Camping in the Outback

Roll up a swag, say goodbye to everyday life, and go out bush for a break to enjoy one of the perks of life in Alice. A flickering campfire, good company and a sky full of stars offer the chance to build friendships and relax.

This winter has been wet. Amid plummeting temperatures, unseasonable rain washed across the Central Desert and the MacDonnell Ranges, and the landscape now seeks to bloom in the aftermath of the downpour. The dry dust that cloaked Alice Springs no longer holds the town in its grip. Many camping spots reflect the wet. Those pitching their tents breathe in the freshness of the air and the touch of renewal.

Camping at Finke 2023 (Photo credit: Alicia Pegram)

In the various cities that dot Australia, life means hustle and bustle. Those who live within their confines sometimes also go camping, out on the fringes of the city in hills and thick bushland. We here in Alice see red dirt and white grass; the eyes of our city counterparts are drawn to a different view. Nonetheless, with sometimes thousands of kilometres between us, we all know the magic of a campfire in encouraging talk and reflection.

However, coastal locations aren’t touched by the stillness of the desert holding its breath. Our land is remote, yet full of life and beauty. Camping allows us to enter this environment as so many have done before us, and as so many will continue to do after us. Flames of campfires have seared the nights in Central Australia for generations untold. Sitting around a firepit is not new, but the darkness and hush of the outback is extraordinary.