Getting Outback

The Outback is a huge place. The arid zone occupies roughly two thirds of the Australian Continent, and is very sparsely populated. The Outback exists in all the States of Australia with the exception of Tasmania and the ACT. Even in a lifetime you are not going to see it all. If you have limited time you should consider flying to one of the major gateways like Adelaide, Alice Springs or Darwin. Also think about regional centres. You can fly to Newman and hire a 4X4 to explore the remote Pilbara, you can fly to Roxby Downs and hire a 4X4 to explore Lake Eyre. These options will save you lots of long hours on the bitumen and give you more time to do what you came for! If you want to 4X4, make sure you read our self drive section.

If you want to stay on the bitumen, there are wonderful driving opportunities in the Outback. Just north of Adelaide are the stunning Flinders Ranges. The Stuart Highway crosses the continent from Adelaide to Darwin, with a sealed side trip to Uluru, the Barrier Highway takes you from Sydney all the way out to Broken Hill, and the Eyre Highway will take you from Adelaide across the Nullarbor to Perth.

Another way to see the Outback is by train. The two great transcontinental outback rail journeys are the Indian Pacific that crosses the continent from Sydney to Perth, and the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin. Whilst these journeys are not as cheap as flying they offer a great way to see the vast deserts without too much effort. These are just two of many rail options in the Australian Outback.

The other option is to take a tour. There are hundreds of option here. Be sure to look for the yellow and green tick which ensures the operator you travel with is accredited. If you want an environmentally responsible operator, look for eco tourism accreditation. If you want to really get out into the most remote parts of the Outback, check out the Diamantina Expeditions here.