The information in this site is of course valuable for fueling stops on the way and I thank the authors for the trouble taken to publish all the nitty gritty stuff as well, which I reckon can be the most important on any trip. Greyhound Australia operates a bus from Port Augusta to Alice Springs once daily. What a great read and wealth of information! Allow around $1.70 per litre for fuel. Once known as "The Track", the Stuart Highway was named after explorer John McDouall Stuart who discovered a route through Australia's inland on several excursions in the 1850s and 1860s. Oh reason #4, a very small town but with wonderful friendly people, do yourself a favour and take the chance to get to know them like a lot of country folk, they wont invade your space, but will happily chat if you want to. There are a number of detours and side trips which we talk about in the itinerary below. The tourist route marketed as the Explorer's Way describes the entire journey from Adelaide to Darwin (3016 km). Its about 11-12 hours of driving in total. Any advice and guidance is highly appreciated. Also known as "Jim's place" to the locals, Jim Coterill has many stop at the Stuarts Well Roadhouse to enjoy some real Australian Outback Lake Hart is one of these glistening salt lakes South Australia is famous for. Read more. https://adelaidetoalicesprings.blogspot.com/ Want to see as much of the country as possible in our time. Stroll along Todd Mall, explore the first hospital (Adelaide House). Erldunda is a great spot to stay for a night. Please do NOT think this is what the entire outback is like. I really enjoyed this information. Firstly, you DO NOT need a sat phone if youre doing this trip. Port Augusta - population ~15,250 is on the edge of the South I was very nervous at the thought of driving from Adelaide to Alice but after I read and studied your guide I am somewhat less apprehensive. On routeto Erldunda Roadhouse stop off atRainbowValley Conservation Reserve, just 100km south of Alice Springs, to enjoy the sandstone bluffs and rock formations. and which are the most dangerous spots for active wildlife?Also are there any other dangers to be aware of along this route? Im not sure where Ill be early August at this stage. Get a Telstra sim card for your phone. Click here for a detailed itinerary. Terms and conditions Instagram contest, Please subscribe with your email address to get free ebook, 3 day Alice Springs to Adelaide itinerary. Hoping to get to finally do our road trip in the coming weeksfingers crossed! Carry basic tools & spare parts (fanbelts, spare tyres, radiator hoses, fuses) with you. Best Time of the Year. Enjoy your travels. The modern track doesn't follow Stuart's original route in it's southern We are a family of four, 7 and 10year old. We want to book , Stuart Highway with conventional carIs it possible to drive Stuart Highway with a conventional car, like a station wagon, or do I need a 4wd? The GPS will work fine as it runs off satellites not the phone network. We were carrying two spares, so we were lucky! Hi Amanda! The Stuart Highway is sealed all the way just like it is here in Alice. Think the temperatures ranged from 25 [Adelaide] to 40 and were surprised how well we coped both being in our 60s and from NZ. The journeys took me 17 hours per limb, with 4 hours of night time drive each way (Glendambo to Port Pirie onwards and Marla to Alice Springs on return). Luckily I was concentrating and had enough time to stop for them. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this section is the amount of roadkill you see. Uluru is a must-see. And ive been looking around for camper-van but cant seem to fix on a company. Thank you so much for this, we are heading up to Alice from Canberra in September, via Adelaide. Thanks so much for your reply and your facebook post. I mean it's paved so as long as I don't leave , Bush flies in the Australian OutbackHi, are flies a problem only in the warmer months, or do you get swamped in winter too, every time you have a picnic? Tickets cost $170 - $320 and the journey takes 15h 40m. We just returned to Luxembourg, Europe, after our trip in a campervan from Melbourne to Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs. Thank you for writing up this article, its a wealth of knowledge for people planning a trip through this amazing part of the country. Along this section of highway, the terrain continues to soften, with more and more Mulga scrub, and a few dry creeks with Bloodwood trees lining them. I am coming up in March for a couple of weeks exploring by bicycle and am looking forward to discovering a part of Australia that is long overdue for a visit. with shimmering salt lakes on the horizon, or sometimes, close to the Janet and Max. From Kingoonya a track goes south to the Mount Ive The Roadhouse has a very large motel-style accommodation area, and a camping/caravan ground at the rear. The alternative? There is also a fuel station and general store. (Shouldve known!! Fuel, food, accommodation: Port Augusta, Pimba, Glendambo, Coober Pedy, Cadney, Marla, Kulgera, Erldunda, Stuarts Well, Longest Stretch without fuel: 254km between Glendambo & Coober Pedy. [4] The highway was only fully sealed in February 1987 as part of the Australian Bicentenary roadworks programme. My brother-in-law and his