Back Roads

Heather shares a couple of her favourite recent stories from Tasmania: Lawnmower Racers in Bream Creek and a wood chopping Grandfather and Grandson in Cygnet.

Heather shares a couple of her favourite recent stories from Victoria: A cheeky public artwork in Warrnambool brings two colourful characters together and rival footy teams in Corryong makes for plenty of local banter.

Award winning journalist Heather Ewart takes a trip to the Nullarbor frontier town of Ceduna on the Great Australian Bight, where breaking conventions is the rule.

Heather Ewart visits the Western Queensland town of Winton, in Waltzing Matilda country. Heather spends a day at the races, goes digging for dinosaur bones & meets former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce.

This week Heather Ewart travels to the remote town of Yackandandah. In the foothills of Victoria's high country, this picture-perfect gold rush town gambled on itself and won.

Heather Ewart visits Mundulla, this tiny South Australian community cherishes its old world values, but doesn't mind a bit of healthy competition.

Heather Ewart joins a big-hearted hairdresser and her 76-year-old apprentice on a ten day road-trip from their home town of Innisfail to Normanton in Queensland's Gulf country.

Heather Ewart visits Mallacoota, a remote place at the end of the road on the far eastern tip of Victoria. Known for its natural beauty and wilderness, its isolation has bred a determination in the town to look after its own.

Heather heads to Corryong, Victoria. A bucket-load of beauty and a fascinating history haven't been enough to cement the town's success. But that's changing, with some of Corryong's young people starting to move back.

Dunalley is a small town in Tasmania that was almost wiped out by bushfires in 2013. But instead of destroying them, the tragedy has proven to be a catalyst for many people to pursue a new path.

Back Roads heads along the legendary Oodnadatta Track in outback South Australia. Heather Ewart begins her journey in the small town of Marree, where the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks meet.

Heather Ewart travels to Waterfall Way in NSW, one of the most beautiful drives in Australia. But it's not just the scenery that's spectacular, Heather meets some wonderful locals including celebrated pianist, David Helfgott.

Heather Ewart travels along the southern Murray River. She meets locals who've weathered drought & flood. She experiences many shades of the river from its bountiful Riverland to the spectacular limestone cliffs of Big Bend.

Guest presenter Paul West visits the small, yet spectacular, town of Natimuk in Victoria. Paul discovers that two worlds have collided in Natimuk, where the community is a mix of rock climbers and German-Lutheran farmers.

Back Roads returns with an epic journey in the Northern Territory, from one of the world's most remote cattle stations to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the heart of Australia.

Heather visits Tolmie, tucked away in Victoria's High Country. In the past it was known as a hideaway for bushrangers, near the infamous Stringybark Creek ambush where Ned Kelly and his gang murdered three police officers.

Heather Ewart explores a vibrant coastal community in northern New South Wales, where East meets West and which the locals affectionately call Woopi.

Back Roads returns this winter to take you to some of the widest open spaces on Earth. Join Heather Ewart on a journey across the Nullarbor Plain, discovering why people are drawn to this remote landscape and why they stay.

Heather Ewart resumes her Nullarbor Plain odyssey, this time from the South Australian border travelling west across Western Australia. It is a very special tale of time travel, outer space and underground secrets.

Guest presenter Lisa Millar presents a COVID-19 special program about how the Rokewood-Corindhap community has come together when the heart of the town is not able to beat.

Heather Ewart visits Cobar, NSW, where she meets the stoic locals who want to keep the community together, trying to discover what it is that makes people fight so hard for Cobar.

Heather Ewart visits Kyogle in northern NSW. The traditional farming town is growing and changing as it welcomes newcomers from all walks of life. Heather discovers a town that dreams big and doesn't take no for an answer.

Guest presenter Poh Ling Yeow explores a remote outpost connected by their love of opal but also each other. Coober Pedy in SA has dust, tumbleweeds, no trees and a lunar-like landscape but it attracts people from everywhere.

As the ABC celebrates its 90th year, Heather Ewart takes a look at the evolution of the great Australian road trip, and revisits some of the very best she's taken on Back Roads.

There are unexpected encounters when colourful South Pacific and traditional cultures kick up the red dust of the Pilbara as Back Roads heads to the town of Tom Price in Western Australia.

Guest presenter Joe O'Brien taps into his inner Bear Grylls in this Back Roads adventure to Cradle Mountain in the wilds of the Tasmanian Highlands.

In this special 100th episode of Back Roads, Heather Ewart looks at The Great Australian Pub. Our very own unique style of watering hole, the humble pub sits at the heart of many communities.

Back Roads heads to one of the country's largest cattle stations, Brunette Downs in the NT. Heather Ewart discovers what makes life on this remote and rugged property so attractive and arrives in time for the Brunette Races.

Foodie and farmer Paul West packs his surfboard for a Back Roads visit to tiny Marrawah in northwest Tasmania for the legendary West Coast Classic: three days of big swells, blowing gales and woolly beanies.

Presenter Heather Ewart starts the summer season in the idyllic beachside village of Brunswick Heads in northern New South Wales and discovers the surprising joys of life in a holiday town.

Join 'Back Roads' on a journey to Naracoorte on SA's Limestone Coast. Guest presenter, Amanda Shalala discovers a heartwarming community that's welcoming newcomers, changing lives and inspiring its young people to dream big.

Heather Ewart heads to the New England region in NSW and the former gold town of Uralla. Now the locals are uncovering a different kind of treasure, finding riches everywhere and using that to invest in a sustainable future.

Backroads heads to the South Australian outback to check out two mining towns that are chalk and cheese - Roxby Downs and its unruly cousin, Andamooka.

Camperdown in Southwest Victoria is a town nestled between dormant volcanoes and majestic crater lakes. Kerry Staight discovers a community that embraces its Scottish heritage while also supporting locals going their own way.

Back Roads guest presenter Anna Daniels heads to the central Queensland town of Theodore for its 100th birthday. She finds a town honouring its past, but also safeguarding its future, proving anything is possible in the bush.

Lisa Millar takes "Australia's longest driveway" all the way to Shark Bay, in Western Australia's remote Gascoyne region. Here, turquoise waters meet red desert cliffs, home to dugongs and the world's largest seagrass meadow.

Lisa Millar continues her exploration of Shark Bay, a World Heritage listed wilderness on the westernmost point of Western Australia. It's a vivid contrast of turquoise waters and red desert cliffs.

Guest Presenter Myf Warhurst travels to the Victorian goldfields town of Eldorado, where the locals like to do things differently - from living in teepees, to composting human manure!