The Outback is the arid sparsely populated interior of Australia that makes up almost 85% of Australian landmass and is also sometimes called "Beyond the Black Stump". Very few humans live out in this primitive, empty land where the ancient aborigines co-existed in harmony with the harsh yet breathtakingly beautiful environment. There isn’t anything like this wild open space anywhere else in the world.

Even the colour of the earth is different – clouds of swirling red dust that coats everything in the vicinity with its colour, announces to first time visitors of the onset of the great Australian Outback.

Emerging from the red dust clouds are bright blue skies, endless horizons and awesome variety native flora and fauna. The desert habitat favours many animal and plant species: a mob of kangaroos moving against a backdrop of the setting sun amidst the red sand dunes at Sturt National Park, a flock of ibis taking off in a tangle of flapping wings from the Menindee Lakes, clumsy emus racing across the Mundi Mundi Plains and the wildflowers that carpet this dry and inhospitable land in a veritable riot of colours. So much of nature’s bounty in one place makes it a perfect easel for open-air art galleries painted on the canvas of rock and stone by ancient aborigine masters.

The Aborigine embodies the very spirit of this unusual country and it is only in the Outback that some measure of their culture remains preserved for future generations. Every animal and plant, every rock and stone in the Outback is closely intertwined with the traditional life of the ethnic Aborigines. Visitors come to see the ancient Aborigine tribal grounds, the rock and cave paintings depicting aspects of the Aborigine ‘Dreaming’, the sacred burial sites and listen to stories of times long gone, told by tribal elders as they sit around fires, much as they would have many years ago.

The real outback lies in the Red Heart of Australia, Central Australia and the best place to truly experience it is undoubtedly in the Northern Territory, the showcase of the Australian Outback.

This is where one finds the spectacular Katherine Gorge with its 70m high walls, the World Heritage Site at Kakadu National Park, Uluru or Ayers Rock and the Olgas at the Kata- juta National Park and the gateway to the outback, the town of Alice Springs.

The outback areas that fall in South Australia include the famous opal mining township of Coober Pedy with its underground dug out homes, Simpson Desert, Lake Eyre National Park, Strzelecki & Birdsville Tracks, Lake Torrens, Lake Frome and Flinders Ranges National Park.

In Queensland, the outback extends north from NSW all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria and includes the historic mining villages of Herberton, Irvinebank, Chillagoe, Tyrconnell and Mt Carbine and the outback towns of Mareeba, Atherton and Ravenshoe. Queensland's Outback was once part of the ‘Great Inland Sea’ - a region dating back 100 million years. The ‘Tropical Outback’ is now a region of spectacular natural wonders like limestone cave systems, ancient coral fossils and bleached bones of marine animals.

The NSW Outback incorporates the towns of Broken Hill, White Cliffs, Menindee, Wentworth and Cobar. The Outback provides a unique experience for the visitor to the ancient and spectacular landscape. With 70 National Parks, it is mind-blowing to just drive around the Outback. Kinchega National Park is an area of glittering lakes and underground rivers; historical interests sites include the mining towns of Broken Hill, Bourke, Silverton and White Cliffs.

Mungo National Park is famous for its Walls of China dunescape, while Mutawintji Historical Site contains one of the best collections of Aboriginal art in New South Wales.

Bourke is on the edge of the outback, where red-soil country begins. It's a rough and rugged under populated area, but not poor as it generates a good amount of revenue for the state through its mines. If you're looking for the outback, this is the place to start out from. The Mootwingee National Park in the outback teems with wildlife and is a must see. It is an Aborigine tribal ground with important rock carvings and cave paintings, the major site is now controlled by the Aborigine Community and is off limits except on ranger-escorted tours.

Getting there: The Outback is accessible from all the Australian capitals connected by air, train and road. Some famous trains that travel through the Outback are the Spirit of the Outback, Inlander, the Ghan, the Indian Pacific etc. Direct flights are also available from Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

The wonderful way is to rent a car and drive, without doubt the best way of travel if you have the license, the money and the will. Roads are relatively safe, and for the most part sealed, though speed limits are high on the highways.

Just keep the blood alcohol level with 0.05% and you shouldn't have a problem. All kinds of fuel is available but in the outback distances between service stations can be long and while in the outback prices will be lower, in cities, it is usually higher.

All you adventurous ones, hire a 4WD to explore the beaten tracks and really get a feel of the Australian outback. In the summer it’s advisable to carry 5 liters of water per person per day. The heat can be intense and the areas remote. Carrying a HF radio transceiver or a satellite phone is a good idea. Avoid a trip between October and April, as they are the hottest months of the year. Also carry a towrope in case of car breakdowns, for some other car to pull yours till the next service station. Once fully equipped, outback tracks can be loads of fun. But always be well equipped and careful, as the outback is not a place to get stranded in, especially on a vacation.

Animal Alert! Be careful of kangaroos and other animals that lie in wait for unsuspecting drivers. There will be signs to warn you of animal infested areas; and since kangaroos travel in packs, if you see one, watch out for others. High speed animal vs car encounters have no winners.

Accommodation: In the different towns of the Outback, accommodation options are quite varied ranging from small hotels and motels to larger establishments with all modern amenities to boarding and lodging facilities at sheep stations in the area where the energetic can enjoy an action packed busman’s holiday working along side the bushmen and ranchers.

For those planning to do the outback on their own, there are some very essential things to always remember. These tips can mean the difference between life and death both for you and your rescuers and at the very least help to avoid a potential disaster. Caution should be observed when venturing off the beaten track in the outback, especially when weather conditions are extreme. Inform some one reliable of your travel plans, your route and schedule and do stick to them. Don’t wander off the beaten tracks and stay beside your vehicle in case of breakdowns – on no condition, wander off in search of assistance. Be patient – someone will find you but not if you get lost in the vast outback. Always carry sufficient quantities of fuel, water and provisions for several days. Remember, there are no conveniently located gas stations in the sparsely populated outback. Distances between towns are often large – make sure you have a new and reliable road map. If possible stop at an enroute motel or gas station and check road conditions with lorry or bus drivers and mark your route carefully before leaving or check the Hotline number for road conditions before commencing your journey.

The outback roads metamorphose from sealed to dust tracks and back again with little warning, so don’t drive unnecessarily fast. It can rain equally abruptly and when it does, it really pours the proverbial cats and dogs and everything else. Water can damage roads quickly so best wait out the downpour until the next day or until the road is dry before going on. If you come across parts of the road inundated, exercise extreme caution and check the depths before driving carefully through it. The same rule applies to river or creek crossings.

Dust is an outback hazard that just doesn’t go away. If you are unlucky enough to get trapped behind a driver churning up quantities of fine dust clouds, keep a healthy distance between your car and his. Keep your eyes peeled for that other outback hazard as well. Stock and native animals like kangaroos, emus and wallabies saunter/ hop/ bound across the road with narry a care in the world for the vehicular traffic. It’s an enchanting experience to see a mob of kangaroos crossing the road just a few feet away with the sun in the background but ensure those few feet – that’s all the distance between a major mishap and a charming sight. At all times it pays to match your speed to the conditions, and err on the side of caution.