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road trip itinerary adelaide to alice spring COVER

Road trip itinerary from Adelaide to Alice Springs

 

AUTHOR: PETRINA DARRAH 

And the winner of most iconic Australian road trip is - driving from Adelaide into the red centre! This is a journey 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 this adventure of a lifetime with an Australia campervan rental and set out on this incredible itinerary!

ADELAIDE TO PORT AUGUSTA

300 kilometres - 3 hours 30 minutes

The drive from Adelaide to Alice Springs is a long one, so break it up wherever possible. Having picked up your campervan hire in Adelaide, one of the first places you can park up for the night is Port Augusta, also know 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.

Make sure you check out the Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout for glorious views of the area.

PORT AUGUSTA TO COOBER PEDY

540 kilometres - 5 hours 30 minutes

Plough on to Coober Pedy, one of the more curious places to stop in the Outback. An opal mining town, Coober Pedy is home to many underground houses and buildings. The buildings are made from natural rock, which provides respite from the desert heat during the day and warmth at night. Exploring this underground town is a must on a road trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs!

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.
jucy van driving through the outback

COOBER PEDY TO ULURU KATA-TJUTA NATIONAL PARK

750 kilometres - 8 hours

This is the longest driving day on the trip, approximately eight hours of driving. 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. If that's full up (you usually need to book in advance), another great option is the campground at Curtin Springs, about 85 kilometres before the national park.

jucy camper parked near uluru national park at sunrise

ULURU KATA-TJUTA NATIONAL PARK

Kata Tjuta is a group of rocks about 30 kilometres away from the more famous UIuru.

During the day, you can check out one of the walks in the national park.

Once you're satisfied that you've seen enough of the national park, you can push on to Alice Springs.

passengers on outback hot air balloon ride

ULURU KATA-TJUTA NATIONAL PARK TO ALICE SPRINGS

460 kilometres - 5 hours 30 minutes

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.

jucy camper kicking up dust in the outback

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 town.

The Ormiston Pound walk takes between three and four hours. the circuit track is nine kilometers long and loop[s through the gorge with some climbs to lookout points of the surrounding landscapes.
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.

ALICE SPRINGS TO ADELAIDE

When you're ready, start the long trek back to Adelaide. This trip is about 1500 kilometres in total. 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. You can revisit the places you stopped on your road trip north, or try some different stops such as Pimba.

PUT THE WHEELS IN MOTION FOR YOUR OUTBACK ROAD TRIP - BOOK YOUR JUCY CAMPERVAN HIRE IN AUSTRALIA TODAY!
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