time now that Outback Queensland is something else.
“Charleville might be small but it’s one of Australia’s leading regional tourism destinations with attractions such as the Cosmos Centre, WWII Secret Base, bilby experiences and more.
Added Denise, “Recognition such as this shines a spotlight on Queensland’s homegrown experiences and demonstrates that you don’t need to travel interstate or even internationally to have these amazing, bucket-list worthy experiences.”
The Charleville Cosmos Centre offers visitors both day and nighttime experiences with powerful telescopes, interactive exhibits, guided tours, and full-dome films in Queensland’s largest planetarium.
Alex Macdonald, Charleville Cosmos Centre Coordinator said recognition of the Centre’s excellence was welcome.
Said Alex, “We’re thrilled with the announcement but not surprised about the impact that our facility has on people – it’s a very special experience to see the night skies from out here, and the passion of our guides really shines through.”
Adding, “While we live and breathe astronomy every day, we know that it’s more than just stars.
“Our guides can’t wait to share the skies with visitors, and they understand that it’s the connection and memories that really bring an experience to life which is something that I believe we do exceptionally well.”
Alex advised the feedback also demonstrated a growing interest in Dark Sky Tourism.
He said, “Interest in the Centre continues to grow year on year and reflects a growing desire amongst travellers for astro tourism experiences.
“We’ve welcomed over 30,000 visitors over the past 12 months to see the universe from our world class facility, in an environment with very little light pollution.”
Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards celebrate the highest-rated attractions worldwide, with winners determined by the quality and quantity of traveller reviews submitted over a 12-month period.
Tripadvisor praised the attraction for its knowledgeable guides, hands-on experiences and welcoming atmosphere, describing it as “a solid pick for anyone curious about the night sky”.
Travellers highlighted the Centre’s professional telescopes, engaging presentations and ability to make astronomy accessible even to first-time stargazers.
For more information about the Charleville Cosmos Centre, visit www.cosmoscentre.com.
