Ever thought of taking on the adventure of a road trip to Australia’s Red Centre? We hear from someone who has done just that
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Traveling from Adelaide to the Red Centre is one of Australia’s most famous road trips! This is an amazing trip across Australia’s stunningly vast outback. You’ll pass through subterranean villages, holy indigenous sites, and bizarre hiking trails along the route. It’s not a part of the country that we’ve been lucky enough to visit ourselves, so we’ve instead teamed up with the good people at GAFFL to share their expertise. While you’re backpacking across Australia, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime Australian adventure.
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Adelaide to Port Augusta
300 kilometers, 3 hours 30 minutes
The journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs is a lengthy one, so break it up whenever feasible. One of the first locations you may park up for the night is Port Augusta, popularly recognised as the ‘Crossroads of Australia’. Set right on the edge of the desert, with views of the Flinders Ranges, this is a beautiful location to spend some time.
Make sure you check out the Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout for magnificent views of the region.
Port Augusta to Coober Peddy
540 kilometers, 5 hours 40 minutes
Continue your journey to Coober Pedy, an unusual halt in the Outback. Coober Pedy, an opal mining town, is home to many subterranean buildings and structures. The houses are made entirely of natural rock, which offers shade during the day and warmth at night. Exploring this subterranean city on a road trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs is a must!
To enjoy the whole Coober Pedy experience, stay at the Desert Cave Hotel.
Pay a visit to the foreboding Catacomb Church.
Visit Faye’s Underground Home, a home that has been meticulously preserved in its original state. A tour provides a glimpse into Coober Pedy’s intriguing history.
Coober Pedy to Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park
750 kilometers, 8 hours
This is going to be a lengthy drive, perhaps eight hours of driving. Make sure you take frequent breaks, if possible, and remain hydrated. It is preferable to just stop and sleep, than risk getting into an accident.
Camp at the Ayers Rock Campground. A second excellent choice is the campsite near Curtin Springs, approximately 85 km before the national park.
Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park
Kata Tjuta is a group of rocks about 30 kilometres away from the famous UIuru.
It’s best to wake up before dawn to see the sun rise over Kata Tjuta and set over Uluru for a spectacular complete range of hues. To avoid missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, make sure your camera is ready.
You can spend the day walking through the park.
Kata Tjuta is home to the Valley of the Winds path, which lets you completely immerse yourself in the beautiful environment.
The Uluru Base Walk is a ten kilometer circle around the base of the massive rock structure. The length of time this takes you will depend on heat, your degree of fitness, and how frequently you stop.
One other thing that you shouldn’t miss out on is the ranger-led hike. Learning about Uluru from an indigenous viewpoint is a great opportunity. This location has its own unique history and importance. 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.
When you’ve had your fill of the national park, drive on to Alice Springs.
Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park to Alice Springs
460 kilometers, 5 hours 30 minutes
Alice Springs is an excellent base for traveling in the Red Centre, which is why it is a popular drive from Adelaide. Desert views and adventures await in this isolated town.
Visit the Alice Springs Desert Park to get a sense of the place. You can get around Alice Springs by bicycle, hiking, or hot air ballooning. Outback Ballooning offers spectacular sunrise hot air balloon trips – all of the dreamy shades of red and gold will leave you completely in awe of this unique part of the world, and you will fall completely in love with it.
Alice Springs to Ormiston Gorge
135 kilometers, 2 hours
Ormiston Gorge is a popular day trip for the area’s visitors.
It takes 3 to 4 hours to complete the Ormiston Punod hike. The circuit is 9km long and returns to the gorge through a succession of ups and downs with scenic overlooks.
Ellery Creek Big Hole is a nice swimming site along the drive back to Alice Springs, where you can rinse off the dirt and perspiration after the climb.
Alice Springs to Adelaide
Start the lengthy journey back to Adelaide when you’re ready. The entire distance you will have traveled is about 1500 kilometers.
To break up the drive as much as possible, you should stop many times along the way. The open road may get boring, and it’s easy to lose track of time or succumb to the lure of speeding down the highway. Follow the speed restrictions, as well as your own personal driving limitations.
When you’re planning this road trip, the best way to discover others travelling on the same route is to search for individuals seeking to join a group. You’ll have more fun if you can include more folks on this trip.
About the Author
This article was written by GAFFL. You can find travel mates using GAFFL. You can connect with travellers from over 170 countries, so you never have to worry about travelling alone.
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