Escape to Paradise: Burke & Wills Motel awaits in Mt Isa!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average sanitized hotel review. We're diving headfirst into the Outback experience of Escape to Paradise: Burke & Wills Motel in Mt Isa! And let me tell you, after experiencing this, Paradise is definitely a relative term.
Let's Talk Accessibility (and My Stumbling Feet)
First things first, accessibility. This is where my inner comedian, who is also occasionally a klutz, shines. The website vaguely mentions "facilities for disabled guests." Okay, good, but let's be honest, "facilities" can mean anything from a ramp that looks like it was built by a drunken leprechaun to a room with a grab bar that's actually USEFUL. I can say it was mostly usable, and the elevator wasn’t the rickety thing I was dreading. Getting around the grounds, though? A little uneven. Just say you're walking with style - and take it slow.
On-Site Grub: Restaurants, Lounges & A Buffet That Became a Marathon
Right, food. This is where things get… interesting. The brochure promised restaurants, and it delivered. Though “restaurant” in Mt. Isa might mean something different than what you're used to in, say, Paris.
Restaurants & Dining:
- A la carte in restaurant - check, but the menu had more options than the buffet if u don't like the buffet.
- Alternative meal arrangement - they did try. My gluten intolerance was met with… bemusement.
- Asian Cuisine in restaurant - was the chef from some secret corner in Asia? I don't know, but the food was pretty good.
- Bar - A must in the Outback! The bar was a welcome sight after a long day of nothing. Beers were cold and the bar staff were actually friendly - a rarity these days, it seems.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Okay, the breakfast buffet. It was an experience. Imagine a marathon of bacon, eggs, and a never-ending queue for coffee. They had, I guess, some options for my gluten-free needs (the "special bread" that tasted suspiciously like a hard hockey puck). Breakfast service!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Coffee was… there. Not amazing, not terrible. Just… coffee.
- Desserts in restaurant - not too many, but the ones I did sample were wonderful.
- Happy hour - Yes, please to happy hour!
- International cuisine in restaurant - I'd say it was mostly "Outback-influenced" cuisine with a dash of "we-try-our-best-to-be-international."
- Poolside bar - A lifesaver under the scorching sun. Imagine sinking a cold beer after a long day - that was the motivation!
- Restaurants - There were multiple, I'm not sure I hit them all.
- Room service [24-hour]: Now that's what I'm here for. This was a lifesaver!
- Salad in restaurant - Standard.
- Snack bar - Always open, always there.
- Vegetarian restaurant - It had a few options.
- Western breakfast - The sausage was, as always, a great find.
Dining, drinking, and snacking: A decent range of options, but the quality varied, so choose carefully.
Relaxation Station: Pools, Spas & My Battle with the Sauna
Right, relaxation. This is where Escape to Paradise really sells itself.
- Pools & Soaking: The outdoor swimming pool was a good size and clean. It was a welcome respite from the desert heat. The pool with a view was decent.
- Spa & Treatments:
- Body scrub: Didn't have one.
- Body wrap: Didn't have one.
- Foot bath: Didn't have one. Maybe next time.
- Gym/fitness: Okay, it had one. It was, how shall we say, "well-used". There was a treadmill.
- Massage: I'm all for massage.
- Sauna: I love a sauna! This one was nice.
- Spa/sauna: The spa was nice, the sauna.
Cleanliness & Safety: Sanitizers, Staff Training & My Germaphobe Anxiety
Look, I’m not a complete germaphobe, but hey, this is a rough town!
- Cleanliness is Important: Overall, the motel seemed to be doing its best. I'm not going to lie, after walking around Mt. Isa all day, there's a little bit of everything.
- Safety Protocols: They definitely had cleaning protocols in place. Staff was trained, and hand sanitizer stations plentiful (a big plus). They had the usual suite of features:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Check.
- Hand sanitizer: Check.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Thank god.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: I saw it.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They took it seriously, which was reassuring.
- Cashless payment service: Check!
Rooms, Glorious Rooms (and the Quest for a Good Night's Sleep)
Okay, the rooms. This is where the Burke & Wills really shines.
Amenities:
- Additional toilet – I’ve never needed one of these.
- Air conditioning – Essential. Thank god I’m not sleeping in a shed.
- Alarm clock – Check.
- Bathtubs - They had them!
- Blackout curtains - Absolutely necessary!
- Coffee/tea maker - This is a must.
