What makes a trip truly unforgettable? And why do some adventures stick with us long after we return home? The Lonely Planet team asked themselves the same thing when compiling their travel hot list for 2026. This year, they skipped the usual bucket-list spots to highlight authentic experiences – and one unexpected outback region in Australia cracked the top 25.
Now in its 16th edition, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel guide is basically the holy grail of wanderlust – a collection of expert picks for where to go in the year ahead. Last year, Tassie’s own Launceston and the Tamar Valley scored a spot among the world’s top regions. But this year’s Aussie pick is a totally different kind of adventure.
A scenic five-hour drive north of Adelaide, the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Outback has earned a spot among the 25 best places to travel in 2026. This wild, rugged region is often overshadowed by world-renowned outback icons, like Uluru and the Kimberley, but it delivers just as much awe and drama.
“There’s an otherworldly beauty to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges that is unlike anywhere else in the Australian Outback,” says Lonely Planet contributor Chris Zeiher. “Located at the heart of this treasured national park, the impressive Ikara (Wilpena Pound) – a vast natural amphitheatre of mountains, with a cratered rim measuring a staggering eight times the size of Uluru – begs to be explored by air or on foot.”
According to the Traditional Adnyamathanha Land Owners, the walls of Ikara represent the bodies of two intertwined Akurra (giant serpents). You can explore the dramatic rock formations and ancient Indigenous rock art on a variety of day hikes, including the nine-hour St Mary’s Peak/Ngarri Mudlanha hike, which summits the region’s tallest mountain.
Sure, the Flinders Ranges are a long way from the big city, but the outback adventures more than make up for it. Sleep under the stars at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Australia’s only official International Dark Sky Sanctuaries; soar above the country’s largest salt lake, Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, to see its bubblegum-pink hues; go mountain biking in the charming township of Melrose; and tuck into feral and native bush food (kangaroo, camel and goat) at the legendary Prairie Hotel.
We could go on forever about why we’re excited to visit South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Outback next year, but we’ll save the full spiel for Lonely Planet. If you’re keen for an overseas adventure, you can check out the 50 best destinations and experiences for 2026 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel guide here.
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