The Australian Outback

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Tourists often add the Australian outback to their list of things to do, since it has become an iconic relic of Australia's rich aboriginal past. However, the local Australian people point to the reality of aboriginal life as being far different than the Disney-like portrayal on the outback tours. The history of the outback includes economic disparity, alcoholism, years of political inequality and a "stolen generation," some say. So, in search of a more "authentic" experience, several tourists have decided to skip the tours altogether and go it alone, never to be seen again.

If you take the Stuart Highway running north from Adelaide to Darwin, then you're likely to run into most of the tourist attractions in Australia's outback. At the halfway point of this journey, you will find Alice Springs, which is a good starting point for the weary traveler with limited time. The Alice Springs Desert Park is a one-stop shop for all things outback, such as a botanical garden, a zoo and an Aboriginal culture center.

Nestled at the foot of the MacDonnell Mountain Range, this park will teach you all about the outback, while pleasing the senses with wildflowers and wildlife. The Nature Theater has an excellent "Birds of Prey" show, the Spectator Nocturnal House allows a glimpse of rare endangered animals and "The Changing Heart" documentary takes you through 4.5 billion years of desert evolution.

Kalgoorie offers a different sort of experience of the Australian outback. Typically, people opt for a "Crocodile Dundee" type of adventure, scouting for wild kangaroos, emus, dingoes, snakes and crocodiles. Others imagine a setting more like "the bush," complete with Australian aboriginal dancers with painted faces and traditional costumes, telling stories and playing the didgeridoo. Yet, Kalgoorlie offers a look at the miners of Australia. Go back in time to the period when "Waltzing Matilda" was written, as it is the unofficial Australian anthem.

See where swagmen boiled their billies, stowed their jumbucks in tucker bags and swam in billabongs! Visit an historic pub, see an original corrugated iron shack, tour the ghost towns and sleep under the stars! You'll see the best of nature in this portion of the immense outback, with salt lakes, wildflowers, granite formations and Aboriginal petroglyphs around every corner. You can stay at a quaint farm, take a look at Australia's largest open cut mine, try gold panning, learn about gold rush hardships at the Mining Hall of Fame and hike Mount Charlotte.

The highlight of your trip will be the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, with its unprecedented views of the outback, from Coolgadie to Leonora and finally, Laverton. You'll see sculptures at Lake Ballard, the Gwalia Historic Precinct, the fully restored Herbert Hoover House and hear stories from aboriginals to wrap up your experience.

Let's face it: for some of us, vacationing is all about the nightlife, the precarious moments and the pub crawls. You can learn a lot about the Australian outback from a pub veranda and achieve that "authentic" experience you were after. You can try the Exchange Hotel, situated in a historic mining town and specializing in Jim Beam. For seafood and 16 on-tap beers, the Freemasons Hotel has become a haven for surfers, fishermen, miners and transients alike.

The Bush and Bull Tavern (circa 1893) catered to timber workers in the past but now visitors are offered a toasty fire and tasty fare. To try some of that Australian wine you've heard all about, try the Settler's Tavern along Margeret River. You'll love the historic architecture of the Palace Hotel and the Gingin Hotel as well. The outback isn't for the faint of heart, but when you're enjoying that cold drink, the whole journey seems worth it.

That's it for this article, check out some of the other articles on my site for another great read.





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Today's Tip On Australia

The aboriginals of the Daruk, Eora and Guringai tribes began in Sydney Australia as long as 40,000 years ago have left their mark on this popular Australian city; the name of a city suburb, petroglyphs and rock carvings, paintings or seafood shell piles all show evidence of early civilizations. Europeans sailed over in 1788, arriving with England's First Fleet, which was a ship full of prisoners. Originally designated as a penal colony, Australia's fortune changed when gold was discovered. It attracted settlers from all around the world who arrived, settled and set up an official government.


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