The Outback Way Podcast

In this episode of  The Outback Way Podcast , Robin McConchie speaks with Roxy Highfold, an enterprise development officer with the Central Land Council. Roxy brings deep personal and professional insight into the landscapes, stories, and cultural significance of Central Australia. The conversation covers the many ways visitors can engage meaningfully with the region—from geocaching and fossi...

In this episode of  The Outback Way Podcast , Robin McConchie speaks with Danial Rochford, CEO of Tourism Central Australia, about the Northern Territory leg of the Outback Way and the rich cultural, natural, and community experiences that await travellers. Danial shares insights into what makes Central Australia such a compelling destination, from the vast desert landscapes and dramatic geol...

In this episode of  The Outback Way Podcast , Robin McConchie is speaking with Rex Ryles, founder of Desert Sands, a transport and earthmoving company based in Laverton, Western Australia. Rex shares his deep connection to the Australian bush and his decades of experience travelling and working along the Great Central Road. The conversation explores the unique beauty and ever-changing landsca...

In this episode of  The Outback Way Podcast , Robin McConchie is speaking with Sue Hanson, CEO and Chief Linguist at the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre in Kalgoorlie. Sue shares powerful insights into the role of language in preserving culture, strengthening identity, and supporting the wellbeing of First Nations communities across the Goldfields region. The conversation explores the l...

In this episode of  The Outback Way Podcast , host Robin McConchie takes listeners on the first leg of an epic eastbound journey from Laverton, Western Australia, along the Great Central Road. Covering 1,100 kilometres of mostly unsealed terrain, this stretch of the Outback Way offers a rich mix of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and practical travel advice for anyone planning the route—id...

In this episode of  The Outback Way Podcast , host Robin McConchie shares five essential tips for traveling the Outback Way in 2025. Known as  Australia’s longest shortcut , the Outback Way is a 2,700km road trip stretching from Winton, Queensland, to Laverton, Western Australia. Whether tackling the full route or exploring it in sections, this journey offers breathtaking landscapes, ico...

This is a replay of an interview that Mel Forbes recently did for the FRRR’s Tackling Tough Times Together podcast – about how people in remote, rural and regional Australia helped one another pull through the harshest droughts in living memory. You can listen to the whole FRRR podcast here . *** In this episode, we find out how an Outback Gallery featuring artworks on billboards has transformed c...

In this, the final episode of the Outback Way Podcast, Helen gives an update on the Outback Way funding and development before sharing a snapshot of a project that epitomises the kind of sustainable development of the corridor that the Outback Highway Development Council want to see more of going forwards. Helen interview Sue Hanson from the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre, which is an exiti...

This episode of the Outback Way podcast is about the various events happening along the route in 2023 that would interest travellers planning their Outback Way adventures. There’s a whole host of activities and events happening in the different towns and regions along the Outback Way from Winton in QLD, through the NT and across to Laverton in WA. If you’re planning a trip this year, make sure you...

In this episode, Helen chats with Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids, a website and online shop dedicated to sharing stories, tips and recommendations about caravanning with kids. Adele tells Helen how her family got started caravanning and why they started the website. There is now also two large Facebook groups, Aussie Big Lappers and Caravan Homemaker’s Hub which you can find via their Face...

In this episode of the Outback Way Podcast, Helen speaks with David Elliot, the Executive Chairman of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton. They discuss the history of how the museum came to be, after discovery of dinosaur fossils in the area, and the potential for regional Queensland and ongoing opportunities for the town of Winton. David tells us about the different types of fossils they’ve...

In this episode, Helen chats to Laurinda Hill, the Manager of the Great Beyond Centre at Laverton in WA. They’ve had a brand new extension put onto the Visitor Information Centre and have really enhanced a lot of their tourism attractions over the last 18 months - 2 years. Laurinda updates us on the refurbishments and expansion of the centre, including the activities available now and the audio to...

The National Portrait Gallery is putting on an exhibition in Winton from 21st May 2022 to 21st of June. Helen speaks with Creator of Exhibitions for the National Portrait Gallery, Penny Grist about this significant exercise. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @OutbackWay1 You can find all notes and links on our website, www.outbackway.org.au where you can subscribe to our newsletter,...

