T  H E   O U T B A C K

The area north of Flinder’s Range spreads out into a vast open space and is the famed Aussie Outback. It’s sparsely populated, and would require 4WDs or camels to travel into the interiors. Entry permits are needed for the Aboriginal protected reserves and national parks in the region. A park permit is valid for a year and can be procured in Port Augusta, as can tourist information and maps.

The Southern Australian Outback includes much of Simpson Desert and Sturt Stony Desert, huge dry salt lakes that fill up once in a while. When it rains, if it rains, the desert springs into life, plants, wildflowers and dormant animals and insects appear out of the blue; roads turn into a sticky morass or simply get washed away. It’s mostly open country and cattle, sheep or kangaroos can leap right out of nowhere, so high-speed collisions add to the drama.

Travel to the Outback via the Stuart Hwy, a sealed track from Port Augusta to Darwin or on the Oodnadatta track, a more adventurous route that traverse through Flinders Range before meeting up with Stuart Hwy at Marla.