9 Unique Ways to Explore Outback Australia

Dreaming of exploring Australia’s outback but unsure where to start?

The outback is defined by its majesty and magnificence. Just as there is great diversity in its terrain, there are myriad ways to explore it. Be it a road trip, cruise or hike, here are nine amazing ways to experience the outback.

1. Flinders Ranges road trip, SA

Experience the ancient essence of a landscape that’s more than a million years old. Beauty reveals itself at every turn on the Flinders Ranges self-drive loop, as you weave through relics of SA’s pastoral past between the charming townships of Saltia and Hawker. Continue up Flinders Ranges Way, where the road skirts the iconic Ikara/Wilpena Pound. The killer views of this mountainous amphitheatre truly bring enchantment to this outback drive.

a 4WD traversing the Flinders Ranges Way — Push on until you arrive at Wilpena Pound Resort within SA’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

2. Walking the Jatbula Trail, NT

Lace up your hiking boots and connect to Country on one of Australia’s most spectacular walking trails. You’ll start this multi-day epic adventure at Nitmiluk Gorge before traversing through Jawoyn Land and skirting past waterfalls steeped in cultural significance.

an aerial shot of the Nitmiluk Gorge — Nitmiluk is the Jawoyn name for Katherine Gorge and it means ‘cicada place. (Image: Tourism NT/Natalie Sum)

Here, the Jawoyn people have been the Traditional Owners for more than 40,000 years. Traces of their storied history is evident in the fascinating rock art that’s peppered along the trail.

a group of hikers traversing NT's Jatbula Trail — Lace-up your hiking boots for the NT’s Jatbula Trail. (Image: Tourism NT/Peter Eve)

3. A camel ride in Uluru, NT

Sunrise and sunset are when you’ll catch Uluru at its most magnificent, so saddle up and coast along on a camel tour to watch the magic surrounds of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park unfold. You’ll feel truly immersed in the desert landscape atop your friendly steed, as you convoy through the dunes headed by a knowledgeable cameleer.

You’ll arrive in time to watch dusk or dawn break over Uluru – an incredible light show that you won’t want to miss. Uluru Camel Tours is one of the country’s largest camel farms, complete with its own saddlery, which makes saddles and harnesses from scratch.

a man riding a camel before sunset in Uluru — Experience the outback with Uluru Camel Tours. (Image: Tourism NT/Jess Caldwell & Luke
Riddle)

4. Motorcycle from Cairns to Darwin

Sitting astride a motorbike and accelerating down a dusty desert highway is the stuff of folk songs and ballads. Cape York Motorcycle Adventures will show you exactly why, with an epic 2500-kilometre guided journey spanning from Cairns to Darwin via The Great Savannah Way.

Watch the verdant landscapes redden on an unforgettable ride into the outback that stops at some of the country’s most beloved gems, including Nitmiluk Gorge and quaint, historic Cooktown.

5. Mountain bike in Mungo National Park, NSW

Get amongst it on a mountain bike at Mungo National Park. The 70-kilometre Mungo Track circuit connects some of the park’s best features – from breathtaking lookouts to fascinating heritage sites. You’ll cycle over gentle hills and through easy plateaus flanked by native flora before stopping for the night at the peaceful Belah campground.

Weather permitting, a star-spangled sky will be your evening’s entertainment. For those seeking something shorter, the Lakebed Loop is a cruisey substitute that can easily be completed in a day.

a grassy landscape at Mungo National Park — Navigate the rich aboriginal history at the world heritage Mungo National Park. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Air Safari, Birdsville to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

Take to the skies for a bird’s-eye view of the Simpson Desert and survey mesmerising waves of windswept sands en route to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. The shimmering oasis is the largest salt lake in Australia, glistening with salt crystals and stretching as far as the eye can see.

a scenic flight over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre — Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park in SA is transformed into an oasis after a downpour. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Scenic flights are operated by Australian Air Safaris , with the middle leg of its four-day. Taste of the Outback tour stopping off at the quintessential outback town of Birdsville before taking in a panorama of Kati Thanda- Lake Eyre. If you’re a lover of wild, lonely places, you’ll be partial to the town’s country charms.

the exterior of Birdsville Hotel, Qld. — Make a pit stop at the iconic Birdsville Hotel, Qld. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

7. Cruise the Kimberley Coast, WA

Experience the pristine wilderness of the Kimberley from the water. You’ll glide down topaz inlets and pass through an otherworldly labyrinth of gorges, cliffs and canyons on a Kimberley cruise. There’s a cruise to suit every travel style, whether you’re an adventure enthusiast or prefer to be cosseted in total luxury.

Discovery One Cruises cater to small groups, with a maximum of 22 passengers and six crew. Relax onboard as you trace the rugged coast of the Kimberley and soak up the romance of Western Australia’s pièce de résistance.

an aerial shot of the pristine Kimberley coast — Explore the Kimberley with Discovery One Cruises. (Image: Discovery One)

8. Ride the Indian Pacific train

There are few rail journeys that traverse an entire continent. That’s why the Indian Pacific route between Sydney and Perth tops the bucket lists of rail enthusiasts around the world. You’ll watch the vast desert plains whizz by onboard the Indian Pacific, which stops at some of the country’s most iconic outback townships.

A highlight includes Broken Hill, the historic mining town that’s been transformed into an epicentre for regional arts and crafts. Peruse the galleries and the Living Desert Sculpture site, set against a breathtaking backdrop of the rugged NSW outback.

Marvel at the desert sculptures in Broken Hill, NSW. (Image: Destination NSW)

9. 4WD the Kingsford Smith Mail Run, WA

Get off the beaten track on this historic mail route, where you’ll follow the wheel ruts of transport pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith. Take a step back in time as you ramble through pastoral plains that give way to dusty outback roads.

The highlight of this journey is the section that passes through the remote Mt Augustus National Park, which is ripe with an abundance of rock formations and Indigenous rock art to discover.

a 4WD navigating the rugged landscape in Mt Augustus National Park, WA — Embark on a 4WD adventure in Mt Augustus National Park, WA. (Image: Western Australia)

The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park — Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay — A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento — Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento .

Playing there

an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse — Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

Eating there

Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.

9 amazing journeys to take in outback Australia