What if we told you there’s a desert in Australia bigger than Victoria and Tasmania combined? You’re probably racking your brains right now, wondering where we’re hiding our own version of the Sahara or the Gobi. Well, point your binoculars inland and you’re bound to come across the Great Victoria Desert. Despite its name, this vast expanse of arid land is nowhere near the state of Victoria. It was named by British explorer Ernest Giles in 1875 in honour of Queen Victoria.
Covering almost 350,000 square kilometres, the Great Victoria Desert is the largest in Australia – plus the seventh-biggest desert on Earth. Despite its massive size, this natural wonder remains largely untouched – thanks to its incredibly remote location. Here’s everything you need to know about the Great Victoria Desert.
Where is the Great Victoria Desert?
Straddling both Western Australia and South Australia, the Great Victoria Desert stretches from east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to west of Coober Pedy and north of the Nullarbor Plain. It lies within the traditional lands of several Indigenous groups, including the Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and Mirning peoples, who have lived in the region for tens of thousands of years.
How to get to the Great Victoria Desert?
You’ll need a 4WD, some serious outback experience and a sense of adventure to reach the Great Victoria. Much of the desert is on remote Aboriginal land or defence land, so you’ll likely need permits to travel through or camp on.
From Western Australia, your best bet is to depart from Kalgoorlie or Laverton, travelling east via the Great Central Road or Anne Beadell Highway. Expect long stretches of unsealed roads, with the journey taking around three to five hours from Kalgoorlie, or one to two from Laverton. If you're coming from South Australia, start in Coober Pedy or Ceduna and head north or northwest via Maralinga or the Anne Beadell Highway. Depending on road conditions, you’re looking at a five- to seven-hour drive.
How big is the Great Victoria Desert?
Stretching 700 kilometres east to west and covering a mega 348,750 square kilometres in total, Great Victoria is the largest desert in Australia. It’s also the seventh-largest subtropical desert on the planet – bigger than the entire United Kingdom (243,000 square kilometres).
How was the Great Victoria Desert formed?
Millions of years ago, this now-arid expanse was submerged beneath the sea. As the waters receded, they left behind vast plains of sand and sediment. Over time, wind and erosion sculpted the landscape, forming the red sand dunes and spinifex grasslands we see today. The scorching heat and scarce rainfall have kept it firmly in desert mode ever since.
What animals live in the Great Victoria Desert?
Despite its harsh and remote nature, the Great Victoria Desert is home to a surprising variety of wildlife, including thorny devils, bearded dragons, spinifex hopping mice, mulgaras, dunnarts, budgerigars and other rare desert birds.
What to do in the Great Victoria Desert?
Due to its remote location, few Aussies have actually set foot in the Great Victoria Desert. Those adventurous enough to make the journey can wander among striking red sand dunes, explore spinifex grasslands, discover ancient rock formations and salt lakes, spot desert animals and camp under some of the darkest, clearest night skies in Australia.