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The Australian outback has a barren beauty that is truly breathtaking.
There are many well-known natural attractions to see (such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon), but hundreds of lesser known ones as well. And many Aussies are setting out under their own steam to discover more of the vast interior.
If you’ve decided to embrace ‘van life’ as a travel option, here are ten top Australian outback destinations to visit in a campervan. Arrange your campervan or car hire, and let’s hit the highway!
1. Broken Hill (New South Wales)
Broken Hill is a mining centre in the Far West region of New South Wales, and offers access to incredible desert landscapes, a rich history to explore, and plenty of classic outback hospitality. In 2015 Broken Hill was recognised for its historical significance when it became the first Australian city to be added in its entirety to the National Heritage List. There are more than 14 museums and galleries to visit, including the Pro Hart Gallery and the Bruce Langford Visitors Centre at the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Head out to the famous Living Desert Reserve to see 12 sandstone sculptures framed by the arid landscape and skyline. They’re particularly stunning at sunset. It’s a nine-kilometre drive from town.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Broken Hill:
10 Amazing Things do Do in Broken Hill, NSW | Travel Guide
★ Hit SUBSCRIBE for more amazing travel ideas! ★Welcome to Top Oz Tours’ (formerly The Big Bus) YouTube Channel. In this video, we take you to the fabulous o…
2. Longreach (Queensland)
The name Longreach didn’t come from this destination’s remote location or distance from any other major town; Longreach is a reference to a section of the nearby Thomson River. The town was supposedly put on the map in the late 1800s by Captain Starlight — one of Australia’s most famous bushrangers — who stole a thousand head of cattle and herded them to South Australia. There’s plenty to learn about the history of outback droving at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, which is one of Longreach’s main attractions. If you’re visiting between April and October, upgrade your ticket to include the excellent live stockman show. The Qantas Founders Museum is another must-see (the airline was founded in nearby Winton, but established its first base in Longreach). Travel out to Longreach by campervan and enjoy everything this welcoming outback town has to offer.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Longreach and Winton:
Ten Amazing Things to Do in Longreach and Winton, QLD | Travel Guide, 2021
Related | Ten of the best things to do in Longreach: https://topoztours.com.au/ten-top-things-to-do-in-longreach/Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’…
3. Birdsville (Queensland)
A 700-kilometre drive south-west from Longreach will bring you to one of the country’s most amazing outback destinations: Birdsville. From its famous eponymous pub and bakery, to the annual race meet that raises a cloud of red dust, this uber remote town has earned a place in Australian popular culture. One of the biggest challenges RV-ers face getting to Birdsville is the condition of the roads. This trip requires careful research and planning, and communication with the town’s Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre is essential. They’ll be able to give you up-to-the-minute advice on what’s open and closed. The Birdsville Developmental Road between Windorah and Birdsville is largely unsealed, and is a significant challenge during, and immediately after, wet weather. Even when it’s dry, this remote, dusty, and somewhat corrugated route will test your metal. Break the trip at the newly reopened Betoota Hotel, which is geared up for camping onsite.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Birdsville:
10 Top Things to Do in Birdsville, Outback Queensland, Australia | Birdsville Travel Guide
Are you planning a visit to the iconic town of Birdsville in outback Queensland? In this episode of our online travel series we bring you ten amazing things to do in Birdsville, Bedourie, and Betoota, which can all be found in the remote Diamantina Shire.
4. Coober Pedy (South Australia)
Coober Pedy is a historic opal-mining centre that should definitely be on your outback travel bucket list. In addition to its remote outback location, it has one very peculiar twist that draws plenty of inquisitive visitors: a major part of the town is situated underground. The concept of living in ‘dugouts’ dates back to the arrival of the first opal prospectors, who soon worked out that the best way to beat the searing heat was to reside underground. Today you’ll find hotels, churches, shops and restaurants if not completely, at least partially underground. And tourists can’t get enough of the subterranean lifestyle!
Watch our video of top things to do on the Oodnadatta Track and in Coober Pedy:
10 Great Things to Do on the OODNADATTA TRACK & COOBER PEDY, South Australia | Road Trip Guide
The 620-kilometre unsealed Oodnadatta Track in central South Australia is renowned as one of the country’s best outback drives. In this video we bring you tips for ten great things to do on the Oodnadatta Track from Marree to William Creek, and across to Coober Pedy.
