100 Reasons to Experience the Outback Way: A Photo Journal from Cairns to Perth - Part 1

Explore Australia

Sep 8

Head into the Outback with the kids in the back seat of your car and you realise you’re on a family road trip like no other...

The Outback Way, across the very heart of Australia is the quintessential Aussie journey that every kid (and adult) needs to experience at least once. Here’s 100 reasons why this trip should be on every families bucket list:

We made it!!! The Outback Way is a MUST DO family bonding exercise

1. You might get to travel with a cool set of wheels like the Britz Outback 4WD (the only hire vehicle you can drive one-way from Cairns to Perth).

2. You make every effort to stop at places you normally ‘fly’ past.

It’s worth stopping for the view of Hinchinbrook (just south of Cardwell)

3. You see iconic Aussie wildlife wandering the streets.

Just normal traffic for this Outback Town

4. There’s more chance of eating a cooked brekkie on a BIG road trip

Can’t beat an early morning cook up from the North Gregory in Winton

5. You’ll get to see plenty of evidence that Dinosaurs once roamed this land.

Checking out evidence of a Dinosaur Stampede at Lark Quarry – Winton

Can you spot the predators tracks?? The little ‘chicken’ tracks are the ‘others’, the not so lucky ones..

Getting the low down on what all those tracks mean

6. And you may even ‘wrestle’ with the odd dinosaur.

Giddy up there Banjo…..you feisty meat-eating theropod

7. And you’ll get to see what this land once looked like when dinosaurs once ruled.

Pretty happy these guys aren’t still sharing the same territory

8. And the kids can enjoy an open-air museum like no other (and learn stuff in the process).

Funny how kids seem to pay more attention ‘outdoors’

Entrance to the Dinosaur Canyon in Winton

9. You’ll get to do ‘quirky’ stuff like play music on a fence.

9. And bet on racing chickens at the North Gregory Hotel.

10. And listen to Bush Poets do their ‘thing’ on outback stages.

Bush Poet Gregory North at the North Gregory Hotel

11. And discover the beauty of a ‘true’ Outback store….who have store owner’s that actually know where everything is!

“Yes indeed young boy, I have a snowboard if you’re interested.” (AND he seriously did…)

12. You can even check out movie sets that are always open for public viewing.

Remnants of the movie ‘Goldstone‘ filmed entirely in the Middleton area in 2015

13. You can pull in at one of the old Cobb & Co coach staging posts that once opened up the outback for all types of travellers.

The 4th Cobb and Co. Pillar at Middleton with a fully functional coach still on display

14. And enjoy a pint (or two) at one of the smallest towns in the outback (population 2).

Great place for a ‘coldie’ & to soak up the history of the once thriving township of Middleton

15. And see roads that seem to go on forever…….

16. Sometimes you’ll feel like you are the only one out this way.

17. And other times it will be easy to pull over and let another have the lion’s share of the road.

18. There’s even a chance that something quite bizarre could come your way.

The Min Min Encounter at Boulia….thankfully the only lights we encountered were at daytime

19. And there’s evidence everywhere of Dinosaur Domination.

I’m only glad I never got to swim in this sea….

20. You can even Geocache your way across the continent.

There’s a heap of Geocache’s to find all the way along The Outback Way

21. You, or your kids, may be tempted to ‘try’ something a little bit different from the menu.

One hump or two?

Mmmmmm…anyone for camel??

22. You could tick off an EPIC journey like The Outback Way from your bucket list.

You won’t find too much traffic on this Highway

23. You’re kids will LOVE seeing and posing next to State Border signs like this one…

OR this one…..

24. You’ll find Geocache’s in the oddest of spots.

Somewhere around here is a Geocache……Hmmmm, I wonder…..

Yep!! Thought so. Glad we didn’t find anything else in the tyre!

We stuck GOLD…or at least a Geocache box.

25. There’s even rockets that have fallen out of the sky out here.

Fill up at the servo & you might find a couple of ‘rockets’ in the backyard

26. And getting a flat out here could be an adventure in itself!

Everybody seems to want to help when you get a flat in the outback

27. And the kids won’t mind waiting……

No you can’t ride all the way to Alice Springs up on top

In fact, your kids might even learn something practical on their journey…

Josh learning the lost art of replacing a tyre

28. And your kids may even surprise you and eat ALL their vegetables or try out new flavours….particularly if its something from the Gemtree Camp Oven Kitchen.

