The Australian Outback – it’s something we’ve all heard of but very few of us have probably visited it. It’s almost like a mythical area of Australia that has a character all of its own. This much is hard to argue with, and yet the area is a stark reality – one that some people call home, and other people visit while holidaying in the country.

So let’s delve a little deeper and find out what there is to discover in the Outback itself.

Firstly it’s interesting to note that the Outback is bigger than most people realise. It covers a significant portion of the entire country, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that some people call it home. If you are planning to visit the Outback it pays to learn something about it before you go, so you know what to expect. It can be dangerous in some respects but if you are sensible the degree of danger is kept way down to a minimum level.

For example the Outback does have some main roads crossing it in various places. These are well used and ideal for the first time traveller to the area. But take maps with you and be prepared for travel – you aren’t going to come across a settlement every five minutes.

There are some famous and much visited attractions in the Outback that are well worth making the time to see though. Alice Springs is one of them, as is the city of Darwin. If you are keen to explore the Outback during your time in Australia, you might want to consider staying in one of these places to give you some great access to the more remote areas.

Elsewhere of course you have Uluru, formerly known as Ayer’s Rock. But there are equally good attractions elsewhere too. These include Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park, which also gives you the opportunity to do the Canyon Rim Walk. There is no doubt that the Outback packs a lot more into it than you might think.

It’s certainly not all desolate and deserted with nothing more to it than snakes and spiders.

Byron Bay is one of the key beach based locations that Australia has to offer. It is one of the highlights of New South Wales and it is chock full of accommodation, attractions and things to do. If you are considering going to Australia for a prolonged holiday that will take in several different locations, you would do well to make sure that Byron Bay is on your list of places to stay in.

So let’s take a closer look to see what Byron Bay has to offer us. One thing that is worth remembering is that the bay area has lovely temperatures all year round. Obviously it will be cooler in the winter, but not cool enough to prevent you from doing everything you would want to do.

The beaches are the main attraction here, and there are lots of them as well. Whatever one you choose to stay at for the day you are bound to be satisfied, as most of them are positioned to protect you from any strong breezes. Cape Byron itself is a dramatic area of Australia, perhaps one of the most dramatic of all. Byron Lighthouse adds to the drama and intrigue, and has been standing for more than a century now.

For Byron Bay’s new life as a holiday destination we have to look back as far as the Sixties. The area was once used as a workplace with factories and other similar buildings situated here. But the Sixties saw a sea change and Byron Bay started to become known more for its waves and breakers than anything else. This brought new people to the beaches and ever since then they have been coming back and spreading the word about how wonderful Byron Bay really is.

But if surfing isn’t your thing you could try walking instead. There is a walking trail here that allows you to explore a different side of Byron Bay. But whatever you decide to do when you arrive, you will be glad you chose to see the bay for yourself. This really is a jewel of Australia’s New South Wales.

Australia certainly has its fair share of notable landmarks. Ayers Rock, now known as Uluru; the Sydney Opera House; the Outback – these are just three of the many sights you can choose to see while you are in the country.

But not all the notable sights in Australia are as well known as the others. For instance have you ever heard of Flinders Ranges? The name – at least the second part of it – might give you a clue; this is the name of a mountain range that stretches across much of Southern Australia. If you are curious to find out a little more, keep reading.

The mountain range is not a continuous one but it runs for over 250 miles so you can see there is a lot to explore. One famous area of the ranges is Wilpena Pound, an amphitheatre that is absolutely huge and has been formed completely naturally too.

The Ediacara Hills are also well worth seeing. These are situated at lower levels to some of the other areas in the ranges, but they are notable for having some excellent examples of fossilised life occurring there. Many specimens have been found in the past that date back further than many others have, making this particular area one of significant interest for many reasons.

If your idea of visiting Australia is to see some of the best and most breathtaking sights it has to offer from the natural world, you shouldn’t miss the chance to see the Flinders Ranges. It is stunning to look at this collection of peaks, troughs and mountains, but it is also an educational experience. No holiday could ever hope to see it all, but you can see significant chunks of it if you know where to look. Make a start with such eye opening sights as Wilpena Pound and go from there. You might be surprised at how much you can learn about Australia just from this single destination.

The Flinders Ranges may not be the most famous part of Australia as far as tourists are concerned, but it is certainly one of the biggest.

Australia is well known for its major cities. But there is a lot more to the country than visiting places like Sydney and Adelaide. For instance you could go in completely the opposite direction figuratively speaking and see the delights of the countryside instead.

The Ben Lomond National Park is a wonderful case in point. This is the place to head for if you are visiting Australia during the prime skiing season, since there is usually plenty of snow to get stuck into. But there is more than just the white powdery stuff here, and if you are going to Australia with your walking boots rather than your skis, you will see what we mean.

If you really want to go rugged and see whether you can rough it in the wilds of Ben Lomond, you can do this too. Take a tent with you, go backpacking and set up camp wherever you want to. Just make sure you are far enough away from the road not to contravene the rules of camping in this way – more than five hundred metres is sufficient and you wouldn’t want to be any closer anyway.

