Five Outback off-roader adventures that are relatively close to home
While the average SUV is usually used as an urban runabout, as an owner, don’t you just itch to take it to the Australian Outback and see what it’s really capable of off-road?Sure you do. The problem is Australia’s Red Centre is a long way from most cities. But there are true Outback areas much closer to home; less than a day’s drive, sometimes less. Here are five worth a look.
Little Desert National Park, near Dimboola, Victoria
This huge tract of arid country stretches to the South Australian border but its eastern fringe near Dimboola is less than a four-hour drive northwest of Melbourne. Yes, the Little Desert can be sandy but it’s also a mixture of grass and bushland with walking trails ranging from 30 minutes to three days and multiple camping areas. In good weather, the dirt roads are a mild challenge to any vehicle and don’t miss the Salt Lake Track starting at the Kiata camping ground which wends its way through fields of wildflowers in Spring.
Toorale National Park, near Bourke, NSW
You need to journey further from NSW’s fertile coastline to reach the Outback but the seven-hour drive to Toorale is much closer than Alice Springs. This National Park is literally out the back of Bourke and while there’s plenty of scrub and sandy wastes, the Darling and Warrego rivers also mean birdlife, kangaroos and emus abound. The Darling River Drive is a 41km loop perfect for testing any SUV as it follows the river, stopping at waterholes, and don’t miss the beautifully preserved Toorale Homestead.
The Pinnacles Desert, Western Australia
The Nambung National Park is only two hours north of Perth and within it, one of Australia’s more extraordinary Outback landscapes. The Pinnacles are rocky pillars jutting up to 3.5 metres from the desert sands, possibly formed by fossilized shellfish but no one really knows. You can drive the sandy circuit around the pinnacles themselves, but don’t forget to explore the rest of Nambung’s 17,000 hectares including a decent stretch of Indian Ocean coastline.
Thrushton National Park, south-central Queensland
Well west of Brisbane, but at about a seven-hour drive, not way out west by Queensland standards, Thrushton National Park is dinky-di Outback with red sand, spinifex, mulga scrub and a solitude no city can satisfy. The 260 square kilometre park is crisscrossed by dirt roads and the focal point is the ruins of the Thrushton Homestead, transported to what was then a sheep station back in the 1920s. Look for koalas, echidnas, abundant birdlife and the elusive yakka skink in this nicely preserved outback paradise.
Woomera, South Australia
By the time you hit Port Augusta on the way north of Adelaide you know the Outback proper isn’t far away. The town of Woomera, another two hours towards Coober Pedy, was established during the 1940s to test rockets and missiles away from public view and these days the Aircraft and Missile Park is a reminder of that time. Dusty, at times bleak but never dull, it’s an interesting take on the Outback experience.
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