54 Best Sights in The Outback, Australia

The Henbury Meteorites craters, 12 depressions between 6 feet and 600 feet across, are believed to have been formed by a meteorite shower 4,700 years ago—the largest one measures roughly 590 feet wide by 50 feet deep! To get here, you must travel 15 km (9 miles) off the highway on an unpaved road—conventional 2WD sedans will be fine, but be aware that some rental car companies don't cover you if you break down on unsealed roads.

Located just 16 km (10 miles) north of downtown Kununurra on Weaber Plain Road, Hoochery Distillery offers tours at 2 pm so you can get behind the scenes and learn all about the longest-running rum operation in Western Australia. Pick up some homemade Ord River rum cake and a cup of coffee at the on-site Hoochery Cafe, or treat yourself to a rum flight and sample some of the ones you just heard about on the tour.

This marine interpretative center houses a large open tank with one of the few self-contained coral-reef ecosystems in the southern hemisphere—and it's been growing on its own for more than 20 years. Other exhibits include a static display of rare, deepwater coral skeletons and an exhibit explaining the effects of global warming on the planet. Night tours, which begin at 6:30 on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, take you by ultraviolet flashlight to view the biodiversity of the fluorescing reef and live venomous animals; the colors the coral produce are astounding. You'll also get a four-course seafood dinner, followed by a nocturnal coral reef tour of the exhibitions. Bookings are essential.

More than 900 pearl divers are buried in the Japanese Cemetery, located on the road out to Broome's deepwater port. The graves testify to the contribution of the Japanese people to the development of the industry in Broome, as well as to the perils of pearl gathering in its early days.

The best way to gain a true appreciation of the natural beauty of Kakadu is to visit the waterfalls running off the escarpment. Some 39 km (24 miles) south of the park headquarters along the Kakadu Highway, a track leads off to the left toward Jim Jim Falls, 60 km (37 miles) or about a two-hour drive away. The track is rough and unpaved, and you'll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to navigate it. From the parking lot, you have to scramble 1 km (½ mile) over boulders to reach the falls and the plunge pools they have created at the base of the escarpment. Note that after May, the water flow over the falls may cease, and the unpaved road is closed in the wet season.

John Flynn, the Royal Flying Doctor Service founder, is memorialized at this spot along Larapinta Drive just 6½ km (4 miles) west of Alice Springs in view of the majestic Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Range.

Entry is free at Lasseters Casino, where the action goes late into the night with more than 300 slot machines, plus blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat tables. Choose from five restaurants and bars, each with its own style ranging from exotic eats at Tali to tapas at Tempo. The Juicy Rump is known for live music, while Splash Cafe is a great place for a bite by the pool, and Casbah is perfectly positioned should you need a break from betting.

This beautiful national park lies just 120 km (75 miles) southwest of Darwin off the Stewart Highway. The highlights include four separate, spectacular waterfalls—Florence, Tjaynera (Sandy Creek), Wangi, and Tolmer Falls—all of which have secluded plunge pools. The pools are suitable for swimming but occasionally there are crocs here, so observe any “no swimming” signs.

Entering through the jaws of a giant crocodile, this huge wildlife park founded by the legendary Australian documentary filmmaker opens up each day from 2 pm to 5 pm to reveal the Kimberley's native species in a variety of habitats. You'll get to see dingoes, cassowaries, a litany of bird species, American alligators, and, of course, hundreds of saltwater and freshwater crocodiles. Don't miss the famous croc feeding tour at 3 pm daily, a one-hour guided walk through the vast property where you get to watch the guide feed salties, freshies, and American alligators, and meet several problem crocs who were brought to the park after wreaking havoc in some of the surrounding estuaries.

Often described as a miniature version of the Bungle Bungle Range, Mirima National Park lies less than five minutes' drive north of Kununurra and is known for its incredible layers of sandstone formations, formed more than 300 million years ago when the area was part of a prehistoric sea. The park is also a place of cultural significance for the local Miriwoong people, who still conduct ceremonies in the park, and you may spot wildlife such as wallabies, crimson and double-barred finches, and white-quilled rock pigeons. A national park pass is required, with a Holiday Pass costing A$70 and offering unlimited entry to all WA parks for up to four weeks.

More than 3,000 ancient Aboriginal rock engravings (petroglyphs) are etched into sandstone outcrops in Napwerte/Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve, 35 km (22 miles) south of Alice on the road to Chamber's Pillar. Early morning and late-afternoon light are best for photographing the lines, circles, and animal tracks. A 2-km (1-mile) trail leads to several art sites. The reserve is open all day year-round and is accessible by regular (rather than four-wheel-drive) cars; technically, however, the road is unsealed, so check with your rental car company to make sure it's not against their rules to drive on it.

Amazing formations in the sandstone cliffs of the James Range take on rainbow colors in the early-morning and late-afternoon light; the colors are caused by water dissolving the red iron in the sandstone and further erosion that has created dramatic rock faces and squared towers. To reach the reserve, turn left off the Stuart Highway 75 km (46 miles) south of Alice. The next 22 km (13 miles) are on a dirt track, requiring a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Morning, presunset, and sunset rides are available every day on Cable Beach north of the rocks. The morning ride lasts for 40 minutes and costs A$50; the presunset ride runs for 30 minutes and costs A$40; the sunset ride takes an hour and costs A$80.

