A visit to Australia without going to the outback is like eating pasta without sauce or watching a musical without songs. So where exactly is the Australian outback? Where does the city and back country meet? If you go on a tour of Australia or simply see a digital map of this country, you’ll find that the outback is just about everywhere outside of the cities. There are no lines defining its area for Australia is a large inhabited desert with some parts more remote and empty than others.

You may hear Australians referring to remote areas in this country as “the bush.” While these areas may sound as empty as the outback, you’ll find that some people actually live here. Areas more remote than “the bush” or farther from the city are those considered part of the outback. This is where tourists usually travel to catch a glimpse of the exotic animals of Australia in their most natural habitat. You basically have three choices when it comes to booking a tour of the Australian outback. You can tour solo, with a small group or with a big group. The first option is the best one, especially if you want to map out your own itinerary. You can follow your own schedule throughout the day. However, touring the outback solo is more dangerous. With a professional as your tour guide, you’ll know where to go and stay within the safety boundaries. While walking tours are typical of parks and other public attractions in Australia, a tour of the outback is mostly a ride in a camping vehicle. This keeps you safe from animals roaming wild in the desert. A group tour is definitely more affordable than going solo yet it does have some drawbacks. One drawback is that the tour guide’s attention is divided among many tourists. You definitely can ask more questions from a tour guide if you go with a smaller group than a whole bus of tourists. Also, a bigger camping vehicle is limited to the best roads, keeping you from seeing the best scenery of the outback.

A graet getaway is camping in one of Australia's dense forests, national parks or on its pristine beaches.Of course camping in Australia, like anywhere else in the world, requires a hefty dose of patience, caution, common sense and natural instinct. Pests are a major concern in most of Australia's campgrounds. These pesky (and sometimes dangerous) creatures can be anything from ants and ticks to snakes and scorpions. It's actually sort of rude to call these insects and animals pests since you're the one barging in on their natural homes. But this doesn't change the fact that you have to be wary of their presence. Besides carefully choosing where to set up your tent, you must apply a special body lotion that effectively repels insects. Avoid any contact with plants, especially those that you're not familiar with. You never know if you're fiddling with poison ivy or stinging nettles. If your main concern is pets and not pests, it's best that you equip yourself with the guidelines implemented by the campsite you wish to stay in. Parks, natural reserves, forests and other kinds of campgrounds differ in their rules for pets. While some may restrict dogs and other types of pets in certain parts of the campground, others totally forbid pets. Some state forests in this country allow you to camp overnight with your dogs only within the campground. Examples of such forests are Glastonbury Creek and Red Rock in Queensland, Kooyoora and Enfield in Victoria, Anstey Hill Recreation Park and Greenhill Recreation Park in South Australia.

Australia Trips