friends are arriving from India for a Great Australian Road Trip. I sent him the links to the phone coverage maps so he could see how little coverage there is outside the more populated areas I love the advertising claims that xx network covers 95-99% of the Australian population, and of course international visitors do not really realise that most of the Australian population lives on the east coast and close to the townships and in between those there is a lot of empty space without any phone signal, unless you have a satellite phone Fortunately he got back to me a couple of days later and advised that his daughter had finally made contact. ALSO READ: Driving from Alice Springs to Uluru which describes in detail this section of the journey. Do u live in Alice? For some reason there seems to be more on this section than others. I woiuld be using the TOM TOM GPS as well. Ive never done Bikram, though. November is likely to be warm to hot, say mid 30s at least. it is a reasonably new car, 2010 model and automatic. There are very few trees the vegetation is predominately bluebush and saltbush- and until you start to see the mullock heaps coming into Coober Pedy, very little to look at. Ive broken down on the Stuart Highway ALONE and Ive been helped by passers-by. 7 days. is at the entrance of Alice Springs, nestled at the base of the to take a photo of the famous Australian road-trains. All the information you have stated is invaluable. You too have a fabulous site, and youve put a lot of hard work into it , Hi Amanda I have never done this drive but am used to long distance driving as i regularly drive nonstop from melb to noosa and back. I havent been able to find any info on this however will ask around here before I set off this morning. The food is better. But then, this is nature!I camped twice at Erldunda, and I have font memories of a great place surrounded by beautiful desert landscapes. include a supermarket, opal shops, cafes and restaurants. Read more about the Oodnadatta Track here. Amanda, you gem! 20km north of Erldunda, then there is NOTHING until about 40km south of Alice Springs. We have been told this is because overseas tourists to the NT have far more motor vehicle accidents than anywhere else. Furthermore, the $7.49 I paid on the wiki camps app was the best money Ive ever spent! Thank you for your quick reply. It is great that you have provided information about phone coverage (or lack thereof). In fact we are planning some night driving ( a few hours on some nights), but after reading your post I am rethinking now. In between Glendambo and Coober Pedy, there are no other roadhouses. Day 2 - Erldunda Roadhouse to Coober Pedy. These guys are sometimes 55 metres long. Whilst youll be driving on the Stuart Highway an excellent and mainly straight road, youre driving in the Australian outback for most of this journey, youll need to do a few simple things to stay safe: If youre worried about breaking down, please read MY experience of breaking down on this road as a solo woman traveller. Or are your driving time estimates factored more for standard vehicles? Alice-springs is 1,637.34 mi (2,635.04 km) south of the equator, so it is located in the southern hemisphere. Once you see the massive power plant in distance (not to be confused with the one at Port Pirie), you know that Port Augusta isnt far away. Absolutely! Im planning to drive Alice Springs down to Melbourne in December and Im starting to have a look around for some good guides and tips. A small general store has basic groceries. May to October The Roadhouse has meals and a large bar area. Just one question: Do the fuel stations carry 95 LPG or higher? I have never tried, but dirt road should be fine but on sand dunes could be an issue. That's a reason to stop for a drink, isn't it? Many thanks again, From Alice-springs to the South Pole, it is 4,580.59 mi (7,371.74 km) in the north. Sorry Anthony, but there ARE no cheap rental car options. of Stuart Highway & Lasseter Highway, it is a great place to relax Hi,Amanda, what can I say, have been searching the net for information, we are heading up to Alice Springs from Melbourne 1st August,luck was with me by finding your site about a month ago, so much info, thank you for your dedication, ye-ha, wife Judy is rearing to go, see you in Alice, cheers, Just makes me want to get up and go thank you for great info, Great Post!! I just purchased your Travel Outback book from Amazon. The FABULOUS secret national park Owen Springs. The Coober Pedy to Alice Springs drive in Australia is 688km long. Although you can drive from Port Augusta to Alice in one day, trust me when I say that its a very LOOOONG day! You could also go from Roxby Downs along the Borefield Track and then join the Oodnadatta Track and head up to Alice Springs that way. Peoples experience is so much better than government websites. Facilities: Hotel/motel with bar & bottle-shop, 60 air-conditioned motel units. We are just back from our two week trip from Melbourne to Alice and back again, and what I learned here in preparation was invaluable. Theres also a toilet, water, tables & chairs, some good information signs and a geocache. Great information, this looks so well-done!!!!!!! Your help and advise will be greatly appreciated. This is also a national highway, the Princes