God, I’m exhausted. Hitch says give us your top 10 outback destinations. Well that’s all very well, but I’ve got 50. It’s not easy choosing favourites. Anyway, here we go. You can easily Google any place I mention here, so my aim is to just throw some light on destinations we love, that you may not have considered. Take it as read that each place has comfortable accommodation, full catering and a decent airstrip. It’s nothing like the full menu on offer out there; let’s just call it the Specials Board.
Jarramali Camp
Find the pinprick town of Laura (YLRA), 43 nm west of Cooktown in far north Queensland, tie your aircraft down and put yourself in the hands of Johnny Murison for 24 hours. You’re not going to forget it. Kuku-Yalanji born Johnny is the heart of Jarramali Rock Art tours. From the moment he bounces out of his all-terrain vehicle to greet you in town, he’s on a mission to give you one hell of an adventure and share his deep passion for this stunning slice of Cape York he calls home.
With helmets clamped on, you’ll self-drive behind Johnny over a bone rattling track through creek beds and insanely rough terrain to end up at his self-built remote camp. On our recent visit, we were allocated tents or a swag under the stars and let Johnny feed us, teach us, entertain us and generally open our eyes to the ancient indigenous heritage of this area.
We learn about bush foods and medicines and munch on a green ant. We walk to breathtaking galleries of Quinkan rock
