These days, NSW may be best known for its picture-postcard coastline, rugged mountains, and sparkling skyscrapers, but travel a little further or dig a little deeper, and you'll soon see the rusty trail of breadcrumbs leading back to life in the early days of the colony.

Ghost towns may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Tasmania, but look a little beyond the spectacular scenery, ancient rainforests and rugged coastline and you can find the crumbling ruins of the island’s past.

If you look hard enough (and drive far enough), you can still find the quiet ghosts of Western Australia’s old boom towns hiding in the outback.