Welcome to some of the most unique and interesting landscapes in the whole country. The deserts of Australia certainly have some of the most unique plant life and wildlife in the world. The deserts are home to hardy plant species that have adapted to harsh environments, unique and extreme forms of wildlife…and thousands of kilometres roads less travelled. Often described as a place for deep thinking, reflection and contemplation, the desert truly is a unique space.
Simpson Desert (Munga-Thirri National Park)
The Simpson Desert is perhaps one of the most well-known deserts not only in Australia, but in the world. Renowned for its endless dunes that go on for miles, the Simpson is a force to be reckoned with.
The Simpson comfortably covers 176,500 square kilometres. This puts it into the position of the fourth-largest desert in Australia. The Simpson is so big that it even extends over into South Australia and Queensland. Some of the dunes here in the Simpson Desert are a whopping 40 meters high!
Pinnacles desert
In Nambung National Park in Western Australia, there are thousands of incredible limestone rocks that jut dramatically out of the ground. These mysterious-looking structures formed about 25,000 – 30,000 years ago.
After the sea levels lowered and dried out, seashells and corals were left on the ground. Over many thousands of years, winds blew across the desert plains, and the solid parts of these stacks remained, as they are still standing today.
The Pinnacles are about 200km North of Perth! Visit at night for some magical views of the glittery Milky Way.
Francois Peron National Park
Another large desert in WA, the Francois Peron National Park, offers a true outback adventure for its visitors. Where the desert meets the ocean, the Francois Peron National Park is a scenic collision of desert vistas and ocean views. With many lagoons and desert coastlines, this is a unique desert quite unlike any other. Big Lagoon and Little Lagoon are well-visited for their unparalleled natural beauty – offering jaw-dropping views for days, and a camping experience you’ll never forget. Spot dolphins and green turtles in Big Lagoon (you’ll need to take a 4WD!)
Little Sahara Desert
Welcome to Kangaroo Island’s worst-kept secret! These plains of pale sand are located just next to Vivonne Bay. Whizz around this mini desert on a toboggan or a sandboard to get the full experience.
These dunes are the only ones on Kangaroo Island, so they’re a popular tourist attraction – most people visit these dunes to go sandboarding.
Visit the highest dune of all of them, which stands 70 metres above sea level.
Get to the Little Sahara via Vivonne Bay.
Strzelecki Desert
North of the Flinders Ranges, the Strzelecki Desert is a large, barren stretch of land that covers the border between New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia – this desert sits at the cross-section between these three states.
The Strzelecki Desert is home to the endangered Dusky Hopping Mouse! Largely uninhabited, the Strzelecki Desert has uneven, rough terrain that is full of sandhills.
Tanami Desert
The Tanami Desert is one of the driest parts of Australia. It only has a handful of small hills in the area. To cross the whole desert, it would take around two days!
Don’t be fooled by its flat expanse of nothingness, though. There’s a large meteorite crater here, and its home to the Warlukurlangu Arts Centre, which is thought to be the most remote art gallery in the world.
Mungo National Park
For a National Park that looks like a Star Wars set…check out these incredible structures. Visit on a full moon, and you’ll feel like you’re in a movie.
Located north of the Flinders Ranges, the Mungo National Park is rich with Aboriginal culture and history.
Mungo is an iconic site for archaeology! Archaeologists discovered the Mungo Man and the Mungo Woman, who are 40,000-year-old human remains. The enormous lake, which dried up over 15,000 years ago, still contains fossilised remains of the Aboriginal men, women and children who once lived here.
Lancelin Sand Dunes
Only 90 minutes from Perth, the Lancelin Sand Dunes are an adventurer’s paradise! Check out the wonderful dunes with a 4WD, or with a sand board!