Western Australia vacation....good idea?

Question

...I've always wanted to visit the desert (the more remote the better) and the Southwest here in the States just isnt cutting it for me. Is western Australia really as remote and untouched as everyone says it is?....Is it easy to get around out there? Is it cheap?

Answer 1

There is an awful lot of Western Australia. You could fit Texas and Alaska in it with room to spare. Perth is right down in the southwest and a long way from anywhere.

If you want to see the desert, go to Alice Springs right in the centre. There is lots to see and do around Alice including Uluru(Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas).

There are tours that will take you on the Gunbarrel Highway. This is the road from Alice Springs to Giles weather station and on to Western Australia. There are various tours available, Google "gunbarrel highway tours" to see a selection. By the way it is called the gunbarrel highway because Len Beadell, its builder, called it that - as straight as a gun barrel.

If you really want to see the desert safely, such a tour would be hard to beat.

Other options to look at would include tours to and through Birdsville at the end of the Birdsville track or from Alice Springs northwest into Western Australia through the Tanami Desert to Kunnunurra or Halls Creek.

It would be possible to hire a 4WD and do the trips yourself but I would not recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with outback Australia - and that includes most Australians. You would also need to arrange permits to enter Aboriginal land. This is done for you on an organised tour.