Aussie Outback Tours

Along back roads there are still remarkably untouched pioneer farms such as this abandoned one

At Andamooka, an Outback opal town, early settlers lived in stone huts which have now been preserved as a museum

It’s remote, unforgiving, and awesome. The remains of the Old Ghan railway bed are seen near the Oodnadatta Track

Many massive red sand drifts are found in the Outback

Around Australia one discovers these horse water troughs bequeathed by George and Annis Bills who were horse lovers

The WA/NT border on the Buntine Hwy is not all very glamorous!

This is the site of explorer Burke's grave – his body was later relocated

The ruins of Cadelga homestead look forlorn

A sundial built of rail sleepers at Marree

Australia's mid-northeastern coast has miles of cane fields

The pock-surfaced landscape at Cooper Pedy where opals are mined

Explorer Sturt was forced to stay at Depot Glen for months due to drought

This earth road leads to Birdsville

The dog fence is the longest continuous fence in the world, running from the Great Australian Bight to Queensland to limit movement of wild dogs

The dramatic scenery of the Flinders Ranges changes every kilometre

As you drive the Stuart Highway there are deserted remains of buildings like railway stations which once serviced the Ghan rail line

The ‘iron mountains' of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

An Australian icon, the koala

This rock formation call ‘London Bridge' is near Sandstone WA. Note: It is now assessed as unsafe to walk on.

Outback road conditions sign, Lyndhurst, SA

Land cultivation in arid mallee areas gives rise to dust clouds

When motorcars and trucks wore out, they were converted to wagons which horses or camels could haul – Marree, SA

Artesian bores, such as this one (Mirra Mitta) blast super-hot water to the surface

The moon rising over William Creek, outback SA

Mungo National Park protects archaeological specimens in the sand walls surrounding what once was a large lake

Paddlesteamers still ply the Murray River

In South Australia oil well heads like this one can be seen close to roads – travellers are prohibited from approaching them

In the Flinders Ranges travellers inspect the remnants of the masonry culvert built for the Old Ghan narrow-gauge rail line

Palm Valley in NT boasts some plants which are found in few other places in the world

Quorn railway station in the foothills of the Flinders Ranges has the historic Pichi Richi steam train

In the Dandenongs east of Melbourne lies the William Rickett Sanctuary of famous stone and timber carved figures in a rainforest setting

One of the world's largest meteorite craters, Wolfe Creek, lies southwest of Halls Creek, WA

A famous hotel in Birdsville is the Royal Hotel. Sadly, it is now merely an historic wreck

Beside the Silver City Highway north of Broken Hill lie several massive salt lakes

It's so hot in the desertscape of WA that the lettering and paint on this road sign is peeling

Outside Broken Hill the first mining town in the area, Silverton, is now famed for its artistic pursuits and galleries – some definitely unusual

At Strangways is a derelict Overland Telegraph station

Victoria has great desert plains in the ‘Sunset Country’

It’s hard to believe that tiny termites build and live in such large structures

A sense of insignificance is felt by many in the vastness of the Outback

The Victoria River (NT) is a great place to take a guided cruise

When ferreting for precious opals, miners around White Cliffs leave a lunar-like landscape

Distances between settlements can be sizeable

Woomera was once at the forefront of rocket and missile testing, and still has a museum with authentic examples