Father and sons stranded in Australian outback for 11 days

An Australian father and his two sons have been found alive after going missing for 11 days in the outback.

Steven Van Lonkhuyzen, 37, and his sons Ethan, seven, and Timothy, five, were found by a farmer in Expedition National Park, Queensland.

When the farmer went to look for them after seeing media reports of a missing family, he discovered their car stuck in a bog, 9News reports.

Police said the family became stranded in the national park when their car got bogged and were found "very hungry".

Acting Superintendent Mick Bianchi told ABC that police conducted extensive searches over several days.

He said: "We've had farmers and graziers searching their properties, local store owners checking to see if they had passed by or dropped in, mining companies and mustering helicopters checking lands, as well as park rangers searching parks and camp sites.

"We are all very thankful that we have a happy outcome."

The trio left their home in Cairns on 11 December and were supposed to return on 15 December. Steven contacted his wife the day they left but did not hear from them again.

When they were found, the farmer took them back to his house to recover.