Australia Outback Tours

Crossing the mighty Nullarbor is quite an experience. Vast, forbidding and raw, the land of 
 ‘no trees’ is home to a plethora of limestone caves, soaring sea cliffs, and endless red sand desert… interspersed with indigenous and pioneering history.

The Southwestern corner of Western Australia is a pocket of lush green forests, farmland, rivers and a rugged coastline contrasting the stark landscapes of the rest of the state. Fertile soils provide foodies with the best fresh produce and world-class wineries, while its waters are rich with marine life. A fascinating colonial history weaves its way through the charming towns along our route, and this part of the itinerary has several fabulous scenic drives.

When we reach the west edge of South Australia, the landscape changes. The drive between Norseman in Western Australia and Ceduna on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is around 13 hours, a distance of 1,200 kilometres, so we’ll have a few stops along the way. We’ll drive the world’s longest straight bit of road, known as the 90 Mile Straight, 146.6 km between Balladonia and Caiguna. We are likely to meet a veritable host of characters. From the feral camels, kangaroos and wombats who call this desert home to the sunburnt holidaymakers, truckies, and adventure-seeking tourists on bikes, there’ll be a smorgasbord of people watching on our journey. One thing is certain; we will surely be mesmerised by a thousand shimmering mirages.

We’ll also be able to watch whales and their calves frolic in the protected bays of the spectacular Great Australian Bight.

Starting in Dubbo, we travel to the World Heritage-listed Aboriginal Fish Traps at Brewarrina, overnighting at the award-winning Callubri Station. We follow the Darling River, Australia’s longest river system, from Brewarrina to Bourke, Louth, Wilcannia, and Menindee, stopping at a number of natural and historical points of interest along the way, including an Aboriginal guided walking tour along the banks of the Menindee Lakes.

We travel along the Lower Darling from Menindee to Wentworth, where the Darling meets the Murray. After taking a nature hike to the confluence of the rivers, we visit an almond farm, a winery, and an olive oil producer before driving through the north-west corner of Victoria State and onto the State of South Australia. At Paringa, we board a luxury houseboat for a 2-day cruise.

We gently travel the more isolated parts of the Murray River and relax. We swim, read, relax, and observe the abundant bird life. On one day, we take a nature walk, returning to our luxury houseboat for dinner and to relax. At the historic River Port town of Mannum, we take an Aboriginal guided walk through Gnaut Gnaut National Park to view the Aboriginal cliff artwork.

We end the tour with a three-night stay in the famous McLaren Vale wine region. A day is dedicated to cruising the Coorong National Park, including a short nature walk to the mouth of the Murray River, and the second day is spent visiting the wine region and enjoying lunch at a winery. We have plenty of opportunities to get close to Australian wildlife, and there will be an abundance of colourful native birds to observe. We travel via a number of farm stays, meeting fascinating people and eating fabulous homecooked meals, and we learn about living in the outback.