- Complimentary tea - They had it.
- Desk - I was able to work from the motel.
- Extra long bed - Yes. Extra long.
- Free bottled water - Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer - Functional.
- In-room safe box - Check.
- Internet access – LAN - Check! Fast, too!
- Internet access – wireless - Check, and reliable.
- Ironing facilities - Didn't need it.
- Laptop workspace - Yep, worked.
- Mini Bar - They have it.
- Non-smoking - Check.
- On-demand movies - Didn't use.
- Private bathroom - Check.
- Refrigerator - Thank god.
- Satellite/cable channels - Entertainment!
- Seating area - I wanted to relax!
- Shower - Yes.
- Slippers - A lovely touch.
- Socket near the bed - Essential.
- Soundproofing - Okay, it's not a soundproof castle, but it was decent.
- Telephone - Who even uses those anymore?
- Bed - Comfortable.
- Window that opens - A bonus.
Room Sanitiization Opt-out? I didn't get the option. I didn't mind too much.
Services & Conveniences: The Good, the Bad & the Surprisingly Functional
- Services and conveniences:
- Airport transfer: Easy, quick, and painless.
- Business facilities: They were there.
- Cash withdrawal: Always handy.
- Concierge: Friendly and helpful.
- Dry cleaning: No issues, but limited selection.
- Elevator: Thank goodness.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Yes.
- Food delivery: From outside, yeah.
- Ironing service: Didn't use, but offered.
- Laundry service: Handy.
- Luggage storage: Yep.
- Meetings: They have rooms for it.
- Meeting stationery: They have it.
- Car park [free of charge]: Check.
- Daily housekeeping: Good.
- Doorman: There was one.
- Safety deposit boxes: Always like them.
- Terrace: Had one.
For the Kids (& the Kid in All of Us)
- For the kids:
- Babysitting service: They offer it.
- Family/child friendly: Yep. I spotted some kids.
Getting Around: Wheels, Wings & Outback Driving
- Getting around:
- Airport transfer: Easy, quick, and painless.
- Car park [free of charge]: Check.
- Car park [on-site]: Check.
- Taxi service: Yep.
Overall Impression: Worth the Escape to Paradise? (Maybe)
Look, the Burke & Wills Motel isn't a five-star luxury experience. But in the heart of the Outback, it's a solid, reliable option. It's clean, has good facilities, and the staff is friendly. It's a good base for exploring Mt Isa. If you're looking for a
Phuket Paradise Found: Unbelievable Pai Tan Villas Await!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause this ain't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is MY Mt. Isa adventure, and let me tell you, it's already shaping up to be a hot, dusty, and possibly slightly unhinged experience. We're staying at the Burke & Wills Motel, which, judging from the website, is probably the only place that hasn't been swallowed by the relentless Queensland sun. Let's see what this chaos has in store for us:
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Isa Scramble (a.k.a. "How Do We Even Get Here?")
- Morning (like, REALLY morning): Get to the airport. Ha. Easier said than done. Woke up at 4 am (thanks internal clock, you're a gem). Taxi was late (of course!), which naturally sent me into a minor panic spiral. You know, the kind fueled by lukewarm coffee and the fear of missing a flight to the bloody outback. Finally made it, barely.
- Mid-morning: Flight to Mt. Isa. I'm not a fan of flying. The entire time I'm thinking, "Are we really supposed to trust this metal bird?" The woman next to me was happily knitting a sweater, which I found both calming and deeply irritating. How'd you even learn to knit a sweater?
- Afternoon (the Unpacking Saga): Touchdown! Finally. The air hit me like a wall of hot, dry air. Jesus. The airport looks like a giant tin shed. Grabbed my bag, which weighs more than I do, and waddled over to the rental car. The lady behind the counter seemed mildly amused by my frazzled state (I'm pretty sure I actually resembled the walking dead at this point).
- Late Afternoon: Arrived at the Burke & Wills - WOW, its like, actually pretty nice, with a pool! - Checked in. Honestly, I'm not even sure what day it is anymore. The room is… well, clean-ish. Air con is working, which is the MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW. Unpacked (or, more accurately, dumped everything on the bed), and immediately felt the need for a beer. The pool beckons…
Day 2: The Mine, the Mount, and My Questionable Navigation Skills
- Morning: Now, the whole point of coming here is to see the Mt. Isa Mines. Right? So, tried to book a tour. And guess what? All booked until the end of next week. Fantastic. Absolutely bloody fantastic. (Deep breath, Susan). Turns out everyone wants to see the mine. Okay, plan B. We're driving to the lookout. Apparently, from there, you get an amazing view of…. the mine.
