42 FRONTIER TRAVEL
SUNDAY APRIL 3 2016
Escape
The outback
Big Red is a huge sand dune
near Birdsville in Queensland
Picture: ROWAN BESTMANN/
TOURISM & EVENTS
QUEENSLAND
Australia, and the Territory in particular, are full of phenomenal
natural wonders scattered across colourful, captivating landscapes
STORY MELINDA BROWNING
F
OR most city-dwelling Australians,
a mention of “The Outback” brings
to mind an image of the Territory’s
— and Australia’s — most iconic
natural attraction, Uluru.
But once you’ve ticked off Ayers Rock, and
its neighbour, Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), don’t
think you’ve seen all the outback has to offer.
Here are some more remarkable natural
landmarks every Australian should have on
their travel bucket list, and some are right here
in the NT.
Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda), SA
If you’ve ever wanted to see Australia’s largest
salt lake, now’s the time to do it. Usually a
shimmering white desert, the lake is presently
in flood — a rare spectacle for those lucky
enough to catch it as the region springs to life
with waterbirds and wildflowers. The driest
region in Australia, Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre)
has filled to capacity just three times in 160
years. The water is expected to last until at least
June, with tour operators such as APT
scheduling extra tours to see the lake at its best.
Accessible by 4WD, the lake is best viewed
from the air, with scenic flights offered by
several companies including Wrights Air. See
aptouring.com.au; wrightsair.com.au
Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park),
WA
Revered by their indigenous custodians for
thousands of years, these towering beehive-like
sandstone domes only caught the attention of
the rest of the world in the 1980s. Since then
the Bungle Bungle Range, surrounded by
impressive gorges and rock pools, has
cemented its place as one of Australia’s natural
wonders and is a must-see for Kimberley
visitors. About 250km from Kununurra, the
Bungle Bungles are at their most breathtaking
from the air, although exploring on foot allows
you to hike into its magnificent gorges. You
can stay within the national park at bush
campsites or the Bungle Bungle Wilderness
Lodge. See visitkununurra.com
Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu), NT
A stop at these giant granite boulders, about
100km south of Tennant Creek, is a must for
anyone driving between Alice Springs and
Darwin, especially since they sit right beside
the highway. But they’re more than just a
convenient rest stop to stretch your legs and
snap a selfie. Known to the local indigenous
people as Karlu Karlu (round boulders), they
hold great significance in Aboriginal culture.
The rocks, scattered across an 1800ha
conservation reserve, are at their most
Weano Gorge in Karijini
National Park
spectacular at sunrise and sunset, so consider
spending the night at the basic campsite within
the reserve, or at the Devils Marbles Hotel,
8km away. See parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au or
wauchopehotel.com.au
Walls of China (Mungo National Park),
NSW
This 33km chain of white dunes in southwest
NSW, three hours from Mildura, marks the
shores of the ancient Lake Mungo — a body of
water that dried up more than 14,000 years
ago. That seems like just the other day
compared to Mungo National Park’s most
famous inhabitants, Mungo Lady and Mungo
Man, whose 42,000-year-old remains rewrote
Australian history when they were discovered
in the 1960s and ’70s. You need to join a tour to
get close to the Walls of China. Park staff run
regular guided walks or there are various
private tours to choose from, such as Harry
Nanya Tours from Mildura. There’s campsites
and shearers’ quarters accommodation within
the park. See visitmungo.com.au;
harrynanyatours.com.au
Big Red (Nappanerica), Queensland
This huge sand dune 35km from Birdsville is
the first of the Simpson Desert’s 1113 dunes,
and, at about 40m high, it’s also the tallest.
Officially named Nappanerica, the dune better
known as Big Red is a challenge for 4WD
enthusiasts and watching the sunset from the
top of Big Red is a special experience, so bring a
bottle of champagne. Come July, it becomes
the backdrop for the Birdsville Big Red Bash
music festival, a three-day celebration of
Australian music. See bigredbash.com.au
Wave Rock, WA
Australia is so famous for its big things no
doubt someone would have constructed a “Big
Wave” if nature hadn’t already done the hard
yards. This 15m-high, 110m-long granite cliff is
nowhere near the beach — it’s about a fourhour drive inland from Perth near the
wheatbelt town of Hyden. Other natural
formations in the area include The Humps,
Hippo’s Yawn and Mulka’s Cave, home to a
rich collection of Aboriginal rock art. See
waverock.com.au
Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park),
NT
While Uluru gets the international limelight,
Kings Canyon, a four-hour drive away, flies
under the radar, but is a Red Centre essential.
The 100m-high red sandstone walls rise above
palm forests, with the stunning Garden of Eden
waterhole found at the base of the canyon. For
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