In this episode, Helen has a great conversation with Alex Chalmers, one of the co-owners of Gemtree on the Plenty Highway. Gemtree is a mixed business, offering accommodation, gem fossicking and setting, tours and the famous Camp Over Dinners. Helen and Alex chat about the mix of visitors to Gemtree, both long term fossickers and interstate visitors, keen to experience fossicking. Alex shares what...

In this episode Helen has a chat to Julie Woodhouse, the Community Services Manager at Boulia in Western Qld, all about the updates and attractions in the town. A revitalised and refurbished Min Min Encounter is waiting for you to visit! Helen also shares some announcements, including the amazing news from February 2022 of an extra $678 million to complete the sealing of the Outback Way. Connect w...

In this episode, Helen shares the 7 Principals of the Leave No Trace approach to travelling the Outback Way, which is so important to protect our beautiful country for the future. There are many designated camping and caravanning sites along the length of the Outback Way and Helen lists them, as well as the Visitor Information Centre contact details for help planning your trip. The Visitor Informa...

Helen shares a bit about the realities of driving the Outback Way, especially in light of the stretches of bull dust that you can encounter. The Outback Way is 2700km long however much of it is not sealed and is in fact a gravel road only suitable for 4WD vehicles and off road campers/caravans. At the time of recording in September 2021, the gravel sections are from Laverton in WA through to Kata...

Helen speaks with Robyn Stephens, the Event Coordinator for the Winton Outback Festival which in 2021 is happening from the 21st to 26th September in Winton, QLD. Robyn tells us about the action packed program, including all the family events, the sporting and music events, the many workshops on offer and the special historical milestones coming up. Helen and Robyn discuss the whip cracking Little...

Today’s episode is a panel discussion held at the recent Outback Highway Development Company Annual General Meeting. We hear from Tannis Godfrey, from Tobermorey Station; Kerryn Santucci, the Logistics Manager for Oz Minerals in Western Australia on the Great Central Road; Mike Batchelor, the Business Development Officer for Qube Logistics; David Elliot, Chairman of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs...

In this episode, Mel Forbes, the project manager of the Building Better Regions Outdoor Art Gallery Project, shares some additional information about the project. This diverse exhibition showcases the artistic talent across the Outback Way from photography, indigenous art, sculptures, abstracts and landscapes. The billboards are all positioned on the majestic background of the East MacDonnel range...

In this episode, Helen speaks with David Bradley, an optometrist based in Brisbane. For many years David has been servicing the Ngaanyatjarra lands out at Warburton and Warakurna on the Great Central Road with Optometry services to those Indigenous and remote communities. David tells us about the background of the optometry services he provides to the Ngaanyatjarra communities, including the train...

This episode is all about the economic value for industry throughout and along the Outback Way. The Outback Highway Development Council (OHDC) has been running some industry briefing Zoom meetings updating people who have people businesses about the value that the Outback Way, when sealed, will deliver for those businesses and communities. This episode is a recording of one of those industry brief...

This episode is about the Outback Way Outdoor Gallery, which is a project we’ve been working on for the last couple of years and it will be launched in July 2021. It has been an enormous project with lots of twists and turns but we have finally finished and it is actually now ready to view. So if you have been travelling along the Plenty Highway you may have been wondering what these billboards ar...

This episode is about the Queensland Boulder Opal Association Opal Festival which in 2021 is on 9-10 July. This is a pre-recorded episode from the 2018 festival, but this will give you a great sense of what the festival is like. Helen interviews Alison Summerville about the beautiful and unique Queensland Boulder Opal. Alison is the secretary of the Queensland Boulder Opal Association in Winton in...

This episode is about the Alice Springs Beanie Festival which in 2021 is on 24th June. This is a pre-recorded episode from the 2018 festival, but this will give you a great sense of what the festival is like. Helen also outlines the upcoming events along the Outback Way in 2021 and excitingly, has an update about the Outback Way Outdoor Gallery launch in June. Helen interviews Jo Nixon about why A...