Everything You Need To Know About the Rex Australian Milk Run [August 2025 Review]

In August 2025, I had the chance to fly 2 of the coolest routes in aviation on the Rex Airlines Australian milk run. This service serves as a link to remove villages in outback Queensland, and it’s available to book as a normal passenger.

While the flight isn’t exactly the most comfortable (more on that later), it’s something I wouldn’t hesitate to do again. It’s a trip that truly opens your eyes to how people live in the middle of nowhere.

I’ll detail how to book the milk run, where it routes, and review each hop along my journey.

What Is Rex?

Many of you reading this will probably have no idea what Rex is, and I’ll admit that I was unfamiliar with the brand until I started reading up on it, too. Rex, short for “regional express,” is an airline in Australia whose sole focus is to fly to smaller cities and towns throughout Australia.

You’re probably familiar with Qantas or Virgin Australia, and even the more remote flying that those 2 airlines do pales in comparison to the places Rex flies to. Unfortunately, Rex recently filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell off a number of its larger aircraft, so the airline that currently exists has an all-Saab 340 fleet.

Many of Rex’s routes are heavily subsidized, since passenger numbers alone wouldn’t be enough to support the operation. On the particular flight I flew departing Brisbane (BNE), the entire route was subsidized by the Queensland government.

Rex Australian Milk Run Routes

Rex actually operates several milk runs throughout Australia, but my friend and I booked the 2 longest flights in their system: Brisbane to Mount Isa (8 stops) and Mount Isa to Cairns (5 stops). I’ve previously done the Alaska Airlines milk run, but according to the number of stops, Rex’s milk run beats the Alaska version.

If you’ve never heard of any of these towns, that’s perfectly understandable! These are all small villages dotting the Australian desert, most only a flight of about half an hour or so apart. The total flight length from Brisbane to Mount Isa lasted a whopping 9 hours. Though there were a few stops to get off at, the day was still incredibly long, especially on such a small aircraft.

Booking the Rex Australian Milk Run

The price of this remote flight is not cheap. At around $550, it’s the price of what you’d normally pay for a cheap transcontinental flight in the U.S. in first class.

To book, start at Rex’s website and enter the origin and final destination for your milk run. The website will guide you to the days of the week the flight is available, and you’ll see the extended length and number of stops indicated.

I purchased my flight using the Platinum Card^® from American Express so I could earn 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on the ticket.

Rex Australian Milk Run From Brisbane to Mount Isa

The first flight I took was from Brisbane (BNE) to the relatively large outback city of Mount Isa (ISA), in the northwest corner of Queensland. This flight made the following stops:

• Brisbane (BNE)
• Toowoomba Wellcamp (WTB)
• Charleville (CTL)
• Quilpie (ULP)
• Windorah (WNR)
• Birdsville (BVI)
• Bedourie (BEU)
• Boulia (BQL)
• Mount Isa (ISA)

Brisbane

Brisbane was the largest airport we saw on this flight, so when we arrived and checked in at the Rex counter, we tried to soak up as many of the modern amenities on offer as possible. The flight departed at 8 a.m., so it really wasn’t possible to fly in that morning from somewhere else to get onto this flight (and even if it was possible, I wouldn’t recommend it). My traveling companion and I stayed at the Pullman Brisbane Airport the night before, which was a comfortable hotel within walking distance of the terminal.

When flying these smaller planes, there are strict weight restrictions, and your bags are weighed. If you have a normal-sized carry-on bag, you’re forced to check it, as there is limited space in the cabin. While there are overhead bins, these can only take a small bag, so be sure to follow the checked bag and carry-on bag guidelines for the appropriate size and weight limits.

I actually found the overhead bin to be roomier than I’d expected, since I tend to overstuff my backpack, but I could’ve also stored it underneath the seat in front, as well.

Once through security, it was time to charge up devices for the last time (the Saab 340 doesn’t have power ports) and grab some snacks.

Hot Tip:

Even though the Saab340 may not be a comfortable ride within Australia, you can still fly in style to Australia using miles and points.

