Five Australian outback adventures you must do
NOTHING says Australia quite like our true blue outback.
The people, scenery, history and the open space is like nowhere else in the world; and it's right on our doorstep.
Here are five outback adventures to put on your bucket list.
Corner Country
Corner Country is one of the top outback destinations and it's not hard to see why.
In the extreme far west of New South Wales, Corner Country is where three states meet; bound by the Queensland border to the north and South Australia to the west, intersecting at Cameron Corner.
Rich with Indigenous heritage and stories the region tells a tale of exploration.
The landscapes are as stunning as they are diverse and the majestic Darling River flows nearby.
The Birdsville Track
This famous road that joins Birdsville in Queensland to Marree in South Australia is 517km long and traverses three deserts: the Strzelecki Desert, Sturt Stony Desert and Tirari Desert.
The track passes one of the driest parts of the country, with the average annual rainfall a mere 100mm.
Historically created in the 1860s to walk cattle across the country, it soon became the most isolated, yet best-known stock routes and the centre of a 1954 documentary called The Back of Beyond. Nowadays it is a very popular track, but travellers are advised to take plenty of water and emergency supplies as it is very remote.
Lightning Ridge
Welcome to the Black Opal country of the world.
Drenched in genuine country hospitality, Lightning Ridge is known for its quirky characters and incredible outback landscapes.
Follow the 'Car Door Tour' to experience the region at your own pace and discover the magic of the rare gem that is the Black Opal.
Lightning Ridge is in central New South Wales on the Queensland Border about 2.5 hours west of Moree.
Lake Eyre
Lake Eyre is the largest salt lake in the country, stretching 144km long and 77km wide. But what makes it so unlike any other is it's rarely filled with water.
The region, about 700km north of Adelaide, is one of the driest places in Australia.
The lake's water levels are dependent on the monsoon season and how much rain falls in the Queensland and Northern Territory catchments and whether the strength of the monsoon carries it south.
The lake has only filled three times in the past 160 years.
When dry, the lake becomes a giant salt pan with white salt crystals that reflect in the sunlight - utterly spectacular.
Hot Air Ballooning in the Red Centre
The only thing better than seeing Uluru from the ground, is seeing it from the air - in a hot air balloon.
For the ultimate outback experience, glide above the red centre at sunrise or sunset to see some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.
Expert's pick: Lake Eyre
Stonestreets coach driver Peter Desmond says "Seeing Lake Eyre stretch out for miles in all directions is spectacular, especially on rare occasions when the floodwaters are flowing." *Stonestreets offers tours to all these destinations.