- Mid-morning: Found the lookout! Drove up winding roads – I’m pretty sure I saw a herd of wild camels (or was that a hallucination brought on by the heat?). The view… yeah, it's pretty impressive. The mine looks like a giant, metallic monster swallowing the landscape. Very… industrial. Lots of dust.
- Afternoon (The Case of the Missing Map): Decided to explore the town. I had a map, somewhere. Spent 20 minutes in the car rummaging through my bag, finally found it, opened it, and immediately got lost. Mt. Isa's streets are a labyrinth of twisty, dusty roads. Ended up driving down a dead-end alleyway, nearly getting stuck in a bush. My frustration levels were high.
- Late Afternoon (The Pub Experience): Needed a drink. Found a pub. The locals were friendly. Or, at least, they pretended to tolerate me. Ordered a beer and a parma. Apparently, parma is the national dish of Australia. Ate it. It was… edible. Listened to some bloke tell a story about a fight he had with a kangaroo. True story.
- Evening: Walked back to the motel, which was further than I thought. Sun setting, and I felt like I'd been walking through hell-scape…
Day 3: The Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre (and More Heat-Induced Delirium)
- Morning: Decided to be "cultured." Visit the Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre. Which, I must say, was actually way more interesting than I expected. Skeletons of extinct animals, like giant wombats, and prehistoric kangaroos, and other creatures. It's an actual paleontological Goldmine, apparently, in the Mt. Isa area!
- Mid-day: The museum was relatively short, so I came out feeling pretty confident, and hungry. Grabbed a steak sandwich in town, which was… okay. Nothing to write home about. The heat was still relentless. My t-shirt was starting to stick to me, and I had dust on my teeth.
- Afternoon (Reeling from the Relentless Heat): Back at the motel, and honestly? I'm knackered. The thought of doing anything other than sinking into the pool (which is, I confess, a bit murky) is exhausting.
- Late Afternoon: Pool time. The water is a welcome relief. Watching the sun set over this strange and wonderful town. I think I'll go to bed early tonight. It's going to be an early start for tomorrow…
Day 4: The Cloncurry Connection (And My Inner Child's Wish)
- Morning (The Early Bird Catches the Worm, or at least, the Highway): Woke up absurdly early. Decided to drive to Cloncurry (a little town about an hour away), because I still can't get a tour of the mine and need… something.
- Mid-Morning: Cloncurry. Wow, it is TINY. Like, blink and you'll miss it tiny. Its got a lot of history, as the birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, so there's a museum on that. It's kind of cute. The whole town is so small, everything's walkable, and quiet, and slow. And I bought a hat! (I look ridiculous, which is probably just the heat).
- Afternoon (The Outback Feeling): Driving back to Mt. Isa, the landscape opens up. Endless plains, red dirt, and the occasional lone tree. I think I actually felt the Outback. The feeling of being utterly lost, even though I wasn't lost, you know?
- Evening: Feeling a little sad I didn't fulfill my childhood dream of seeing the mine, so I'm planning to go back on line to try and book a tour for next week. It's a long shot, but hey, maybe I'll get lucky! Otherwise… well, more pool time, I guess.
Day 5: Departure (And A Promise to Return… Maybe)
- Morning: Packing up. So sad to leave the dust and the heat and the mines, but I'm kind of looking forward to AC and clean clothes… Ha, who am I kidding?
- Mid-morning: Flight out. Last look at the endless red landscape.
- Afternoon: Back home. Completely exhausted but also… transformed? Mt. Isa is weird, and dusty, and hot, and… well, it's got a certain something. I'm not sure when, but I tell myself, I will be back…
This is it. It's been a journey.
Moscow's Milk Shake Heaven: The Ultimate Shake Studio Experience!
Escape to Paradise: Burke & Wills Motel - Mt Isa FAQ (Because, Let's Be Honest, You've Got Questions)
Okay, Real Talk: Is Mt Isa Actually Paradise? Or Is That Just Marketing?
