Australia
Painted Desert
Crimson, cream and gold hills erupt from flat outback beside a remote public route.
Bands of crimson, cream, gold and ochre rise from the flat country north of Coober Pedy. With no formal attraction complex, the Painted Desert rewards a prepared high-clearance journey and patient viewing from public routes.
The Painted Desert / Arckaringa Hills lies on a pastoral lease north of Coober Pedy. South Australia's PAR 17 provides lawful public access along a short formed vehicle route to a parking area and defined walking track among mesas and breakaways. Visitors must remain on the route, avoid unstable cliff edges and leave before threatening rain because the surrounding unsealed roads can become impassable for days.
Solo
Only a prepared remote-area driver with communications and generous supplies should use the signed public route alone.
Couple
Share the defined walking trail and late light, remaining on PAR 17 and clear of unstable edges.
- Mineral-rich mesas and breakaways show bands of ochre, cream, crimson and brown.
- PAR 17 provides a lawful formed route and defined walk through part of the pastoral lease.
- Off-track driving is prohibited because tyre scars can damage the fragile surface for decades.
- Rain can turn the unsealed approach impassable, making self-sufficiency essential.
Date palms grown from the Afghan cameleers' plantings survive in the old Ghan towns along this route.
Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta are the provisioning gates: meals out here travel with the vehicle.
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