This much-visited tourist attraction in Alice Springs has a theater, interactive displays, and a full-scale replica of the fuselage of the service's current Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. The site has long been the radio base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which directs doctors (using aircraft) on their house calls to remote settlements and homes hundreds of miles apart, making it a vital part of Outback life. The center features historical displays, a holographic audiovisual show portraying RFDS founder Reverend John Flynn, tours that run every half hour throughout the year, and a lovely café at the back.

Accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicle, this site is best experienced by taking a refreshing swim through the narrow, winding gorge. According to an Indigenous creation story, a fierce serpent makes its home in the pool, hence the name.

The closest gorge to Alice Springs—there's even a bicycle and walking track from the city center—greets you with views of stark-white ghost gums (Australian evergreen trees), red rocks, and gorgeous, purple-haze mountains that provide a taste of scenery to be seen farther into the ranges. Swimming is not permitted, but come in the morning and late afternoon for a chance to catch a glimpse of rock wallabies.

At midday, when the sun is directly overhead, the 10-yard-wide canyon glows red from the reflected light, a phenomenon that lasts for just 15 minutes. The walk from the parking lot takes about 20 minutes and is rocky toward the end. For a greater challenge, climb to the top via the steep trail that branches off to the left at the end of the gorge; the views are spectacular. There's also a kiosk selling snacks and drinks at the park entrance.

With 1,544 acres of natural bushland, this impressive park is dedicated to the Northern Territory's native fauna and flora. In addition to saltwater crocodiles, emus, olive pythons, and blue-winged kookaburras, among other animals, the park also has an underwater viewing area for observing freshwater fish and a nocturnal house kept dark for late-night creatures. The treetop-level walkway through the huge aviary allows you to watch native birds from the swamps and forests at close range. Daily events include feedings, guided walks, and a birds of prey display: see the website for daily schedules. There's also a free shuttle train to help you get around.

As you approach Twin Falls Gorge, the ravine opens up dramatically to reveal a beautiful sandy beach scattered with palm trees, as well as the crystal waters of the falls spilling onto the end of the beach. This spot is a bit difficult to reach, but the trip is rewarding. Take the four-wheel-drive-only road to Jim Jim Falls, turn off just before the parking lot, and travel 10 km (6 miles) farther to the Twin Falls parking lot. A regular boat shuttle operates a return service up the Twin Falls Gorge (A$12.50; buy your tickets before you go at Bowali Visitor Centre), and then you need to walk over boulders, sand, and a boardwalk to the falls. Note that saltwater crocodiles may be in the gorge, so visitors are urged not to enter the water. The round-trip journey, including the boat shuttle, takes around two hours.

Ubirr has an impressive display of Aboriginal paintings scattered through six shelters in the rock. The main gallery contains a 49-foot frieze of X-ray paintings depicting animals, birds, and fish. A 1-km (½-mile) path around the rock leads to all the galleries. It's just a short 820-foot clamber to the top for wonderful views over the surrounding wetlands, particularly at sunset.  Take a flashlight to help you get down after sunset. For lunch or a postsunset Thai dinner, or to peruse arts and crafts for sale, stop by the Border Store and Cafe on your way in, if you're visiting during the dry season May through October.  Beware of wildlife on the roads if driving after dark.

The cultural center is the first thing you'll come across after entering the park through a tollgate. The two buildings are built in a serpentine style, reflecting the Kuniya and Liru stories about two ancestral snakes who fought a long-ago battle on the southern side of Uluṟu. Inside, you can learn about Indigenous history and the return of the park to its Traditional Owners on October 26, 1985. There's also an excellent park ranger's station where you can get maps and hiking guides, as well as two art shops, Maruku and Walkatjara, where you'll likely see Aboriginal artists at work. Pick up a souvenir or grab refreshments at the Ininti Cafe, or rent a bicycle for another fun way to ride around Uluṟu (from A$55).

Get an insight into the process of modern pearl farming, including a boat cruise on Willie Creek and a masterclass that includes a live pearl harvest, at Willie Creek Pearl Farm, located about 38 km (23½ miles) north of Broome. Drive out to the farm yourself (you must make reservations first and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended on this unsealed road), or join a tour on an air-conditioned coach that'll pick you up and bring you back to your in-town accommodation. There's also the option of taking a scenic helicopter ride while on the property for an additional fee. All tours include refreshments and a serving of homemade damper made with a family recipe. Optional lunch add-ons are available on specific tours and seasonally for A$40 per person.

This fascinating museum, which is housed in the Old Alice Springs Gaol, tells the stories of the brave, strong women of the Red Centre, with exhibits showing the important role women played during WWII, and how women of all races helped shape Australian politics, education, medicine, aviation, sports, and pretty much every aspect of today’s society. You’ll also be able to tour the old jail, which began as a prison for both sexes but became an all-male prison in the 1980s, and hear the stories of its former inhabitants through an interactive audio display.

You can hand-feed hundreds of fish at this beach on the north-western end of the Esplanade. At high tide people wade into the water with buckets of bread to feed the schools of batfish, bream, catfish, milkfish, and mullet that come inshore in a feeding frenzy.