5. Kakadu National Park (Northern Territory)
The Northern Territory’s Top End is home to some of Australia’s most iconic nature-based experiences, and Kakadu National Park is one of the highlights. From estuaries packed with wildlife to soaring escarpments and plunging waterfalls, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed region boasts almost 20,000 square kilometres of biological and topographical diversity. Here you can also view ancient rock art that dates back some 20,000 years. Kakadu has a number of managed campgrounds, along with bush campsites with very basic facilities (some of which are free to stay in, and some that attract a small fee). It’s ‘first in, best dressed’ at many sites, so if you want to stay in a particular area, get there early to secure your spot. Book managed campsites well in advance.
Watch our video of top things to do in Kakadu National Park:
Five Amazing Things to Do in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is one of Austral…
6. Alice Springs (Northern Territory)
Alice Springs sits in the very heart of the Red Centre and offers a range of experiences that showcase the parched beauty of this incredible part of the country. If you only have time to tick off two or three during your stay, don’t miss doing a camel ride through the desert and a hot air balloon flight. Pyndan Camel Tracks is located just a short drive from town and offers relaxed afternoon and sunset camel rides. Outback Ballooning operates balloon flights over the serene landscape at dawn, and this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Walkers should head west of town to stunning Simpsons Gap. It’s an easy 15-minute return walk to the Gap itself (keep an eye out for the resident black-footed rock wallabies), or do the slightly more challenging trek to Cassia Hill for fabulous views. It will take you an hour or so to complete. Ensure you carry plenty of drinking water.
Watch our video of the top things to do in Alice Springs:
10 Top Things to Do in ALICE SPRINGS, Northern Territory, Australia, 2023 | Ultimate Travel Guide
Alice Springs will forever occupy a special place in the hearts of all who visit. The city may look low key at first glance, but be warned – it’s addictive – and you’re likely to hear tales from ‘locals’ time and time again of how they arrived here on holiday and never left.
7. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Northern Territory)
Soaring Uluru is a sacred Indigenous site and one of the world’s most famous natural landmarks. It’s located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park — 4.5 hours’ drive from Alice Springs. The road is sealed and well maintained. There is no accommodation or camping permitted inside the national park. All accommodation is located within Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, and includes a campground with excellent amenities. There’s a central square at Voyages that has a supermarket, bank, post office and cafes, and as a guest (even if you’re camping) you can participate in a range of free daily activities (including some excellent guided walks).
8. Kununurra (Western Australia)
The vast Kimberley region of Western Australia’s North West stretches from the remote inland city of Kununurra all the way to Broome on the coast, and offers access to remarkable waterways, enormous gorges and age-old rock formations. Unassuming Kununurra is a hub for tourist activities on the western side of the Kimberley, including cruises on the vast expanse of Lake Argyle and the Ord River, and fly in/fly out day trips to Purnululu National Park and its famous Bungle Bungle Range. The sight of these orange and black-striped beehive-shaped domes from the air is incredible.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in the Kimberley:
Ten Amazing Things to Do on a Kimberley Road Trip in Western Australia, 2020 – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you ten amazing things to do in the Kimberley in Western Australia’s …
9. Broome (Western Australia)
It’s an 11-hour, 1,000-kilometre journey by road from Kununurra across the vast heart of the Kimberley to bustling Broome. The trip can be broken at key regional centres, including Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. Take a detour from Fitzroy Crossing to magnificent Geikie Gorge, which was part of a massive reef 350 million years ago. The resulting gorge walls look a bit like Swiss cheese. Time your visit to Broome to include a Saturday (or Sunday from April to October), so you can check out the fabulous Courthouse Markets. A camel ride on famous Cable Beach at sunset is another of the region’s signature experiences.
Watch our video of the top things to do in Broome:
Top Things to Do in Broome, Western Australia, 2022 | Travel Guide
★ Did you enjoy this video? Help us make more by hitting the subscribe button! It will help us get more destinations on board. Thank you! ★Related | Ten of t…
10. Kalgoorlie (Western Australia)
Situated in the heart of the Western Australian Goldfields region, historic Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a drive of just on 600 kilometres from Perth along the Great Eastern Highway. The centre of Kalgoorlie is a trove of incredible period architecture — most of which was built on the back of the gold rush of the late 1800s. The Federation Free Classical-style Kalgoorlie Town Hall is just one gloriously ornate example (book a guided tour with a local historian and learn its backstory).
To learn more about the gold rush, drop by the excellent Museum of the Goldfields. Hannans North Tourist Mine also brings the prospecting past to life, while the Super Pit is firmly rooted in the present. This 3.5-kilometre-long and 1.5-kilometre-wide open pit mine pulls around 800,000 ounces of gold from the ground each year.
This post was published thanks to Drive Now.
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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of top Australian outback destinations to visit in a campervan? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Travelling through the Australian outback is an amazing experience, but it requires careful planning and preparation. Make sure you seek the advice of the relevant local authorities when arranging your trip.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