As you can see this is a classic part of rugged Tasmania that you will not want to miss out on. Whether you visit for the day or for your entire Australian holiday, you will have a unique experience that is quite amazing. The other good thing about the national park is that it caters for lots of activities apart from skiing. Walking is a big one of course, but you can also try rock climbing. There are certainly plenty of opportunities for this latter skill if you have it, or if you want to learn.

In many ways the Ben Lomond National Park brings out the best in the nature of the area. With every new step you take there, you will discover something new and amazing – some new viewpoint, shrub or even some of the wildlife there. There is no end to the delights that the national park can share with you, if you are willing to stop and stay for a while.

On the southern coast of Australia, almost slap bang in the middle, there is a bay called Streaky Bay. It may have an unlikely name but it draws in lots of people through the year, and if you have time on a tour of Australia to pay it a visit, you certainly should do just that.

But why visit this particular bay instead of the many others you might choose to see? Well for starters Streaky Bay is well equipped to cater for all kinds of tourists and passers by. In fact tourism is a big industry here, and it makes sense that it would be when you see just how beautiful the area is.

If you love your water sports you will certainly feel at home here. There are activities to enjoy both on and under the water, with boating and scuba diving among several others on offer.

The town is fairly small but attractive just for this feature alone; if you are also planning on visiting some of Australia’s biggest cities you will enjoy the ability to scale things down to a place like Streaky Bay. At the right time of year you can enjoy relaxing on the beaches here, watching some of the fishermen catching their fish for the day. When you feel hungry you can visit one of the local restaurants and enjoy a taste of some of the local catches. This is life lived at its slowest and it’s the perfect antidote to feeling stressed and rushed by everyday life.

One of the more popular attractions to visit in the area is Murphy’s Haystacks. This is the unlikely name given to some geological wonders just outside Streaky Bay itself. They have stood here for some 34,000 years, so they should still be there whenever you decide to pay a visit!

There is plenty more to see in and around Streaky Bay too. But one of the best attractions must surely be the chance to wander along the roads and paths in and around the bay, drinking in all that the scenery has to offer you. Perfection!

Out to the east of Australia there is a small island all by itself. This is Fraser Island and it consists largely of sand and not much else. It may have taken three quarters of a million years for the island to look like it does today, thanks to those sand drifts, but it has been worth the wait.

Only a few hundred people live on Fraser Island the whole year round, but its numbers are swelled thanks to the huge number of tourists that like to pay it a visit. If you want a taste of a real beach unlike anything you have seen before, you will love what you find here.

There are two ways to get to the island once you are in mainland Australia. The first way is to fly out from Maroochydore Airport on the mainland. Alternatively you can get a ferry. Whatever way you choose there is plenty to look forward to once you set foot on Fraser Island for the first time.

For one thing, you will soon see why the island has been given World Heritage Site status. This is a cornucopia of natural wonders. Just to give you one example, the island boasts more than one hundred freshwater lakes, and all on an island measuring just seventy five by fifteen miles.

It is small wonder then that some people visit the island to take on the Fraser Island Great Walk. This is an ideal trip to take if you have a week to spare, since that is the average time needed to complete the trip around the perimeter of the island.

You could head off in a 4x4 if you want but going on foot is arguably a better way to travel. There are no real roads on Fraser Island, making it perfect territory for keen hikers to get used to. With plenty of wildlife, birds and other sights and sounds to look forward to, it would be a shame to miss out on one of Australia’s greatest destinations, just because it isn’t on the mainland.

Most people will have heard of Mount Wellington. It is perhaps one of Australia’s most famous peaks, and it is certainly worth a visit if you happen to be staying in the Hobart area.

Hobart rests on the very foothills of the mountain, so if you are staying here you are perfectly positioned to explore the very heights of Mount Wellington itself. In fact the area is ideal for those who enjoy walking holidays, and at the right time of the year you can indulge in some skiing here as well.

One of the nicest things about exploring the mountain is the spectacular views you will receive as a reward for getting all the way to the top. These views will enable you to look down on Hobart itself, and while you probably won’t see your accommodation in the area you will see how it is laid out in general.

There is a viewing platform on Mount Wellington too, which offers you perhaps the best view you could hope for as you gaze out on Hobart from nearly 1300 metres in the air. Breathtaking doesn’t even begin to describe it – you’ve got some stunning views all around you so be sure you’ve got your camera with you.

Of course the trip up and down the mountain itself is full of scenic potential. You can cycle here too but if walking is more your style you can make your choice from lots of different bush walking trails. Make sure you buy a map of the area and the mountain before you head out, or get the appropriate details of a suitable route online. This is the best way to find a good route. You shouldn’t really pick a route and start tackling it without finding out how far it is to the top from there, or how challenging the route is itself.

It would also be worthwhile checking out the weather before you set out, so you can be fully prepared for your trek up the mountain. Seeing Mount Wellington from below is one experience worth having, but seeing it from above is something else entirely.