Outback Now
Rock face of Uluru on the Kuniya Walk

Travel guide

The best outback experiences in Australia

Is the outback worth visiting? Absolutely, as long as you know where to go and when. This guide picks the outback's standout experiences, state by state. Each one links to a detailed guide with official, checked information on access, seasons and costs.

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

By the Outback Now editorial team · Updated · 4 min read

The outback rewards slow travel. These are the experiences most worth building a trip around. For each one, the linked guide has the detail: how to get there, when it's open, and what it costs.

Northern Territory

  1. Sunrise and sunset at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Walk the base of Uluru and the Valley of the Winds, and learn from Anangu guides. See Uluru-Kata Tjuta and the Uluru itinerary.
  2. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk. A 6 km loop over sandstone domes to the Garden of Eden. Start early, because on days forecast at 36°C or more you must start before 9 am. See Watarrka.
  3. The West MacDonnell Ranges. Gorges and waterholes west of Alice Springs. See Tjoritja / West MacDonnell.
  4. Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles at dusk. Giant balanced boulders by the Stuart Highway. See Karlu Karlu.
  5. Nitmiluk Gorge and Mataranka's thermal pools. See Nitmiluk and Mataranka.
  6. Kakadu's rock art and wetlands. Ubirr, Burrungkuy and a Yellow Water cruise. Note that Jim Jim and Twin Falls are closed for 2026. See Kakadu.
  7. Litchfield's waterfalls. An easy day from Darwin. See Litchfield.

Plan it with the Northern Territory road trip.

Western Australia

  1. Karijini's gorges. Swim at Fern Pool and walk the gorge floors. See Karijini.
  2. Millstream Chichester's oasis pools. See Millstream Chichester.
  3. The Gibb River Road. About 660 km of Kimberley gorges and station stays. See the Gibb River Road.
  4. The Bungle Bungles. Purnululu's striped domes and Cathedral Gorge. See Purnululu.
  5. Broome. Cable Beach sunset camel rides and the Staircase to the Moon. See Broome.
  6. The Goldfields. The Super Pit lookout and gold-rush streets of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. See Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Plan it with the Western Australia road trip.

South Australia

  1. Wilpena Pound (Ikara). Walk, drive or fly over the Flinders' great natural amphitheatre. See Ikara-Flinders Ranges.
  2. Coober Pedy. Sleep underground and tour an opal mine. See Coober Pedy.
  3. Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre from the air. See Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre.
  4. The Oodnadatta Track. Mound springs and the old Ghan line. See the Oodnadatta Track.
  5. The Gawler Ranges' Organ Pipes. See Gawler Ranges.
  6. Crossing the Nullarbor. See the Nullarbor.

Plan it with the South Australia road trip.

Queensland

  1. Longreach. The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum. See Longreach.
  2. Winton. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs and Lark Quarry. See Winton.
  3. Charleville. The Cosmos Centre and bilbies. See Charleville.
  4. Birdsville. The races and the edge of the Simpson Desert. See Birdsville and the Birdsville Races.
  5. Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) Gorge. Canoe between red cliffs. See Boodjamulla.
  6. Carnarvon Gorge. See Carnarvon Gorge.

Plan it with the Queensland road trip.

New South Wales

  1. Broken Hill and Silverton. The heritage-listed Silver City, galleries and the Living Desert. See Broken Hill.
  2. Mungo National Park. The Walls of China and some of the oldest human history on Earth. See Mungo.
  3. Lightning Ridge. Black opals and the bore baths. See Lightning Ridge.
  4. The Corner Country. Sturt National Park and Cameron Corner. See the Corner Country.
  5. Mutawintji's rock art. See Mutawintji.

Plan it with the NSW road trip.

Experiences everywhere

For families

Many of these experiences suit children, especially the dinosaurs at Winton, Coober Pedy's underground town, the Cosmos Centre, Litchfield's swimming holes and easy walks at Uluru. See the outback with kids.

Planning tips

  • Go in the cooler months. That's roughly April to September in most areas, and May to September in the tropical north.
  • Don't try to see everything. Distances are huge, so pick one or two regions per trip.
  • Book ahead for peak-season accommodation, campgrounds and tours.
  • Check closures before you go. See the wet season and road closures.
  • Prepare properly. See outback safety and water and food planning.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in the Australian outback?

Top experiences include sunrise and sunset at Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, rock art at Kakadu's Ubirr, swimming in Litchfield's and Karijini's pools, driving the Gibb River Road, the Bungle Bungles, Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges, sleeping underground in Coober Pedy, the Stockman's Hall of Fame and Winton's dinosaurs, Broken Hill and Mungo, and stargazing almost anywhere.

Is it worth visiting the outback in Australia?

Yes. The outback holds some of the world's oldest living cultures, World Heritage parks, unique wildlife and vast, quiet landscapes. Plan for the distances and visit in the cooler months, and it's one of the most memorable trips in Australia.

What are fun things to do in outback Queensland?

Learn the stockman's story at Longreach, see dinosaur fossils at Winton, stargaze at Charleville's Cosmos Centre, soak in artesian bore baths, watch a Gulf sunset at Karumba, and join the crowds at the Birdsville Races or the Mount Isa Rodeo.

What are the best outback trips in Australia?

Classic trips include the Red Centre loop (Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs), Adelaide to Darwin on the Stuart Highway, the Kimberley and Gibb River Road, the Matilda Way through Queensland, the Oodnadatta Track, and crossing the Nullarbor.

What can you do in the outback at night?

Stargazing is the big one, because outback skies are among the darkest in the world. You can also join an astronomy tour, watch Uluru's Field of Light, take a night wildlife walk in the right parks, or simply enjoy a campfire. Remember that many parks close at night, and driving after dark is risky because of wildlife.

Sources and further reading

Facts on this page were checked against these primary and official sources. Conditions change — confirm before you travel or buy.

  1. Watarrka National Park — Northern Territory Government
  2. Kakadu access report — Parks Australia
  3. Millstream Chichester National Park — Parks and Wildlife Service WA (DBCA)
  4. Gawler Ranges National Park — National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

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