Having watched several YouTube videos, I knew getting food on this long journey would be an issue, so I went into one of the airport’s several convenience stores and grabbed a few sodas, chips and nuts. Since there wasn’t be any refrigeration on the flight, I didn’t want to bring any sandwiches that would need to be kept cold, so I stuck to dry snacks only.

Boarding commenced a few minutes late because of a delay in getting a passenger in a wheelchair onto the plane. As these Saabs boarded by air stairs and not jet bridge, that added a layer of complexity. Luckily, Brisbane had a manual lift machine that could help bring the passenger on board, but it was still nothing like a normal jet bridge.

Upon boarding, we were told to go down a set of stairs and out onto the apron and walk to the plane, which was parked nearby. This Saab 340 previously flew for American Eagle, so it was kind of cool to be flying a plane that I likely had once flown back in the U.S. Small world!

On board, we were greeted with a 1-2, all-economy configuration. It certainly wasn’t the most comfortable ride ever, but it got the job done.

There isn’t a premium cabin on this flight, so if you’re looking for extra legroom, get a seat in row 1 or 6, which are the exit rows.

I was in seat 6A, the single exit row seat on the left, which I upgraded to for AU$10 (around $6.50) during online check-in. The seat pitch seemed similar to the other nearby seats, so while there likely was a little extra room, it wasn’t entirely noticeable. That said, for this long of a flight, every inch counted!

Hot Tip:

The exit row seats with extra legroom are over the wing, so the view is slightly obstructed. If the view outside is very important to you, you may wish to select a seat that is further back, where the view is unobstructed.

Toowoomba Wellcamp

The first flight to Toowoomba Wellcamp was uneventful. It was a little less than an hour of flight time, and when we arrived in Toowoomba, those continuing onward were asked to remain on board. This leg, like most legs, featured full service, which included the flight attendant offering tea, coffee, a bottle of water, and a sweet or savory snack. This array of refreshments was offered on nearly every flight, and it was the exact same offering (there was no change in snacks throughout the day).

At Toowoomba, we picked up enough passengers to create a fully loaded flight to our next town, Charleville.

Charleville

Upon arrival in Charleville, we were told we needed to exit the aircraft for it to be refueled. This was the first of 2 refueling stops on our journey, and it provided a chance to exit the plane and stretch our legs for a few minutes. Those continuing onward could leave their bags on board but had to take their boarding passes so they could reboard the plane when the time came.

We had about 20 minutes inside the terminal, and I was quite impressed by how modern this airport was for it being such a remote village. To be honest, I’ve seen worse, smaller airports in the U.S.! While the terminal was basic, it featured a single rental car counter, a check-in desk, restrooms, and, the most important part, a cafe! You’re probably wondering why I’d get so excited over a cafe, but this was the only opportunity to grab a bite to eat on this 9-hour journey.

The pilots and flight attendants even stopped in for a quick bite, and you could find an array of pastries, sandwiches, wraps, chips, and beverages. I had a butter chicken phyllo pastry, which was actually quite outstanding! With a can of lemonade, it came to around $8, which I thought was a great deal for a quick lunch in a remote village. Everyone disembarked, and you could tell the locals on this route would quickly run to the cafe to grab a quick sandwich or to use the restrooms.

Hot Tip:

I highly recommend getting food during this stop. The journey to Mount Isa is long, and it is very refreshing to have some fresh food to munch on without having to rely on packaged snacks.

The Saab 340 featured 1 restroom in the front of the cabin, and it was extremely small. There was no sink, in fact, and I needed to contort myself to get inside. Make use of the restroom facilities at rest stops in towns like Charleville!

Quilpie

There was nothing special about the stop in Quilpie, and passengers continuing on were asked to remain on board. We were on the ground for about 20 minutes, and this was one of the longer stops we had to remain on board for, as cargo had to be loaded.

Windorah

Windorah was the second fuel stop of the day, and as such, all passengers were asked to disembark upon arrival. Windorah was also the crew’s formal rest stop for the trip, so while we explored the small terminal building, the crew headed inside a back room for their lunch break.

