Hit the gravel roads (not recommended in wet weather) to Birdsville, Australia's iconic 'must visit' town. The town is a hub for intrepid travellers heading across the Simpson Desert, the largest area of parallel sand dunes in the world. Sit atop the 40 metre high 'Big Red', the biggest sand dune on the eastern edge of the desert, and watch four-wheel-drivers take on the challenge of the steep and sandy tracks. Sit beneath a roof covered in the weathered Akubras of people who have done the 'hard yards' in Birdsville for at least one year at the Birdsville Hotel. The Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre offers a historical display and the bank of the Diamantina River is a fantastic spot for fishing or enjoying a picnic. Visit the extremely rare Waddi trees, which only grow in three places in the world. The town's population booms to thousands twice a year during the famous Red Bash music festival and iconic Birdsville Races.