The Outback Way Podcast

Helen speaks with avid traveller and geocacher, David Moignard. David has travelled 150,000 km since December 2010. An avid Geocacher, he has been instrumental in adding to the Outback Way Geocaches. There are a total of 43 caches planted along the Outback Way at the time of recording. In this episode, Helen and David explain what geocaching is, how to get started using the app at geocaching.com T...

Helen speaks with Dale McIver, the Chair of Tourism Central Australia, and also the Marketing Coordinator for Henley on Todd, the sailing boat race on the Todd River in Alice Springs. They discuss the growth in international and domestic tourism in Central Australia, as well as some of the attractions in the area such as the Field of Light installation at Uluru, the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens an...

Helen speaks with Laurinda Hill, the Coordinator of the Great Beyond Visitor Information Centre in Laverton, Western Australia. Laverton is the start and the finish of the Outback Way, depending which direction you're travelling, and in this episode Helen and Laurinda discuss the impact the Outback Way has had on the town. Laurinda shares a little of her family history in the area, as well as a bi...

In this episode, Helen shares some essential travel tips and advice for travelling along the Outback Way. These include some tips about road conditions, safety gear you need, where to get fuel and mobile coverage, as well as how and where to get permits for sections of the Outback Way. Did you know that The Outback Way is also the world's longest Geocaching trail and treasure hunt? Helen also shar...

Helen speaks with Jane Menzies about the Warakurna Artists. Jane is the manager of the Warakurna Arts Centre, based at Warakurna, on the Outback Way. It's an isolated area in Western Australia, but a significant art area and one with lots of talent. In this episode, Jane shares a bit about how she came to be working in Warakurna, and the important projects the Arts Centre and Artists facilitate wi...

Helen speaks with Brendan Batty, the editor of Roam Magazine. They discuss the coverage of the Outback Way in Issue 31 2018, after Brendan's wife Angela joined the media famil last year, much to his chagrin at being left behind! In this episode Brendan shares a number of tips about taking caravans on the Outback Way, as well as getting organised, key equipment and getting the most out of your van....

Helen speaks with Lyndee Severin and Amee Porter about Curtin Springs, the 1 million acre station along the Lasseter Highway. They share the history of the station, and how they have added other businesses to capture the tourism market too. From the fascinating story of how Dawn and Peter Severin arrived on the station and why they were instrumental in the establishment of tourist facilities at Ul...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, Helen speaks with secretary of the Harts Range Amateur Racing Club, Jo Fogarty. Jo shares a bit about her family ties to the region, as well as the story of how the NT Picnic Day Public Holiday came to be. This year the Harts Range Races are from the 3rd to the 6th of August 2018, and they're expected between 2- and 3000 people to attend. Jo and Helen di...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, Helen interviews Mayor Rick Britton about the town of Boulia in far western Queensland. Rick's family has been in the area for 5 generations-so he considers himself almost a local!-and in this episode he shares a bit about the history of Boulia and why he loves being Mayor. Helen and Rick also discuss the various attractions in Boulia. You can visit the...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, 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 western Queensland, and comes from an opal mining family. In this episode, Alison shares how she became involved with opal mining and the QBOA, as well as why the Boulder Opal is so un...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, Helen interviews Jo Nixon about why Alice Springs is the Beanie capital of the world! They discuss the Alice Springs Beanie Festival, which is held from from the 29th June to the 2nd July 2018, and draws creators and visitors from all over Australia, as well as internationally. Jo shares a bit about the background of the Beanie Fest and how she came to b...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, Helen interviews Mark Melrose about the Vision Splendid Film Festival in Winton from the 29th June to the 7th July 2018. Mark shares a bit about the background of the Vision Splendid Film Fest and how he came to be involved, as well as what to expect at this year's festival. Mark explains the pillars in the strategy behind the Vision Splendid Film Fest,...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, Helen interviews Damien Ryan about the Tatts Finke Desert Race. Damien is the Mayor of Alice Springs, and he talks about how he grew up in the town, and the wonderful outback events that happen in Alice Springs. He shares some background of how the Tatts Finke Desert Race (www.finkedesertrace.com.au) came to be, and some information about this year's rac...

In this episode of The Outback Way Podcast, Helen interviews Jeff Close about the Outback Writers Festival. Jeff has been in Winton for 41 years, is Chairman of the Waltzing Matilda Centre Board and is passionate about seeing local history recorded. He tells the story of how the Outback Writers Festival Inc. came to be, the new Waltzing Matilda Centre development, and why the end of June and early...

In this episode of the Outback Way Podcast, Helen interviews Gavin Baskett, the Mayor of the town of Winton in Queensland. Gavin talks about the attractions in Winton, including the Australian Age of Dinosaurs and the newly rebuilt Waltzing Matilda Centre. Helen and Gavin also discuss why the film industry loves Winton and why the town is the festival capital of the outback. To find out more about...

In this episode, Helen interviews Kate Richards, a.k.a. Adventure Mumma. Kate is a wellknown blogger, family traveler, adventurer and explorer. Last July, Kate joined the Outback Way Media Famil and travelled the Outback Way with her family. She shares her family's experience along the Outback Way. In the first of the regular Events Calendar segments, you'll find out what great events are coming u...

Want to know how the Outback Way came into existence? Listen to Patrick Hill walk us through the history of this project and turning the Outback Way into reality. A 20 year commitment to connect Australia, grow the industries throughout inland Australia (tourism, pastoral, mining and horticulture) leading to opportunities for small remote and isolated towns. The driver is a more economic and socia...

In this episode, you get an introduction to The Outback Way, Australia's Longest Shortcut- with Helen Lewis- General Manager Outback Highway Development Council Inc. Helen has driven the Outback Way about 5 times- and drove the entire trip from Cairns to Perth last July with 7 journalists on a media famil. The OHDC Inc- is an avovate for all tourism businesses along the Outback Way and lobby's for...