Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to Central Australia
Explore Australia's epic heartland: from the cold Southern
Ocean, through South Australia's wine valleys, beyond Uluru
in the central desert and into the tropical Top End.
National Parks
Central Australia is flush with iconic natural landscapes. Whether it's counting pelicans in
the Coorong, ogling the crags of the Flinders Ranges, ticking Uluru and Kata Tjuta off
your 'must-see' list, paddling the gorges at Nitmiluk, or marvelling over ancient Aborigin-
al rock art in Kakadu, the national parks here are nothing short of astonishing. Planning
your journey around them is the perfect way to experience the outrageous diversity of this
ancient region.
Wine & Food
It seems unnecessary to introduce South Australia as one of the world's key wine produ-
cers, but indeed it is! Big-ticket regions such as the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the
Coonawarra have been bottling blockbuster reds for decades, while boutique areas such as
the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills are self-assured viticultural success stories. Hungry?
Along the road you'll find gourmet cheeses, fabulous organic beef and lamb, multicultural
food markets, buzzy eat streets and seafood worth jumping out of the boat for. Don't miss
trying some classic outback game (emu, crocodile, kangaroo or camel, anyone?) and Ab-
original bush tucker: traditional native fruits, herbs and meats.
Indigenous Culture
You'll find Aboriginal culture more accessible and mainstream in central Australia than it
is in east-coast cities. This isn't just by virtue of numbers - Australia-wide indigenous
people comprise around 2.5% of the population; in the Northern Territory it's closer to
30% - but it also illustrates how indigenous people themselves interact with the tourist
market here. Right across SA and the NT you can take an indigenous-run tour, shop for
Aboriginal art, catch an indigenous cultural performance or festival, visit galleries, hear
Aboriginal Dreaming stories and try some bush tucker.