Highway also called Highway 1 in Australia. N. Hi Amanda! Thank you for sharing this information. Detours from Stuarts Well: 14 km north of Stuarts Well leads a dirt road to the Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve. Springs in two hours / 200 km. I will be self sufficient and not need help other than maybe finding my way back to my tent in the dark. me and my wife will be in Australia in december. My maternal grandmother taught yoga until she was 80 (shes now 96) so it could be in my genes. Feeling much more prepared now . These displaced Aboriginal people often spent decades trying to move back to their lands some, like many Pintupi people, ended up dying at places like Papunya, or walked out to create new settlements at Mt Liebig (Watiyawanu) and Kintore (Walungurru), never returning to their traditional lands. If you have a little extra time at hand, you can also use the Main North Road As long as you car is serviced regularly and in good running order, there is no reason why it shouldnt be fine to drive to Adelaide. Cheers. Would you recommend it solely for this drive? Regarding water, I strongly recommend carrying 10-20 litres no matter where youre travelling in the outback, even if youre not camping. Ive even broken down on this road in a wee little Barina I didnt need a sat phone to get help. My tip is to take a break and grab some photos at Lake Hart (you can camp here, too). You could try Wicked Campers, although be careful as they dont always allow people to drive on dirt roads. John Check out our 3 day Alice Springs to Adelaide itinerary for more information on this route. Calculate the amount of petrol you need for the journey and how much it will cost you. Im so looking forward to doing this. Be VERY cautious when over taking roadtrains. No sorry, thats the way the comments function on the website works and Im not able to do anything about it. We plan to leave Adelaide at 22:00, head to Port Augusta by 2am (rest there), hopefully we can , Stuart Highway Darwin to AdelaideHow long should we allow to do the Stuart Highway? The Stuart Highway continues through flat landscapes with little Mobile phone coverage: Telstra 3G reception is only available for approx. For one last look at Spencer Gulf and the Flinders Ranges, stop at the Range View rest stop (61km km from Port Augusta). Alice Springs to the South Australian border Other highways The following are rest stops in other highways in the NT. Head just out of town to cuddle a baby kangaroo at the Kangaroo Sanctuary. Although this is not the real Australian Outback, South Australia's You can The husband and I did it in mid October this year and loved every minute of it including flies and heat. noon it is worth to do the detour. Nonstop drive: 1,403 miles or 2258 km Driving time: 23 hours, 47 minutes This is a really long drive, so it's not very realistic to drive nonstop. It is only a short drive today to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, located in the Flinders Ranges,if you head off early you will have the whole day to explore! would you recommend anything to do or take apart from the obvious. Choose convenient units: miles, kilometres for driving distance. Roadtrains travelling at night and around dawn and dusk, collide with kangaroos and as you might expect, poor Skippy doesnt stand a chance. Cadney Homestead is a small roadhouse with typical Outback flair. Just a small question, are the nights cold during those months? Woomera was established in 1947, for the Anglo-Australian Joint Project. 20km radius around Marla. Your tips around stops and phone coverage are great as Ive been able to let family know, and as we are travelling with a toddler, we know how long to keep him occupied between stops The roadhouse offers Outback atmosphere, fuel, take-away food, It is only me and my Autistic son doing this 10 week adventure. Ive driven this road soooo many times. Although you have nearly reached Alice Springs now, it is worth to Any thing in specifics I have to take care of. Distance: 2,884 km's; Total Driving Time: 36 hours, . Hi, I meant how long is the drive from Coober Pedy to Alice? We are not intending on driving at night, and taking our time 7-8 days to complete the drive. I havent looked it over yet. Discover Kakadu, Kings Canyon, Aboriginal art & more. If youre interested in learning more about this, please watch the DVD Benny and the Dreamers. Thanks to this site for giving me confidence for the journey. There's a road to William Creek, As a rule, if you are worried, fill up your fuel tank at EVERY opportunity and youll be fine. There are different access zones and occasional road closures, click here to see the zones. See also our themed driving route, the Explorers Way. I would start my travel on 24th March 2018 from melbourne to Darwin. I hope your wife can drive too as you will be very tired with all this driving. Distance from Alice Springs to Palmerston 1284 km. Ive been reading a lot about getting a bull bar (fixing it to my Subaru Forester) and can see arguments for and against. Free roadside campsites: Check them out on Wikicamps. ), stopping every hour or so to swap driving with my mum. Kulgera sits on the junction of the Stuart Hwy and the road to Apulta. Such a good info at one place. Thanks Christine. Many fuel stations even refill, so