Port Augusta is a small town with a wonderful location on the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Pleasant Port Augusta, nicknamed ‘the Crossroads of Australia’, makes a convenient stopover for travellers from west to east, from Perth to Sydney, and north to south, from Darwin to Adelaide. The town itself, however, offers some good sights and outdoor activities. Don’t miss the Wadlata Outback Centre, which has some interesting historical exhibitions, or the scenic area of Blanche Harbour, which is suitable for picnicking and birdwatching. The town’s old Watertower has been converted into a popular lookout spot, and the Foreshore offers a wide sandy beach great for swimming. For those with more time in the area, it is possible to hike to the top of Mount Brown, and you can view yellow-footed rock wallabies in nearby Warren Gorge.
Located along the Stuart Highway in South Australia, Coober Pedy is a desert town with a frontier feel. Dubbed the ‘Opal Capital’, this cosmopolitan town is known for these rainbow gemstones. The surrounding landscape is quintessentially the Outback with its desolate landscapes. Visitors can view these beautiful stones in their natural state while on a tour of the mines, or see them glisten as polished gemstones in the town's galleries and shops. While visitors flock here to view the sparkling opals, visitors can also look forward to viewing an array of wildlife inhabiting the surrounding natural desert landscape and learn about the rich Aboriginal cultural heritage of the region.
The remote town of Marla is located on the Stuart Highway near the geographical centre of Australia. This quaint area in the middle of the South Australian Outback is one of the most isolated stops on The Ghan, Australia’s historic north to south railway line. Located 400 kilometres from Alice Springs and 200 kilometres from both Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy, it makes a popular choice for those attempting driving tours of Australia’s interior, such as the Oodnadatta Track. Marla boasts motel-style accommodation, well-maintained camping facilities, a well-stocked supermarket, and offers visitors a unique 4x4 route – via the 160-kilometre Anna Creek Station Track – to the scenic spot of Lake Eyre.
Located in the south of Australia’s Northern Territory, the remote town of Yulara lies only 18 short kilometres from the sacred world heritage site, Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. This isolated town serves as a service hub for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and offers some welcome comfort in the harsh Outback landscape. Visitors use it as a base when exploring the park and viewing the main attraction in the area, Uluru. This epic sandstone formation stands almost 350 metres high and measures 10 kilometres in circumference featuring hidden caves, ancient rock art and otherworldly fiery hues at sunset. Other popular attractions and activities include: the Field of Light Uluru, the Desert Awakenings Tour and the Wintjiri Arts & Museum.
Der Watarrka Nationalpark ist ein Naturgebiet mitten in der Wildnis des Northern Territory.Er beinhaltet unter anderem den Kings Canyon, die größten Schlucht Australiens. Der Kings Creek hat diese bizarre, bis 270 m tiefe Schlucht in Jahrmillionen in die Sandsteinwände des Hochplateaus gegraben. Aufgrund der am Grund der Schlucht vorhandenen Wasserlöcher befindet sich dort üppige Vegetation. Davon zeugt unter anderem die Oase Garten Eden, ein Wasserpool umgeben von 100 m hohen Steilwänden, in der auch Palmfarne als Überbleibsel eines feuchttropischen Klimas wachsen.
Beinahe im Herzen des Kontinents gelegen, wurde Alice Springs als Telegrafenstation gegründet. Die Pionierstadt ist Ausgangspunkt für Touren durch das Outback zum Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon und in die MacDonnell Ranges. Wer sich für die Kunst der Ureinwohner interessiert, findet in Alice Springs eine gute Auswahl an authentischen Galerien.
Etwa 500 Kilomerter nördlich von Alice Springs liegt Tennant Creek, eine Stadt geprägt durch Bergbau und Kultur der Aborigines. Die Region ist durch weites Buschland, steinige Grate und den immerblauen klaren Himmel mit Millionen an Sternen in der Nacht gekennzeichnet. Die Stadt selbst ist klein genug um alle Sehenswürdigkeiten bequem zu Fuß erreichen zu können unter anderem ein altes Minenzentrum, ein preisgekröntes Museum und ein Kunst und Kulturzentrum der Aborigines.
Katherine liegt in der Übergangszone vom tropischen Top End zum Roten Zentrum. Die Region ist durchzogen von der Geschichte der Pioniere und der Ureinwohner, von historischen Stätten, imposanten Höhlen, tiefen Schluchten, atemberaubenden Wasserfällen, Canyons und Seen. Unzählig viele Vögel fühlen sich in dieser Klimazone wohl. Berühmt ist Katherine aber vor allem für die Katherine Gorge im Nitmiluk National Park – ein Höhepunkt und Muss für jeden Besucher. Der Eingang zum National Park liegt etwa 32 Kilometer außerhalb der Stadt.
Jabiru is a settlement situated within the boundaries of the Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. Travellers to Kakadu make use of the town’s facilities that include a newsagent, post office, service station, medical centre, chemist and police station. Just five kilometres from the town is the Bowali Visitor Centre, which offers a wealth of information about the area and the local Mirarr people. Jabiru also offers easy access to several of the park’s other highlight attractions, including Lake Jabir, the Gunlom falls, the Mamukala Billabong wetland and the sacred Ubirr rocks.
