Western Qld race tests camel endurance
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Australia's richest camel endurance race begins in Hughenden in north-west Queensland today.
The 120-kilometre camel endurance race lasts two days and comes with a prize pool of $50,000.
Organiser Paddy McHugh says it will be a great chance to celebrate and highlight living, working and playing in arid Australia.
The Arid Lands Festival will also feature a camel beauty contest.
Mr McHugh says the glamorous camels attract a lot of attention.
"In the Middle East - with a camel sold there earlier this year; one camel sold for $2.75 million in a beauty competition over there and several thousand camels turned up for this competition," he said.
"So it's just a bit of a novelty and a bit of fun - keep everybody laughing and having a good time.
"We're actually yet to decide exact rules, but we're hoping for a good configuration of an animal, a nice style of ... animal and just a generally nice-looking camel.
He says the festival has received a lot of support from the United Arab Emirates and he hopes to turn it into an annual event.