keep an eye out for these. You would try Wicked Campers they might be a better option. Highway. Your advice on night driving in that area is NOTED. Mobile phone coverage: Telstra 3G for approximately 30km either side of Glendambo and then again coming into Coober Pedy. Yes I am one of those 4% who does not live where the other 96% live, and I will often go for several weeks when Im away doing bushwork without any phone or internet reception. About 50km north of Coober Pedy, youll find the famous Dingo Fence. Is there a way?It would be great if youd have this page as a PDF is the same info in that book? Hi Amanda. Save your money and do a mine tour in Coober Pedy. You may wish to fill up your car at Glendambo if you have a small tank. Their biggest attraction is that visitors can feed Thanks so much for all the hardwork that went into this invaluable travel guides to an Oz icon highway. Martin, who runs Radekas, is a real sweetie. The roadhouse is the most visible feature in town. Hi, We are still sussing out accommodation at several places. No worries, thank you and were glad you had a great time! Fuel & food available: Glendambo & Coober Pedy. Could I just ask about your opinion on the Darwin-Alice Springs road, is it somewhat comparable? Follow the Keep a watch out for wildlife and the changing landscapes the further south you get. Mobile phone coverage: Telstra 3G reception is available for approx. Closures will occur between September 8th and October 5th 2019. So a big thank you to you. Alice Springs (Eastern Arrernte: Mparntwe,) known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia.The name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (ne Alice Gillam Bell), wife of the telegraph pioneer Sir Charles Todd.Known colloquially as 'The Alice' or simply 'Alice', the town is situated roughly in . Will it be too hot in NT. from your long trip. You can drive a section on the track, and return to the highway at Coober Pedy or Marla. We are thinking of following your route, however, we have 3 children & wondered if anyone would recommend doing this with children aged 6, 10 & 12?? Thank you again for the information, Gill. Thanks for a great guide for this epic journey. Loved reading your trip details from Adelaide to Alice. The rooms are spacious and comfortable weve stayed here several times in the past few years. You will TRULY experience the outback deeply and more authentically than if you rush. This is worth a visit but be warned: its a 4WD only track and youll need several hours to drive out it. Were retired & dont exactly have a time-frame. Providing it is in good mechanical condition however it should be ok. We are not saying dont drive at night but it is not recommended due to the potential for large animals to be on the road. Well use your blogs as gospel when going. PARTNER WITH US Lastly Melbourne. We are leaving in 4 weeks from Melbourne to Alice and of course Ayers Rock. Click here to read my article about Coober Pedy.Detours from Coober Pedy: The Breakaways north of pur Outback air. There are also budget style donga rooms, showers and a large camp kitchen area. Ive stayed at Glendambo quite a few times over the years (most recently in January 2014). Antipode: 23.69748,-46.11638 Don't miss Dinky, the singing dingo, although his I am Driving a Mazda 6 towing a Jayco Camper and my Fuel consumption is not the best when towing. My big 30th present from my husband. Cheers. Weather forecast can be displayed in F or C. Im so glad youve found it helpful, Kerryalina. to the east. Also as your blog appears to be a few years old has the price of Fuel gone down in between towns and are some places cheaper than others. Thanks for your detailed trip description, it has already proven handy in planning our trip. My boyfriend and I are from Singapore and will be using this guide for our trip as 1st time road-trippers! drinks and dinner daily. . Yes, the Stuart Highway is most definitely sealed all the way from Adelaide to Darwin and has been sealed for several decades. A little further on you arrive at Pimba and Spuds Roadhouse. Ive been looking at other pages on your site, and elsewhere on the internet, about the roads between Cairns and Uluru/Alice Springs. Hi Amanda, what a comprehensive fact sheet for us, thank you! just wondering if there was much rubbish strewn along the side of the road when youve driven this stretch? We particularly appreciated Coober Pedy and adored stopping for the night at the roadhouses. You have helped us decide our travel plans. We have a whole section on this amazing, friendly little outback town, so check out these pages: You could easily spend 2 or 3 days at Coober Pedy, visiting underground mines, houses and shops, taking a sunset trip to the Breakways and the Moon Plain (where Mad Max 2 & 3 were made). Fuel & food available: Marla and Kulgera. We were generally , Stuart Highway - Adelaide to Alice Springs How desolate is the Stuart Highway? The camping area is dirt but it is quiet and away from the highway. Thank you, Laura, Glad we have been able to help you out! Thanks for any answer you will give me. Also how much would it cost to travel by car from Adelaide to Alice Springs? Thankyou for such a nice post. I usually stay at the Shoreline Caravan Park in a cabin. Much obliged, Ps we are not scheduled back in