There was absolutely nothing to see in Windorah. The terminal building wasn’t walkable to town, so the most we could do was pace in the parking lot and the terminal building (which resembled a trailer). Like Charleville, Windorah featured an actual restroom, so this was the time to go!

In front of the terminal building was a vending machine that sat empty, along with a refrigerator and microwave with a sign advertising cheap pies and sausage rolls. It appeared the fridge was empty, so it’s worth noting that, despite the long break, there were absolutely no refreshments here at Windorah.

While the plane filled, the crew took about a 20-minute lunch break, so we were basically left to our own devices to pass the time. There was a reliable cell signal, though.

Birdsville

Birdsville is a unique stop on the milk run and one of the most lively stops on the trip. The airport sits right in the middle of the town, and despite its population of only 100, it’s actually one of the towns along the route that flyers most look forward to.

A short walk from the airport is the famous Birdsville Hotel, which serves beer and food to weary travelers who drive along the Birdsville Track. A little farther down is the Birdsville Bakery, an institution in this part of the world, serving pastries, breads, sandwiches, and more.

You’re probably wondering why this town isn’t used as the crew rest stop. That’s primarily because of the length of flights on all the other legs. Windorah seems to be the true halfway point, and because the flight gets refueled there, it makes for a perfect break period. However, there are far more amenities in Birdsville, and especially for passengers who want to grab a quick pint or pastry, Birdsville would make a lot more sense as a rest stop.

The rest stop isn’t necessarily designed around passengers, but some flyers report online and in videos that the crew knows that Birdsville is the more desirable city to stop at, and they’ll proactively put off their rest break till Birdsville, especially if the flights are running early and there are no snags along the journey. You obviously won’t know if this is the case until you fly that day.

On our trip, we asked the pilot earlier in the day if things were looking on time for an extended break in Birdsville, and she said yes. However, the slight delay in Quilpie loading cargo ate up the time we would have had in Birdsville, and so we only stopped for a few minutes before loading up and flying off to Bedourie.

Bedourie and Boulia

Bedourie and Boulie were both short stops. We had just enough time to land, offload a few mail bags and cargo crates, load up any new passengers, and then immediately fly off to the next city. These were stops where we were asked not to exit the plane.

Mount Isa

Mount Isa was the final city on the Brisbane-to-Mount Isa milk run. After an over-9-hour day flying on a Saab 340, Mount Isa, a small outback city in the middle of nowhere — but far larger than any of the other towns we visited that day — was a welcome sight.

While Mount Isa is larger than the other towns, it’s still very remote. But it does offer more hotels, restaurants, and other comforts than any of the other locations. Mount Isa is also the only city, besides Brisbane, that is served by Qantas. It’s a major mining community, so there’s a regular stream of workers heading to and from the mine.

If you’re doing this milk run in one day, which many people do, you’ll want to stay the night in Mount Isa. The only chain hotel in the city is the Ibis Styles Mt Isa Verona, which is part of the ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty program.

While it’s the hotel most people seem to stay at, I can say, having visited here, that it’s an absolute dump, and the rooms are unclean with stains and dirt everywhere. It’s really going to be your best choice in this town, however, so it’s the kind of place where you just need to suck it up for the evening.

Rex Australian Milk Run From Mount Isa to Cairns

If you’re really up for an adventure, you can take the northbound milk run from Mount Isa to Cairns (CNS). This is a much shorter milk run than the flight from Brisbane to Mount Isa, but it is a great way to get from Mount Isa to one of the larger Australian cities on the coast.

To do this milk run, you need to wait 2 full days after you land in Mount Isa from the Brisbane run. This is more than enough time to explore Mount Isa, but could be seen by many as way too much time in the city. However, after spending a full 9 hours on a Saab 340, a few days’ recovery isn’t so bad!

