Australia

 Australia's Outback - From Adelaide to Alice Springs

 

The Australian desert or otherwise known as "The outback" covers 70% of the Australian mainland, making it the driest inhabited continent on earth.

• Many travelers don't know how to plan their journey in this enormous piece of land. We'll try to provide you with some tips that will make it easier for you to organize your journey.

 

How To Do It:

 

The long road (about 1500 km!!) between Adelaide and Alice Springs passes through the states South Australia and The Northern Territory. The main HWY that crosses almost the entire Australian desert is "Stuart Hwy" (A87).

Several ways are mostly recommended to tour the Australian Outback:

• Coach- A number of coach companies have connections to and within the main touristy places in the Australian desert. This way is suitable for travelers who don't want the headache involved when traveling by private or rented car.
• Train- Rail journeys are available between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice Springs twice a week. This way is recommended for those who want to see the main cities and the attractions that are close to these cities.
• Desert Safaris- There are several companies which offer a few days of organized tours at the Australian outback. The duration of these tours ranges from 1 to 10 days and even more, depends on the number of sites included in the itinerary. This way is suitable for travelers who prefer to travel in large groups and don't have much time to explore the Australian desert.
• Car/campervan- Recommended for travelers who wish to see remote places along the desert and have enough time to spare.If you are planning a short journey it's preferable to rent a car but if you want to move on to other places in Australia, after having toured the Outback, consider buying a car and sell it at the end of your trip. There's another option of "re-location". Here you have the chance to get a car (usually a campervan) at a ridicules price in one city and return it in another city. The disadvantage of this option is that you are limited with the number of days and mileage allowed to drive the car. However, this is no doubt the cheapest way to travel and some claim that it's the most enjoyable one.            

The average time required to cross the desert between Adelaide and Alice Springs is 1-1.5 weeks. It all depends, of course, on how many places you want to see in the desert. Following are the major sites you shouldn't miss.

 

 

Main Destinations Between Adelaide And Alice Springs

 

After leaving Adelaide and heading north on A1 Hwy, you start to feel the atmosphere of the wide open spaces of the Australian desert. It isn't similar to any other place you know.

The traveling time between Adelaide and Port Augusta is 3 and half hours.

If you like wines, you should pass through Clare Valley which is 120 km north of Adelaide near A82 hwy. The town called by the same name is located within "The Clare Valley Wine Region". The area covers numerous wineries which show the production process of different kinds of wines. There are several touring routes including the popular walking and cycling path- "Riesling trail"- which links the villages of the valley.

 

Port Augusta: a sea port town located 322 km north of Adelaide. It's a major service centre for travelers and truck drivers who are heading north to the desert. In the town center you'll find "Wadlata Outback Centre"- a museum describing life in the Australian Outback. The information center will provide you with details about the main attractions in the area.

A few km north of Port Augusta, on the Stuart hwy, are the "Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens" which contain different kinds of plants from arid environments.    

 

Flinders Ranges: the largest mountain range in South Australia stretches over 430 km from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. The Flinders Ranges can be divided into three distinct regions:

• Southern Flinders Ranges – There are several walking and cycling trails, which offer spectacular views. Trek through Wirrabara and Bundaleer forests or discover the homegrown flavors of the region on the southern Flinders flavors trail.     
• Central Flinders Ranges – here you'll find some relaxing picnic areas and 4WD routes near the area of Hawker and Blinman. The main attraction of this area is Wilpena Pound, a large amphitheatre (17km long and 7km wide) of mountains located in the heart of "Flinders Ranges National Park".
  Located just to its east, you'll find "Wilpena Pound Resort" which is a great place for exploring the fascinating region. There are several walks in that area and one of the most recommended is the top of St Mary's Peak from where you can get a great view of the entire region.
• Northern Flinders Ranges- In this part you'll feel that you're entering the Outback as you'll notice the rugged peaks, starry skies and a lot of kangaroos jumping around. Don't miss the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary where you'll find some treks for 4wd vehicles and astronomy observatory.
   

The way between Port Augusta to Coober Pedy is a half day drive during which you can feel the power and the intensity of the Outback. The only two towns on the way, Woomera and Glendambo, are remote places and it seems that they exist only to enable drivers to fill up their cars with petrol.

Still, in the middle of the way between Glendambo and Coober Pedy, you should visit Lake Eyre which is the lowest point in Australia. The lake is empty almost all the time and you can see its beautiful shiny bottom called "playa salt pan" which is a flat expanse of ground covered with salt and other minerals.

 

Coober Pedy: This beautiful town rich with opal mines is located 690 km south of Alice Springs and is one of the most recognized outback symbols.

While getting close to the town you'll see Mullock heaps all over the area, opal mines machinery and dust clouds which indicate active digging.

You will find no houses on the ground, because here all the inhabitants live under the ground in order to protect themselves from the extreme heat and the dust that covers the area.

Coober Pedy's population of 2,500 consists of 50 different nationalities. The town also attracts many travelers who pass there on their way in the desert and others, who try their luck in seeking opal stones. The best place to do this is at the "jewelers shop area". You don't need a permit to dig but in order to get a hold of some digging equipment you need the approval of the Adelaide mining department.

The best way to get around the town is to take one of the guided tours which lasts a few hours and includes visits to some important sites, a few underground houses and an opal mine. Don't forget to buy a piece of jewelry made of opal before leaving Coober Pedy.

After leaving Coober Pedy and heading north to Alice Springs, you'll be driving quite a while before you see any inhabited place. At some point you'll pass the border between South Australia and the northern territory.

 

 

 

A few tips:

 

• For those who travel by car: the Australian desert is huge and there are very few towns along the way. Before entering the desert don't forget to take with you a spare wheel and other necessary equipment for the car, first aid kit, a 20 liter container of water and of fuel and some canned food.
• There are very few gas stations in the Outback. It's recommended to fill your tank in every gas station on the way. It's not a pleasant experience to find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere without fuel.
• The Australian Outback is surrounded with insects. These small creatures can ruin your journey. That's why you should buy a mosquito net before starting your trip. They are much cheaper in Adelaide or in Darwin than in the small towns inside the desert.
• The Australian desert, like most deserts, is very hot and dry. Check the best time of year to travel in the Outback and take with you a wide hat, sun cream and plenty of water.
• Don't drive in the dark. Most highways in the Australian Outback are not lit and during hours of darkness you are susceptible to hit a kangaroo or other animals which are use to run around freely.
• Sunrises and sunsets: the outback is the best place in Australia to get the impression and impact of these views. Take every opportunity to see the amazing sight of the sky and mountains changing colors in a couple of minutes.