Epic 6 Day Adelaide to Alice Springs Road Trip
AUTHOR: PETRINA DARRAH
The Journey from Adelaide to Australia's Red Centre is nothing short of iconic! This is a roadie of epic proportions, cutting a trail across Australia's starkly beautiful outback. Along the way you'll come across underground towns, sacred indigenous sites, and surreal hiking opportunities. Take on the adventure of a lifetime with your JUCY campervan hire in Australia and set out on this incredible itinerary.
Let's check out where you'll be stopping on this 6-day Adelaide to Alice Springs road trip.
DAY 1: ADELAIDE TO PORT AUGUSTA
Driving Distance from Adelaide to Port Augusta: 300 kilometres / 3 hours 30 minutes
Your outback road trip beings today! The drive between Adelaide and Alice Springs is a long one, so we're going to break it up with some awesome stops.
After picking up your Adelaide campervan hire, one of the first places you can park up for the night is Port Augusta, also known as the 'Crossroads of Australia'. Set right on the edge of the desert, with views of the Flinders Ranges, this is a stunning place to spend some time.
Things to do in Port Augusta
Creep through the jaws of a giant Ripper lizard and into the multi-award-winning Tunnel of Time at the Wadlata Outback Centre.
Explore 200 hectares of extraordinary native Australian plants at the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden. The cafe serves delish native-inspired food to keep you fuelledup and keep an eye out for birds - there's over 150 species here!
Make sure you check out the Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout for glorious views of the area.
Campervan parks in Port Augusta
Port Augusta Motorhome Park, Old Power Station Road
Shoreline Caravan Park, Gardiner Avenue
Discovery Park, 33 Stokes Terrace
DAY 2: PORT AUGUSTA TO COOBER PEDY
Driving distance from Port Augusta to Coober Pedy: 540 kilometres / 5 hours 30 minutes
The next stop on your Adelaide to Alice Springs road trip is Coober Pedy! The Opal Capital of Australia, Coober Pedy is one of the more curious places to visit in the Outback. This small town is famous for its quirky underground houses, hotels and shops. The buildings are made from natural rock, which provides a respite from the desert heat during the day and warmth at night.
Exploring this underground opal mining town is a must on a road trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs!
Things to do in Coober Pedy
Visit the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, where tours of the aboriginal interpretive centre, underground home and the opal mine run daily.
Sleep in the Desert Cave Hotel to get the real Coober Pedy experience.
Visit the eerie underground Catacomb Church.
Visit Faye's Underground Home, a dwelling kept perfectly in its original condition. A tour is like getting a glimpse into the fascinating past of Coober Pedy.
Watch the otherworldly sandstone tablelands turn spectacular shades of red and orange at sunset.
Caravan parks in Coober Pedy
Riba’s Underground Camping and Caravan Park, 1811 William Creek Road
Oasis Coober Pedy Tourist Park, Hutchison Street
BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort, Hutchison Street
DAY 3: COOBER PEDY TO ULURU KATA-TJUTA NATIONAL PARK
Driving distance from Coober Pedy to Ulura Kata-Tjuta National Park: 750 kilometres / 8 hours
This is the longest driving day on the trip, with approximately eight hours of driving as you travel from South Australia into the Northern Territory. Make sure you take lots of rest breaks, share driving if you can, and stay hydrated! Think twice before overtaking road trains and try to avoid driving at night - it's better to just find somewhere to sleep and continue on the next day.
Whew! You made it. Spend a night at the Ayers Rock Campground and prepare for a full day exploring the park tomorrow. If Ayers RockCampground is full up, another great option is the Curtin Springs Campground, about 85 kilometresbefore the national park.
JUCY travel tip: Powered sites in Central Australia are usually in very high demand, so make sure you book well in advance.
DAY 4: ULURU KATA-TJUTA NATIONAL PARK
A highlight of the Northern Territory, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is named after two of Australia’s most iconic sites: the world-famous sandstone monolith of Uluru and the red domes of Kata Tjuta. You can easily spend a day or more exploring the geological formations and extraordinary Indigenous culture of this dual World Heritage-listed Park in Central Australia.
Formerly known as Ayers Rock, the ancient monolith of Ulura is home to important spiritual sites and caves hiding fascinating rock paintings.
Kata Tjuta is a group of 36 red domed rocks, spread over 20 square kilometres and towering up to 546 metres above the desert. This dramatic geological wonder is about 30 kilometres away from the more famous Uluru.
Things to do in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Start the day by getting up at the crack of dawn and watching the sun rise over Kata Tjuta and set over Uluru - this will give you the full spectrum of dazzling colours. Make sure you have your camera ready, because this is bound to be one of the most spectacular natural sights you'll ever see.
During the day, you can check out one of the walks in the national park. There's some rare and unique wildlife in the area, so keep your eyes peeled!
Around Kata Tjuta is the popular Valley of the Winds trail, which takes two to three hours and gives you the chance to be fully immersed in the dreamy landscape.
The Uluru Base Walk is another fabulous track, looping for 10 kilometres around the base of the giant rock formation. It will take between three and five hours depending on the heat, your fitness level, and how often you want to stop.
If you're sticking around for a couple of days, the ranger guided walk is another must-do activity. This is a chance for you to learn more about Uluru from an indigenous perspective, as it's a sacred site for the local Anangu people. On this walk you'll learn about the history and cultural significance of this special place.