Many people refer to this northbound flight as the double-cream milk run, since it makes a loop bringing you back to the east coast of Queensland. This flight stops at:

• Mount Isa (ISA)
• Doomadgee (DMD)
• Burketown (BUC)
• Mornington Island (ONG)
• Normanton (NTN)
• Cairns (CNS)

Mount Isa

The flight to Doomadgee leaves at 9:15 a.m., so it’s an early start. Mount Isa airport is not big by any means, and you should be through security in a matter of minutes. The terminal is basic, but there is a small cafe where you can grab a sandwich before the flight. Since this flight is only 5 stops, there isn’t as much of a concern to grab food for the day, but you should definitely eat before the flight departs.

Doomadgee

Doomadgee is the first stop along this milk run, and you’re allowed off the aircraft for a few minutes before reboarding. I highly suggest taking advantage of these moments to step off the plane. Not only is there a chance to grab some fresh air, but because the plane is quite cramped, it’s a chance for you to stretch your legs.

Doomadgee is a primitive airport with a single terminal building. There is a restroom inside, so use if you need to.

On this relatively short stop, I got the chance to see a Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) plane land behind us and park next to our plane. Within a few seconds, an ambulance pulled alongside, and a patient was transferred. In these extremely remote communities, if someone becomes sick or injured, they rely on the RFDS for life-saving care. There are very few ambulances in the outback, and the small RFDS planes are able to coordinate care and get people to much larger hospitals, such as those near its base at Mount Isa.

As someone with emergency medical experience, I found this extremely fascinating. I spent the time off the plane glued to the fence, watching the carefully coordinated patient transfer and trying to take in the moment of seeing such a fascinating operation in the middle of nowhere.

Burketown

At Burketown, we were asked to remain on board the aircraft. It’s a very short stop, and not many people got off. Before we knew it, we were back in the air.

Mornington Island

The trek to Mornington Island is the first time on the milk run adventure where the aircraft ventures out over open waters. While it’s not a long flight over the water by any means, the safety demonstration on this leg was a bit different than usual, as the flight attendant described the use of life jackets, just in case.

It was an absolutely stunning flight into Mornington Island. We headed out over the water and then circled around the island before landing. When we landed, it almost felt like we were in Hawaii. With its tropical climate, perfect weather, and no clouds in the sky, we almost forgot we were actually in Australia.

We were allowed off the plane here, and the crew took a short break. There was not really anywhere to go, but we were welcome to explore the terminal building, where there was a restroom and a small cafe, or enjoy the weather outside, as most passengers ended up doing.

Normanton

Normanton was another stop where we were allowed off the plane. On this 5-leg flight to Cairns, 3 of the stops allowed us to get off the plane, which made this particular set of flights far more fun for me.

At Normanton, the terminal was primitive, like at most regional airports, but there was a window where you could grab a snack or sausage roll. And there was a bathroom. Most passengers congregated outside the terminal building, but there really wasn’t anything special here other than the ability to get out and stretch your legs.

During our stop, another Royal Flying Doctor Service plane landed shortly after our plane, presumably to pick up another sick patient.

Cairns

Our final leg to Cairns took a little over an hour and was the longest leg of this 5-segment trip. Interestingly, during the inflight service, the flight attendant offered banana bread cake in addition to the usual offerings of a sweet or savory snack. I’m not sure if this was because of the length of this particular flight, but we didn’t receive such a cake on even longer flights from Brisbane to Mount Isa.

Cairns is a tropical major city in the northeast of Australia, and the landing provided excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. Upon landing, we parked at a remote gate and needed to walk to the domestic terminal, where we immediately exited. As with all regional Rex flights, if you land at a major airport with other flights on larger planes, such as Qantas or international airlines, you need to exit immediately and then go through security, since most of the regional airports Rex serves do not have proper security checks.

Final Thoughts

While both days of flying were long and the plane was certainly cramped, this was one of the most memorable aviation adventures I’ve ever had. I would love to return to some of these small towns again and maybe spend the night just experiencing these remote villages like a local. While there’s not a lot in the outback, it’s a place of beauty, and its remoteness is actually to be cherished in this day and age, where we are all so connected and close to the hustle and bustle of cities. If you have the time in Australia, I highly recommend you experience the Rex milk run too!