Amazing what your kids will try if its cooked on an open fire (Image @RobMulally)

Everything tastes better under the stars at Gemtree Caravan Park (Image @RobMulally)

29. You can even visit a Town like Alice.

Its a great view of Alice Springs from Anzac Hill

30. And see the Road Transport Hall of Fame – A museum dedicated to the vehicles and people that opened up the Outback to the rest of Australia.

Plenty of memorabilia to look at, at the Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.

Some BIG RIGS at the Kenwood Hall of Fame

31. And marvel at the cars they once drove across the Outback in days of old.

Can you imagine driving an outback road in one of these

32. You can get a glimpse at how the first Australian’s used to live.

Tools that the traditional owners of the Wurre (Rainbow Valley) once used.

Ricky shows us the rock art, engravings & occupation sites of the Southern Arrernte/Luritja people

33. And admire the changing colours of a spectacular sunset in Central Australia.

Hard to get a bad shot when the Outback gives you a sunset like this one, every day (pretty much).

34. You might even discover funky cafe’s that you thought existed only in urban Australia.

OB-WAY-Todd Mall Alice Springs @adventuremumma.jpg

No you haven’t wandered into Melbourne’s alleyways – this is just off Todd Mall in Alice Springs

34. Your kids could get excited about going on a ‘family’ walk.

Lets do the longest walk!! …..says no one’s kids ever

35. And embrace hiking up to places that have BIG views.

36. And remind yourself how much ‘space’ there really is in the Outback.

’cause the landscape is never boring in Central Australia

37. And ponder on Outback Pub signs that read ‘ISDERASMNEORSSEDSASDERISORSSRSS’ ??????

AND Don’t forget to COMMENT below if you crack it ;)

“Did you hear the one about the horse that entered the bar?”

38. And discover ancient Rock Carvings that are easily accessible.

Two minutes of a main road is Central Australia’s earliest & richest art sites – Ewaninga Rock Carvings

39. And walk across salt clay pans that dazzle you with their light and textures.

40. And soak in the light and colours of the afternoon sun in a desert like landscape.

There’s something about those Central Australian colours

41. And pay homage to the man who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service – Flynn of the Inland.

Flynn’s final resting spot in the Outback

At the foot of the West MacDonnell Ranges stands John Flynn’s Grave – the man who is on our $20 note.

42. Stand in awe at Mother Earth’s creations.

43. And feel dwarfed by her presence.

Pretty happy the river’s not flowing right now….

44. And discover water in the most surprising of places.

I don’t care if its WINTER…I need a swim!!!!

“So locals only like to get wet during summer right?”

45. And gaze at views that seem to stretch on forever.

“Yep! I reckon I can see Kings Canyon from here!”

46. So you can enjoy pushing your photography skills to new limits.

Best views all round at the sunset viewing platform at Kings Canyon Resort

Lets try the timer & tripod and hope that no one walks in front

Perfect end to the day at Kings Canyon

47. And wander new pathways.

Morning walks don’t get any better than this

48. And be ‘cool’ about climbing hills.

49. When there are views like this to look forward to……

Not to shabby a view I guess 😀

“Can anyone see the Canyon yet?”

50. And realise that Australia’s Outback is simply like no other……

That’s close enough to the edge thank you very much.

Who needs to travel overseas when we have ALL this in our backyard!!

I’m hoping by now you’re itching to see the rest of our Adventure and ‘itching’ to take the journey yourself….Trust me, the kids will always remember this one

In Part Two of our Photo Journey of Cairns to Perth via The Outback Way we drive from the Rock (Uluru) and head due West all the way to the City of Perth.

Reasons 51 -100 Reasons to Experience the Outback Way can be found by clicking HERE!!!

For more info on our roadtrip click below:

The Outback Way – A Great Central Road across Australia

For more info click below:

Don’t forget to comment below if you LOVE the pics, or are keen to set off yourself OR have any TIPS for fellow family travellers who may wish to take on this adventure.

Please Note: We travelled as guests of the Outback Way Development Board BUT all views, opinions and photos in this article are 100% my own.