Journey to the middle of Australia
There’s an ongoing debate about whether the Lambert Centre truly marks the geographical heart of Australia. With a continent as irregularly shaped as Australia, there are several ways to define its centre. However you measure it, the Lambert Centre is an epic outback destination.
Our original plan was to cross the Simpson Desert. That changed when heavy flooding in south-west Queensland blocked our exit route—Eyre Creek had burst its banks, cutting off the way out of the desert.
The Lambert Centre lies about 2,600 km from Sydney. We didn’t take the direct route, of course. With a few detours and side trips, we turned it into a 3,000 km journey.
We set off in three well-equipped 4WDs. One vehicle peeled off toward Perth halfway through—part of the plan. The rest of us had a smooth run: just a few broken connectors and some radio glitches. Thankfully, the recovery gear stayed untouched. That said, we did lend a hand to a few stranded travellers along the remote dirt tracks.
Off the Blacktop and Into the Dust
Most outback journeys in Australia begin on the blacktop—the sealed roads that thread through the country. But sooner or later, the dirt calls.
Heading west from the East Coast, it wasn’t until day three that we finally left the bitumen behind. At Yunta, South Australia, we turned north. The tyre pressure came down, the dust kicked up, and we were officially on the dirt.
We pushed north toward the Flinders Ranges, aiming to reach Willow Springs before nightfall. We made it—just. The margin was tight, but the drive was worth every minute.
A New Perspective from Above
To expand my photographic portfolio—and to capture the trip from a fresh angle—I invested in a DJI Mavic 4 Pro. It had just hit the market on 14 May, the day before we set off. Talk about timing, but there wasn’t much time to prepare.
Flying was a steep learning curve. For instance, tracking a vehicle you’re in while trying to orbit for dynamic shots proved trickier than expected. Balancing flight controls, framing, and movement—all while bouncing along remote tracks—was a challenge. But the aerial perspective added a whole new layer to the story we are telling.
Click on the first image above to watch the video.
Willow Springs: A Full-Day 4WD Adventure
Willow Springs boasts a spectacular 4WD track that winds through some of South Australia’s most rugged terrain. Spanning 80 km, the route demands a full day behind the wheel—and rewards every hour of it.
Along the way, you’ll traverse river gorges, climb to sweeping hilltops, and roll across wide-stretching plateaus. The track includes several challenging sections that test your driving skills and make the long day truly worthwhile.
It’s not just a drive—it’s an immersion into the raw beauty of the Flinders Ranges.
Weathering the Outback
We were lucky with the weather. For most of the trip, skies stayed clear—no rain until our second day at the Lambert Centre, and even then, just a few drops. Other regions weren’t so fortunate.
Menindee was a different story. Rain poured in, roads closed around us, and we had to rethink our route. It was one of those moments where flexibility became part of the adventure.
Daytime temperatures hovered comfortably in the 20s, but nights were a stark contrast—dropping to as low as 2 degrees. Crisp mornings, cold starts, and the kind of chill that makes a campfire feel like a luxury.
The wind was strong for most of the time in the outback. The drone warned me of high wind most times I launched it. The evenings and nights are typically calm.
Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre: A Rare and Spectacular Sight
Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre fills to some extent every few years, but rarely does it reach the levels seen this season. Rainfall from Queensland earlier in the year has been slowly making its way south, feeding the vast basin—some sections of which lie 15 metres below sea level.
I had the privilege of flying over the lake, and the view from 500 metres was nothing short of breathtaking. In places, the horizon dissolves into reflection—where water and sky merge so seamlessly, you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.
The two-hour flight resulted in 10 new photographs in my portfolio. See all of them here. My favourite is Hambidge Point. Have a better look at it here.
Special thanks to Angharad and Jaiden at Wrightsair.
Oodnadatta’s Icon in Pink
No outback journey through South Australia is complete without a stop at the iconic Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta. It’s a welcome splash of colour in the desert—and a great spot to refuel both your vehicle and yourself.
Lunch, souvenirs, and fuel are all on offer. Just don’t expect bargain prices at the bowser—fuel was $2.99 per litre when we passed through. Remote roads come with remote costs, and it’s a long way from any refinery.
Still, the Roadhouse is more than a pit stop—it’s part of the outback experience.
See more at their website.
Closing in on the Centre
As you edge closer to the heart of Australia, the dirt deepens into a rich, unmistakable red. The track softens under the tyres, and the landscape flattens into a sea of low-growing vegetation—quiet, sparse, and vast.
One thing that’s not sparse: flies. Their numbers climbed steadily throughout the trip, and by the time we neared the centre, they were relentless. A flynet isn’t optional—it’s survival gear.
And here’s a quirky detail for the map-watchers: zoom all the way in on the Lambert Centre in Google Maps, and you’ll find the location pin not on the iconic flag monument, but on the nearby toilet block. Practical, perhaps. Poetic? Not quite.
The travel route
Here is the route we travelled. Like in all trips, the plan changes as circumstances change. The detour to Lightning Ridge wasn’t in the original plan but as one road closes, another opens.
Trip Stats
- Distance travelled: 7273 km, of which 4094 km on the blacktop and 3179 km on the dirt
- Fuel usage: 1351 litres
- Highest fuel price: $2.99 per litre
- Number of states visited: 3
- Days travelled: 25
- Number of stubbie holders bought: 7
- Number of shirts bought: 4
- Number of photos taken: 3600
- Number of videos filmed: 50
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