Paradise? Look, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Mt Isa isn't exactly *Maui*. But, and this is a big BUT, it's paradise compared to... well, some places I've seen. It's got a certain rugged charm, you know? Like that friend who's got one eyebrow permanently raised but still manages to be the life of the party. And the Burke & Wills? They're kinda that friend, too. They’re... well, we'll get to that. But the *landscape*... the sunsets... they're legitimately stunning. Just don't expect pristine beaches. Expect... red dirt. And the best damn pies you'll ever taste in your LIFE.
The Burke & Wills Motel: Is it actually haunted? Because, I swear, I get weird vibes from old motels.
Haunted? Hmm, I didn't *see* any ghosts, per se. But there's a certain… *ambiance*. Let's just say the wallpaper has probably seen a few things. And the air conditioning unit in my room (Room 27, if you're asking) sounded suspiciously like a disgruntled poltergeist trying to escape. On the plus side, the creaks in the floorboards made it feel like a real Australian adventure, not just a sanitized hotel room! No actual floating spectres, just a healthy dose of "old motel character." Though, I did swear I heard someone *whispering* "Where's the pool?" at 3 AM. Maybe just wind. Maybe.
What about the pool? Does it *actually* have a pool? And is it swimmable? Because, heat.
Oh, the pool. The *pool*. Yes, it has a pool. It *does* exist. Is it swimmable? Well... it's technically water. And yes, it did look inviting after that long drive. The water was… let’s go with "refreshingly cool" – meaning, probably straight from the tap, and not heated. And, I'm *pretty* sure I saw a family of ducks practicing their synchronized swimming routines when I looked out my window one morning. The pool *area*? It’s kind of a no-fuss, functional rectangle of chill. But hey, it’s *there*, which, in the heat of Mt Isa, is a win in my book. Bring your own towel, though. Mine mysteriously went missing. Suspicious...
The Rooms: What are they *really* like? Like, are they clean? Is there a shower? What about the TV?
Okay, the Rooms. Alright, so, let's get real. Some of the décor... it's a *vibe*. Think "vintage motel chic" meets "things that haven't been updated since the 70s," and, honestly, I kinda loved it! A certain rustic charm. Are they clean? Yes, *mostly*. I mean, I didn't see any… *unwanted guests*… so that’s a plus. The important bits – the bed, the sheets – seemed clean enough. The shower? Yup, it *had* a shower! And hot water. Praise be. Pressure was a little… *enthusiastic*. The sort that makes you feel like you're being sandblasted. The TV... well, it *probably* worked? I think I managed to find a channel showing old westerns, which somehow felt appropriate. And a bonus: a mini-fridge! Crucial. Especially for the cold ones.
Food & Drink: Is there a restaurant? Or am I doomed to eat instant noodles the whole time?
Right, sustenance. Essential. There's likely a restaurant on site, I think I saw one; I spent most of my time at the little bakery down the street on the first day (damn pies!), or at the local pub. Mt Isa is not exactly a culinary paradise, but you can find food and a cold beer. Don’t be afraid to venture out! Try asking for recommendations. Locals know best! And, yes, instant noodles are always an option, but honestly? Embrace the local flavors. Even if they’re slightly… unconventional.
The Staff: Are they friendly? Because sometimes, motel staff can be… well, you know.
The staff? Ah, the staff! They were… characterful. Let's go with that. Actually, that is a lie, I was exhausted and didn't actually speak to the staff, so I have no idea. But in fairness you don’t stay in such a location and *expect* the staff to be super friendly.
What's there to *do* in Mt Isa? Besides, you know, the motel…
Okay, okay, the town itself. The Burke & Wills *is* a good launchpad, but you can't just stay *there!* Mt Isa is a mining town, so there's a lot of, well, mining. You can do a mine tour (I didn't, because claustrophobia and I don't get along), visit the Riversleigh Fossil Centre (fascinating, I hear!), wander around the town (it has a certain… gritty charm), and, most importantly, watch the sunset. Trust me on the sunset. Drink it in. It's seriously spectacular. And, if you're lucky, you might even spot a camel! Yep, you read that right. Camels. Don't ask. Just… be prepared.
Would you go back?
You know... yes. I totally would. The Burke & Wills isn't exactly the Ritz, but it's got *soul*. It's an experience. It's a story. It's a chance to disconnect from the city life and immerse yourself in Australian life. The heat, the dirt, the quirky things. It's probably not for everyone, but if you like a bit of adventure, and you're not afraid of a slightly… *lived-in* feel, then absolutely. Yes, I'd go back. I need to find the motel cleaner to tell them to get rid of those ducks!
