This project is a joint initiative between Griffith University and Etheridge Shire Council with the aim to position Etheridge Shire as a unique destination for domestic and international visitors seeking memorable experiences in the Australian periphery. This project also aims to assist Etheridge Shire in positioning tourism as a key pillar of the regional economy alongside agriculture and the resources sector. In collaboration with Etheridge Shire Council, Griffith University researchers co-designed a process of community consultation consisting of stakeholders and a community (online) survey to understand residents’ aspirations for tourism development in the region. Community consultation took place between December 2021 and April 2022. This Directions Paper presents the community consultation findings alongside a destination competitiveness analysis. These analyses informed a range of strategic directions presented in this paper for consideration by Council. Additionally, specific milestones were proposed and agreed upon with Council to facilitate the development of a subsequent Tourism Masterplan for Etheridge Shire (please see Section 11, Project Milestones). This Directions Paper provides evidence that Etheridge Shire is fortunate to host to broad-ranging natural resources that hold significant tourism value, particularly the region’s geological features. Etheridge Shire has a nascent tourism industry, with numerous natural and created tourism attractions located around the Shire, currently supported by a limited range of visitor accommodation. The region has also made commendable efforts to brand itself as a tourism destination using the Unearth Etheridge tagline associated with digital marketing, which presents significant opportunity to enhance competitive positioning. Critically, consultation revealed future tourism development has the support of Council and a majority of the local community.