Driving Across Australia’s Outback

The Australian outback is the enormous center of the island continent, a vast, desolate land that is as beautiful as it is rugged. Visiting the outback is a fantastic experience that any visitor to the country should at least get a taste of, even if it’s just a short trip out to view the incredible natural monument of Ayer’s Rock!

By far the best way to really experience the outback in all of its stark glory is to drive across its roughly 3000km expanse yourself! You will need to make sure your vehicle is properly kitted out with things like car window sun shades and extra fuel tanks to ensure your comfort and safety as the driving conditions can be extreme, and the distance between two points is always much farther in reality than it looks to be on the map!

Being prepared before crossing the outback is a must, you will pass through the wildest country you have possibly ever experienced, full of majestic views and fascinating landmarks, but there are also dangers for the unwary! The following are some tips for making your outback journey safe and satisfying! 

Allow Enough Time – Most people don’t realize how long it takes to cross the outback, it is an adventure that can’t be hurried! Allow at least two weeks to do it safely and enjoy the scenery along the way. Don’t attempt to drive for more than 5 or 6 hours a day, pushing yourself too far can lead to misfortune. You will get too tired to drive safely, and you will miss out on fully experiencing what you came to see in the first place! If you plan to stop at the many tourist sites along the way like Alice Springs then you need to allow extra time because many of them are well off the main highway, and the little detours add up fast! The more time and flexibility you allow yourself, the better so you can stop along the way and smell the wattle!

Pack Wisely – There are no convenient supermarkets along the seemingly endless stretches of outback highway, so it’s best not to forget to pack anything important! You can pick up some things in the small towns, but their selection is limited, and the prices are likely to be a bit low. The most important thing to have plenty of is extra fuel, there are petrol stations, but they are few and far between and a miscalculation could leave you stranded! It is mandatory to have a spare fuel tank with you and to keep it full! You will most likely be camping out along the way so have a well-stocked cooler and food for several nights with you. Keep in mind that while it might be scorching hot out during the day, the nights can be frigid, so be sure to pack clothing suitable for both extremes!

Watch For Wildlife – the vast majority of the outback is empty of human life, and home to a wide range of wildlife. It is quite common to run across kangaroos, emus, dingoes, and camels along the roadside, or quite often in the middle of it! Because of the sparsity of vegetation and the flat horizons, you can see them coming, but always keep an eye peeled for a kangaroo to suddenly burst out of the bush into your path! If they are blocking the way it’s best to just stop and enjoy the sight while they pass, but if they are loitering in your way too long a beep of the horn and flash of the high beams is usually enough to get them moving again. Remember that this is their territory and you are the visitor! Also, never, ever, drive at night, that’s when most animal collisions happen and they can put a very unpleasant end to a lovely trip!

Enjoy The Emptiness – Travelling the outback isn’t meant to be a luxurious jaunt, it is a hard journey across some of the bleakest, emptiest country on Earth, and that is exactly what you came for! There are no posh hotels or resorts along the way, the fact is there are very few places to even stop for snacks and drinks! The phone and television reception is spotty at best, and you should regard that as a perk, not a problem, you came out here to get away from the rat race, right? The total isolation and whistling wind across the sand is exactly what you came for, so let go of the outside world and enjoy the peace and solitude, embrace its lonely loveliness! Driving across the Australian outback cleanses the soul, savor the solitude!