Why Choose Wayoutback

Started on Passion and Plastic

Wayoutback started from humble beginnings (maxed out credit cards and a couple of Troop Carriers) in early 1999. Founded primarily on a love of Central Australia and, more importantly, that unique feeling you get when you're really out there and that fantastic feeling of solitude and timelessness descends upon you. Our ethos was and still is based on a couple of fundamental characteristics that we believe are paramount to really getting an authentic taste of the outback as an adventure traveller.

• Small groups in 4 wheel drive vehicles (max. 16 people)
• Bush camping
• Cooking food over a campfire
• Sleeping under the stars in swags
• 4 wheel driving on outback bush tracks
• Keeping away from the crowds as much as possible
• Providing authentic Aboriginal interaction
• Employing and training guides that are, or become, the best in the business.

Beware of 'Small Groups' and 'Buses' in the Same Sentence

When we started Wayoutback in our 9 seat Troop Carriers, virtually all the competition were running 22 seat Coaster buses or 45 seat Coaches and most still are. Without needing to be a brain surgeon, we realised this would not make us rich but Wayoutback was founded on passion first and foremost! Going to buses just wasn't an option. We wanted to get people looking for adventure into the Outback and take them off the beaten track to really give them something that they would remember forever – being part of a small group where the Guide and the group can get to know each other, getting bogged in river beds, seeing a shooting star burn across the night sky with that feeling that it's just you that saw it, being part of the bush. These things are very difficult to achieve on a bus tour.

In spite of this, our fares are extremely competitive to those carrying much greater numbers, so on a bang for buck basis, you're actually getting much better value for money.

Promoting Aboriginal Experiences

Wayoutback has always been a strong advocate of supporting Aboriginal culture, imparting as much information on their history and relationship with the land as possible, as well as promoting indigenous experiences so our customers can get an insight into their way of life first hand.

We have now been visiting the Oak Valley Aboriginal Community 110kms south of Alice Springs for a couple of seasons on our 2 and 5 Day Safaris which has been a great success. Oak Valley is an inspirational community where people can learn directly from local Aboriginals about their way of life, art, hunting, etc. To read more visit the Oak Valley Aboriginal Community page.

This year we are introducing two new indigenous experiences to our 3 and 5 Day Safaris. You can take the optional Aboriginal Guided Kuniya Walk at Uluru (Ayers Rock) where you will learn directly from Anangu (indigenous custodians) about their mythological stories tied into Uluru and the intimate relationship they have with it.

After our visit to Watarrka (Kings Canyon) we visit the Lilla Aboriginal Community where you have the option of going walkabout with Sadie Williams on a one hour guided Willy Wagtail Walk where you’ll get to hear stories of Lilla, view a sacred women's area, hear about bush tucker and get a demonstration into the use of various artefacts.

Always Striving to Go One Better

As part of our philosophy to be the best tour operator in Central Australia, we have raised the bar with regard to the other aspects of our tours that can have a large bearing on your overall experience. Some of these include getting exclusive access to 4 wheel drive on bush tracks through two huge cattle stations, visiting the inspirational Oak Valley Aboriginal Community, offering the Kuniya Walk at Uluru, remote camp sites away from the crowds, fresh plunger coffee and herbal teas and chilled face clothes in summer to cool yourself off.

From April 2008 we will be branching out and offering Guided Walks along the famous Larapinta Trail which spans 230km’s along the West MacDonnell Ranges. Through our strategic partners which include Into the Blue and Jungala Enterprises, there is a strong focus on the indigenous history and ways of the local Arrente people. For more information visit the Larapinta Tours page.

Not for the Faint Hearted!

Most of our competitors stay in permanent camp sites with tents and permanent cooking facilities, usually right beside other tour operators. In our humble and perhaps not quite so objective view, this is what you would call soft camping, not an adventure of a lifetime. There are obviously people that this appeals to which is fine but, if you're really after an adventure experience, Wayoutback provides it in spades.