Australian outback experiences
Head into the Australian outback for unforgettable experiences you won't find anywhere else.
By Leah Dobihal
A journey into the Australian outback is one you'll never forget. A staircase to the moon, rock art that comes alive with the help of an Aboriginal ranger, luxury accommodation buried deep underground, and made-by-nature swimming pools are just some of the unbelievable experiences that you'll find only in outback Australia.
Top outback adventures near Adelaide
Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, South Australia © South Australian Tourism Commission, Adam Bruzzone
Explore the ancient Flinders Ranges
About five hours from Adelaide in the Flinders Ranges, you’ll find incredible rock formations, charming country pubs and rich Aboriginal history. The terrain here dates back millions of years, and visitors often feel like they’ve stepped onto another planet. One of the most otherworldly attractions here is Wilpena Pound, a sunken amphitheatre surrounded by a circle of mountains. Don’t miss seeing the marvel from above on a scenic flight. You can also soar over the vast Lake Eyre, a glistening salt pan that transforms into a pink-hued lake when flooded with rain. Enjoy some outback hospitality when you stay at Wilpena Pound Resort, the only accommodation located within Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.
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Top outback adventures near Darwin
Sounds of Silence, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism Australia
Settle into the spirit of the outback
If you’re looking for a spiritual outback experience, there’s no better place to go than Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Watching Uluru, a massive red monolith, change colour as the sun sets is one of outback Australia's most magical moments. Doing it in five-star style at a Sounds of Silence dinner is unforgettable. The three-course buffet features native bush ingredients such as crocodile, kangaroo, barramundi and quandong (a native peach). Add a didgeridoo performance and a guided tour of the night sky and you have all the ingredients for an unbelievable evening in the outback.
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Top outback adventures near Perth
Gibb River Road, the Kimberley, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Embark on a Gibb River road trip
The Kimberley is often considered one of Australia’s last great frontiers. For the ultimate outback experience, take a road trip down the Gibb River Road. The Gibb River Road is considered one of the country’s greatest 4WD adventures, stretching over 660 kilometres (410 miles) across the Kimberley’s terrain. Discover pounding waterfalls, clear swimming holes and untamed wilderness.
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Top outback adventures near Cairns
Mount Mulligan Station, Mount Mulligan, Queensland © Mount Mulligan Station
Visit an outback station
For a quintessential Aussie experience, head into Queensland’s outback. A three and a half hour drive from Cairns, you’ll find Mount Mulligan Lodge, an outback station that brings together luxury and rugged adventure. Here, you can pan for gold, fish for barramundi and hike through rocky terrain before sitting down to a private picnic or chef-prepared degustation.
Top outback adventures near Sydney
Mungo National Park, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Walk through an otherworldly national park
Step into Mungo National Park for an outback experience that feels more like Mars than it does Earth. Located in the south-west corner of New South Wales, the views are worth the road trip. The ancient landscape holds insight not only into Australia’s geology but also the history of the First Australians. Take a tour guided by an Aboriginal ranger to the Walls of China, one of the most unbelievable landscapes in outback Australia. Here, you’ll find fragile, fascinating sand and clay formations sculpted by thousands of years of erosion.
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