The Outback is one of the most unique and exciting places to visit in the world.
If you don’t know where to start, here are a few of the best places to visit to give you a taste of the culture and history the area has to offer.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Stick your Vapo in your back pocket and head to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Located in the Northern Territory, the national park is home to Uluru, one of the world’s most well-known natural sites.
The amazing mountain isn’t the only thing to see here, as the area is packed with plenty of local flora and fauna to discover, such as black-footed rock wallabies, possums, snakes, lizards, and almost everything in between. This national park is often referred to as the heart of Australia, and is a spot you should definitely not skip.
Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy is easily one of the most unique towns in the world. Found just over 500 miles North of Adelaide, the town is often called the Opal Capital of the World, due to the vast amount of opal deposits found in the area.
Due to the weather, the town is mostly underground, with most homes and B&Bs located below ground to stay cool. The town is also packed with opal dealers, meaning it is incredibly easy and affordable to pick up beautiful opal trinkets and jewelry.
Ghan Railway
If you want a very unique way to experience the Outback, then why not hop onto the Ghan Railway? This tourist-oriented train travels from the Northern to the Southern coast of Australia, and passes through Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Darwin.
The entire journey is nearly 3,000km, and with multiple extended stops for activities, it will take close to 54 hours to complete. It is a brilliant way to get a taste of everything the Outback has to offer, while not having to worry about organizing the trip yourself.
Cultural Experiences
Finally, while not a specific activity, the Outback offers a wealth of cultural experiences. There are several Aboriginal groups that have called the Outback home for centuries, including the Pintupi, Anangu, Warlpiri, and Wongi.
Across the Outback, you will find cultural centers of many of these groups, and you can see art, artifacts, go on guided tours, have bush food experiences, and see how these unique and ancient groups survived and thrived in this region. Given their history is often overlooked, it is almost an obligation to participate in one of these experiences.
What to Remember
Now that you know a few of the best things to do in the Outback, here are a couple of extremely important tips to remember before heading out on your adventure.
Plan Carefully
First, plan carefully before taking your first step on your journey. The Outback is not an easy place to travel through, and is packed with dangerous creatures, unpredictable weather, vast expanses of nothingness, and everything in between.
Lay out your journey in as much detail as possible, and give a copy to someone with whom you will check in. If possible, travel with someone who knows the area, as this is the best way to stay safe.
Don’t Go Off the Beaten Trail
While tempting, it can be very dangerous, even deadly, to go off the beaten trail when exploring the Outback. In most parts, it is very easy to get stuck dozens, if not hundreds, of miles from the nearest town.
Sticking to known and popular trails and paths will, at the very least, almost guarantee that someone will come across you if your car breaks down, if you get injured, lost, etc.
Weather
The weather is famed in the Outback. You can expect rain, unbearable heat, and almost everything in between. The heat, in particular, is deadly to those who aren’t prepared, and is often one of the main reasons locals tell tourists to avoid the area.
If you are traveling through it, be sure to have enough water with you, no matter what. Even if you are driving through the Outback and it isn’t your final destination, you should still have a good amount of water available to you.
Be Aware of Nearby Towns
It is always important to be aware of where towns are when in the Outback. They can be few and far between, and the last thing you want is to drive through one expecting another to be close, only for it to be a day’s drive away.
This is also important if you are driving, as fuel stations are equally scarce. To be safe, fill up whenever possible, as the last thing you want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with no signal to contact anyone; you could be there for days.
Pack an Essentials Kit
Finally, pack an essential kit. While you will have all these items if you are hiking, this is for those driving. Have a bag with medical supplies, extra water, electrolyte powder, snacks, and other essentials. In short, this bag should get you through a few days if the worst-case scenario occurs.