Visit the magical Field of Light / Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku art installation. 50,000 lights undulate across the desert landscape, bringing life and colour to an area as big as seven football fields!
Once you're satisfied that you've seen enough of the national park, you can push on to Alice Springs.
Caravan Parks & Campsites near Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Ayers Rock Campground, 173 Yulara Dr
Curtin Springs Campground, Lasseter Highway
DAY 5: ULURU KATA-TJUTA NATIONAL PARK TO ALICE SPRINGS
Driving distance from Ulura Kata-Tjuta National Park to Alice Springs: 460 kilometres / 5 hours 30 minutes
You've arrived at Alice Springs! Known for its pioneering spirit, authentic Aussie personality and deep cultural connection with the indigenous Arrernte people.
Alice Springs is a good base for exploring more of Australia's red centre, which is why it is a popular road trip destination from Adelaide. From this remote town you can immerse yourself in desert landscapes and experiences.
Things to Do in Alice Springs
See endangered wildlife, enjoy tours and animal experiences, and hear the stories of the local Arrernte people at the Alice Springs Desert Park. The park is located at the foothills of the West MacDonnell Ranges, placing you in a fantastic spot for exploring after your visit.
Explore the famous scenery, freshwater swimming holes, hiking trails and natural treasures of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Look for rock wallabies near the Simpsons Gap waterhole and watch the walls of Standley Chasm glow vibrant red at midday. Explore Glen Helen, Ormiston Gorge, and the sacred Ochre Pits used by local Aboriginal people.
Cycle, hike, or hot air balloon your way around Alice Springs.
Outback Ballooningoffer spectacular sunrise hot air balloon trips - all of the dreamy shades of red and gold will leave you completely head over heels for this unique part of the Northern Territory.
Trek a section of the Larapinta Trail, which you can access with just a 6-minute drive from Alice Springs.
Just out of Alice Springs is the Kangaroo Sanctuary. Chris 'Brolga' Barnes of the ‘Kangaroo Dundee’ TV series rescues orphaned joeys, which you can feed and cuddle!
Take an Alice Springs camel ride at sunset. The camels each have their own endearing personality, adding to the fun of this memorable experience!
Places to park your campervan in Alice Springs
Alice Springs Tourist Park, 70 Larapinta Dr
Discovery Parks Alice Springs, 25 Palm Pl
Wintersun Cabin & Caravan Park, on the corner of Stuart Highway and Head St
DAY 6: ALICE SPRINGS TO ORMISTON GORGE
Driving distance from Alice Springs to Ormiston Gorge: 135 kilometres / 2 hours
One of the best day trips in the area is an excursion to Ormiston Gorge, about 135 kilometres west of the Alice Springs township. With a deep swimming hole surrounded by sandy shores, it'sbasically a beach in the Australian Outback!
Things to do in the Ormiston Gorge
Explore the Ormiston Pound Walk. This nine-kilometre circuit track takes between three and four hours and is one of the best day hikes in the region. Admire the towering red walls and glistening rivers as you loop through the gorge, climbing to lookout points of the surrounding landscapes.
Ormiston Gorge has one of the largest, permanent waterholes suitable for swimming in Central Australia. Bring a picnic and your towels to enjoy a dip in the cool deep waters, and don't worry - there are no crocodiles in Central Australia!
If you 're chasing the perfect sunset or sunrise, head to the Ghost Gum Lookout. This 45 minute / 1.5 kilometre loop track starts from the car park, and peaks at a viewing platform with an epic overlook of the gorge.
On the way back to Alice Springs, you can stop at the Ellery Creek Big Hole, a cool swimming spot where you can wash off all that sweat from the hike.
Caravan Parks near Ormiston Gorge
Ormiston Gorge Campground, Ormiston Gorge Access
ALICE SPRINGS TO ADELAIDE
Driving distance from Alice Springs to Adelaide: 1,534 kilometres / 16 hours
When you're ready, start the long drive from Alice Springs to Adelaide.
This is a 16-hour trek, so we recommend breaking it up into at least a couple of days if possible. You can revisit the places you stopped on your journey north or add some new stops such as Pimba to your Alice Springs road trip.
If you're aiming to drive the return Alice Springs to Adelaide road trip in one or two days, you should stop several times en route to break up the driving as much as possible. The wide-open roads can get monotonous and it's easy to let your attention drift or give in to the temptation of hooning it down the highway. Stick to the speed limits - and your own driving limits.
PUT THE WHEELS IN MOTION FOR YOUR OUTBACK ROAD TRIP - BOOK YOUR JUCY CAMPERVAN TODAY!
How long does it take to get from Adelaide to Alice Springs?
Driving directly from Adelaide to Alice Springs via Stuart Highway takes around 16 hours. Road trips aren't just about the destination though, they're about getting lost in the adventure (and finding yourself!) on the way there. Expect your drive time to increase as you add awesome destinations and overnight stops to your itinerary.
How long should I spend in Alice Springs?
If you want to dive deep into Alice Springs, allow 3-5 days to explore at the end of your Adelaide to Alice Springs road trip. If you want to make it a quicker stop, you can do a whirlwind tour of some Alice Springs highlights in 4-5 hours.
Petrina Darrah is a freelance travel writer from New Zealand. Check out more of her work at petrinadarrah.com.