gregd1g

My wife and I will be in Sydney and Cairns on our vacation and it has been suggested that we go to the Red Center/Ayer's Rock region.

Are there other places near Sydney or Cairns that would provide a good "Outback" experience? We would like to experience that arid savanah safari atmosphere for a day or two (maybe 3), but haven't been exposed to enough information to weigh the cost of an excursion to the Red Center vs. another destination (or even skipping it all together).

Some things to keep in mind:

When it comes to wildlife, we prefer wide open spaces where the animals roam freely.
Tourists should not outnumber other mammals in the area.
More species more better.
We aren't rock climbers.
It would be great to visit or encounter a native culture in its natural condition.

Thanks.

lizF

"It would be great to visit or encounter a native culture in its natural condition".

That is best done at a VFL or Rugby League Match in Sydney - the natives seem to really let their guard down at those places.

On the matter of "Outback" yes there are many areas which would give you a great experience of outback other than the centre and Ayer's Rock. I will leave the Sydneyites to tell you where to go from there as they have much more up to date information than myself but as far as Queensland goes you can either do a trip to Lawn Hill National Park which is north of Mt Isa and enjoy that area ( do a google search on it ) or perhaps a trek up Cape York from Cairns would fit the bill. There are quite a few ways you can do this i.e. fly one way and come back in a 4 WD or you can ( if you have the time ) take a boat up to the Cape and either come back via road or air. Any one of those should fit your requirements. It depends more on the time of year as to how many animals are around. Even a trip to Carnarvon Gorge in Qld you would see many animals and also see some outback but that is more out of your way. The Northern Territory around Kakadu is he most varied both in terms of animals and birds as well as natives but Cape York would be my choice I think.

myaustralia

Hi there

if you want to see the Outback without going to the Red Centre, do it in Queensland from Cairns. You can visit the great Undara Lava Tubes (a little more touristy) and the lesser known Cobbold Gorge. Especially the Gorge is great because it is really off the beaten track and there aren't too many people out there. It is fantastic. You can do both on a relaxing 3 day trip from Cairns.
There are tour companies who offer daytours to Undara or bus tours, but I would rather recommend to do it on a private charter. A great tour operator is Pete Baxendell from Heritage & Interpretive Tours (www.nqhit.com.au). He can adjust the itinerary to your needs and wishes and he offers a fantastic safari!!! I have done a 3 day tour out there with him and I loved every minute of it. If you want more info on this area, just visit
www.wonderfulaustralia.com

Hope this will help.

pat_woolford

Outback is far more accessible from Cairns than Sydney. The Gulf Savannah Way goes west from Cairns right across the savannah/outback to Broome, on the other side of the country. But you'd need a few weeks at least for this. As Liz says, Lawn Hill National Park is stunning, but last time I was there only camping facilities were available. Closer to Cairns are Undara Lava Tubes, 4 hour drive which takes you through Atherton Tablelands which are also worth a few nights. Mareeba Wetlands, only an hour from Cairns is said to be a "mini Kakadu" with astounding variety of birdlife, kangaroos, wallabies, etc. Its closed for conservation work during wet season, due to reopen in May. Or you could go with Jonathan Munro of Wildwatch who has an uncanny sense of finding creatures which you would probably miss.

Just a little south of Cairns is the coastal Aboriginal community of Yarrabah - once you needed permission from an elder to visit, but now visitors are welcome. It would still be a good idea to phone first. North is Wujal Wujal, 4WD for Bloomfield Track, just north of Cape Tribulation. There's a strict government imposed alcohol ban in the remote Aboriginal communities which applies to all travelling through, just one bottle of wine can lead to a hefty fine.

A more commercial, but still worthy Aboriginal experience is Tjakupai Aboriginal Cultural Park in a northern suburb of Cairns, also the Kuku Yalanji people will take you on a rainforest walk near Mossman Gorge. Hazel Douglas is an Aboriginal guide who shows you the Daintree rainforest from a Aboriginal perspective.

Hope this helps

RalphR

greg: My wife and I went to Undarra ten years ago and loved it, not just for the lava tubes, but also for the wildlife and walks. It wasn't especially touristy then and I can't imagine it being anything like Ayers Rock is now. Carnarvon Gorge was another excellent suggestion....been twice. Seeing the gorge involves a level hike of a about 7 km with short detours along the way. Carnarvon is relatively hard to get to....maybe a 7 hr drive out of Brisbane.

Another possibility is the Warrumbungle Ranges in NSW, maybe 6 hrs from Sydney...like Carnarvon, I wouldn't characterize it as true outback (which to me means a lack of fenced properties and a lack of small towns). Not touristy at all, lots of wildlife (roos, koalas, emus) and some great hikes. You could combine a visit to the Warrumbungles with some time in the Blue Mts, near Sydney, en route.

marg

I have seen a day tour advertised which goes out of Cairns and takes you to a farm property west of Cairns. It looked as though it would be of interest to overseas visitors. You could check out the Cairns tourist bureau website.
Undara is certainly worth considering - you can do it in a long day trip or stay overnight. Their accommodation is in converted train carriages.
If you are hiring a car, drive inland from Cairns to Mareeba and through the Atherton Tableland - pleasant country, coffee plantations, orchards, distillery, dairying, etc.