People always think that the outback is flat and uninteresting, however nothing could be further from the truth The arid zone shows far more ecological diversity than the eucalypt forests of the eastern seaboard. With the vegetation stripped away, the desert is laid bare to reveal all the geological history of the landscapes together with the myrriad of endemic flora and fauna. First time travellers in the outback are always astonished at the great variety of landforms. On this site we have attempted to explain some of them.

Attempting to define land systems over such a wide area as the arid zone is very difficult. Different systems and plant communities meld with each other. There are not always clear cut defining lines between one and the other. The following land systems described below are simplified and generalised. To discover the different landforms of the Outback, simply click on the buttons below. To return to this index, press back on your browser.