Over a friendly meal with a wandering yarn-spinner, Peter Russell-Clarke learns that the days of the outback outlaw are far from over. They’ve just lowered their sights a little.

An outraged Ken Duncan prepares to wage war on a growing threat to the pristine nature of our precious outback icons: idiots with spray cans, textas and – sometimes – chainsaws. Dipsticks of the Outback, you have been warned . . .

Chris Smith heads west to his favourite stretch of sand, receives a decidedly chilly reception in a Sydney bar, and finds a new way to camp out in style.

365 days a year, mothers around Australia put their kids first, so, this year AT has come up with some very special gifts for all those tireless providers we call mum, writes Cameron Blair.

With special thanks to contributing writers Lisa Perkovic, Quentin Long, Nigel Herbert, Greg Barton, Tiana Templeman and Justin Wastnage