Everyone has a list of towns to avoid. We’ve got one too, except we went anyway. From Alice Springs to Port Augusta, these “tough” towns prove reputation isn’t always reality.

A quick stop in Coober Pedy revealed a town unlike anywhere else. Homes carved from rock, sunsets over the Breakaways, and a lesson in how far people will go to outsmart the desert.

What started as a pebble-eating mishap near Uluru turned into a race across the outback to save our girl, Zoe. With expert care and plenty of love, she’s now on the mend in Adelaide.

For us, Leigh Creek was a fascinating and slightly eerie stop. It’s a town that tells a story of industry, change, and resilience—worth visiting for anyone wanting to see a different side of the outback.

Carrieton and nearby Johnburg are quiet country towns in South Australia with a strong sense of history. There’s not much happening, but that’s what makes them worth the stop.

Just outside Port Augusta, we pulled into Nutbush Retreat, a working sheep station offering a unique outback stay.

We stopped in tiny Wirrulla to check out the world’s only inland jetty — a dry-land surprise with a great sense of humour. It’s quirky, quick, and worth the detour. The tide? Never coming in.

Ceduna on South Australia’s far-west coast. Foreshore walks, the local museum, quiet days by the sea and a gateway for future Maralinga adventures.

Port Augusta’s more than a pit stop. Between the gulf and the desert, we found Spear Creek sunsets, station stays, and outback landscapes that blend grit and beauty in equal measure.