Outback South Australia

Landscapes as different as the Australian Outback

---

Outback South Australia covers about 80 % of the state's area. Population? Less than 1 % of South Australians live in the Outback. It is a harsh and dry land, nevertheless, the South Australian Outback surprises with grandeur and timeless beauty.

Huge areas of glistening salt lakes, stony deserts, rugged mountain ranges, and the vast treeless Nullarbor plain are only a few of the highlights that await you.

South Australia is my home away from home. Let me invite you to explore the diverse wonders of South Australia attractions with me.

Where exactly is the South Australian Outback?

Well, I won't say you'll notice when you get there, this would be rude.:) Actually, the Outback South AUstralia covers the entire north of the state. Nearly any area on a line north from Ceduna via Port Augusta to Yunta is considered Outback. Look at the map on the bottom of this page to get an overview.

Let's start in Adelaide, South Australia's capital. For me it is the gateway to the South Australian Outback. There are several routes to the north, depending on where you want to go.

The Princes Highway is part of highway 1 that goes all around Australia. It is the shortest connection to Port Augusta, the cross-roads of Australia. From here highways lead to Perth (west coast), Sydney (east coast) and to Darwin in the north.
The Main North Road (not on this map) is the straightest way to the Flinders Ranges and Hawker. It is a leisurely drive through South Australia's Mid North which is, along with the Eyre Peninsula, the main agriculture district of the state. Now that doesn't look much like Outback, right? But wait!

Regions of South Australia's Outback

Outback South Australia - the north east

Once you passed the Flinders Ranges, the Outback begins. Leigh Creek, an open-cut coal-mining town is the last town of any size in South Australia's north east. The tiny township of Marree offers you many relics from a glorious past as a railway town. Did I tell you Marree is my favourite Outback town?

From Marree you have the choice of two famous tracks. The Birdsville Track takes you into the far south west of Outback Queensland and its stunning channel country. Are you eager to learn about the history of the old Ghan railway line? Then you need to follow the Oodnadatta Track. This route leads you to the Stuart Hwy, the main road from Adelaide to Darwin.

Outback South Australia - Stuart Highway

The Stuart Highway is the main south - north route through the centre of Australia. The road divides the South Australian Outback. It's a long drive on this well-maintained bitumen road from Port Augusta to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, even longer up to Darwin! Check the driving distances between the major cities for details.

Is it boring? No way! There is so much Outback scenery to take in! See the lakes on the map? These are usually dry salt lakes that glisten in the sun. Smaller salt pans closer to the highway are always worth a stop. Along with the red earth and the blue sky you have the chance to take amazing photos.

The Outback beauty is all about colours. Did I say that before? I think so.

Around Woomera was the testing area for long range missiles in the cold war. It is still a strategic defense post used for aerospace activities. The rocket debris displayed in William Creek came from here. The town now welcomes visitors, however, a huge area west of the highway is still restricted.

Roxby Downs, 83 km off the highway, is said to be the most modern town in the Australian Outback. The town was built in 1987 to serve the Olympic Dam mine. In my opinion, it is a rather artificial settlement. There are some great sand dunes around Roxby, and the small opal mining town of Andamooka is really worth a visit.

The most interesting town in this part of Outback South Australia beyond doubt is Coober Pedy. The opal capital of the world is a must see place. Interested in Australian opal? Australia's national gemstone is a true beauty.

Outback South Australia - the lonely west

Huge parts of the area west of the Stuart Hwy are either Aboriginal land or the Roxby Downs prohibited area. A few tracks constructed by Len Beadell in the 1950s and 60s are known as the "bomb roads", as they were built to service the rocket test area. These tracks are very remote, but they cover some of Australia's most scenic desert country. You have to be very well prepared and independent to travel these tracks. The Outback safety articles provide more facts on how to prepare a trip to remote areas.

Between Glendambo (Stuart Highway) and Wudinna (Eyre Peninsula) is another area of rugged mountain ranges in Outback South Australia - the Gawler Ranges. Ancient volcanic structures, called organ pipes and the vast, glistening Lake Gairdner make this area a great destination for 4 WD enthusiasts. Mount Ive Station is the only place that accommodates travellers in this beautiful wilderness.

The south western end of Outback South Australia is covered by the Nullarbor Plain, the treeless plain, that stretches over 1200 km into Western Australia. The Eyre Highway runs close to the coast, and you can see some spectacular scenery.

The cliffs of the Great Australian Bight are amazing. The power of the sea is immense. It is as if the southern ocean would eat up the Australian continent.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Outback South Australia. Wherever you go, take care, and have a wonderful time.

Have been to one of those great places in the South Australian Outback?
Share it with us

You travelled through Outback South Australia, the Flinders / Gawler Ranges, the Birdsville Track? Tell us about your favourite place.

You experienced an exciting adventure on your trip?

You have a great photo to share, one of these magical Outback moments? Show us your photos and tell the story about it.

My readers want to hear your stories. Don't be shy. It is easy to fill in the form, and your story will be online in no time.

Thanks for sharing!

Enter the title of your story

Tell the tale right here [ ? ]

Close Help Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!... Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Upload A Picture (optional)
Photo of 800x600 pixel, or smaller, works best! [ ? ]

Close Help Do you have a picture to add? Great! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it.

Add Picture Caption (optional) 

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Read other readers stories

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Birdsville Track with a caravan  Hi Rita, Lyn and myself are planning a trip to the Birdsville races travelling up the Birdsville track.
My question is, is it suitable to tow a caravan ...

---