Scotland until mid May, I am driving my little 1929 Austin Seven roadster from Adelaide to Alice Springs leaving 1st June. Just follow our guide on our we post about driving from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Cheers, Jac. Facilities: Coober Pedy has a wide range of thank you for taking the time to put this together. Keep an eye out for horses along this section and as you enter the small hills along the way. ????? the landscape. It is the main focus of the Centre, a name given to approximately 100,000 square miles (260,000 square km) of central Australia that includes large areas of desert and rocky ridges. . Thanks, Rama. But now I am much more careful ever since. Hi Amanda, GREAT information thank you! This is a major highway trip, so theres a lot of trucks, other travellers, etc on the road. Fuel & food available: Coober Pedy & Cadney Park, Mobile phone coverage: Telstra 3G reception is only available until approx. Eyre highway is another major Outback route that starts in Port Augusta, leading across the Nullarbor plain into Western Australia. Tips for travelling the Stuart Highway Would you think that you could keep to your driving itinerary in a motorhome or towing a van? I got my Kia Carnival serviced before we left, packed the boot with water, and planned our stops and accommodation. . Enjoy one of the best long distance drives in the world. Regards and thank you. Namaste ? Ive just checked my photo of the mileage sign at Coober Pedy and I assure you its 686km to Alice. The road distance is 1225.7 km. We do this trip around 4 times each year, and every time theres a little bit more Telstra reception. right on the junction of Stuart Hwy and the Oodnadatta Track. Qantas and Virgin Australia fly from Alice Springs to Adelaide twice daily. Thanks again. We were going to cut out Alice, Coober Pedy, and Uluru but thanks to you, we are definitely going to do it, even though we will be back tracking. The shop has basic grocery items again, they are expensive. My daughter and I are heading off tomorrow and I feel so lucky reading your insights today. Unless youve got a 4WD, stick to the Stuart Highway. [5] They can save your life! This is also one section of the trip where emus are quite commonly seen so be on the lookout for them. Be aware of animals on the road early mornings and around dusk. It I live in Alice n plan to travel Melbourne by road trip. stories to tell. We would like end our tour in Darwin but Ive some doubts about the weather. Thanks for this write up, its very comprehensive. Theres a few interesting sandstone rock formations near the roads along the way, and a few dry creeks. If you want to camp, check out the nearby Muloorina Station. I have no idea where Google is getting those extra km from! Bring warm clothes as well as some shorts/t-shirts. Since we are not Australians and we never had such an experience (were mountains people, used to completely different lands) I ask you if you think this is a way that can be safely run by unexperienced people (unexperienced not about driving, but about the environment). It is about 1500km of sealed road, easy to follow and you need to watch out for animals crossing the road, especially in the morning and late afternoon. If you feel like catching up when you get to Alice, let me know send me an email via the contact us form on the website. It seems like the only available car company who offer this is Hertz. Along the way, youre going to pass through increasingly mountainous terrain: youll pass the Palmer Ranges, drive through the James Range, past the Waterhouse Ranges and finally, youll see the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges where Alice Springs is nestled. The road distance is 2774.5 km. Wish us luck!! Thanks Tina, Dear Amanda Select your units. I plan to do this drive nonstop apart from petrol and loo stops..I will do the required planning and find out about the servos and motels along the way. Share this page: You now dont need to turn off this road until you reach Port Augusta. My biggest concern is how hot will it be and what effect will this have on tyres. Also, cant decide if we should take a campervan or just a 4WD and stay along the way. We are planning a trip next year (2019) from Mackay to Perth and return. The mobile phone coverage on the Stuart Highway/Lasseter Highway is all Telstra (patchy) and Optus in Cadney and Kulgera roadhouses. Yes very helpful. The drive from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs is one of the longest stretches of the drive up the Stuart Highway from Alice Springs to Darwin. I knew enough to get to Kingoonya, and thats how I found your page So glad I found it! We are planning approximately 10,000km over a period of 18 to 20 days. I recently got a job in Alice and thinking to move there with my wife, 3 yrs old son and 4 months old daughteer. So it had to go to my Kindle. There are no towns. Marla marks the northern end of the Oodnadatta Track, and is also the turn off to Mintabie a tiny opal-mining town east of the Stuart Highway. Thank you so much for all the detailed information! As suggested, will plan accordingly. $90 - $140. Distance: 235kmDriving time: 2 hours 50 minutes*If you haven't taken the Oodnadatta Track route from Coober Pedy, you have a short drive from Port Augusta today also. Dear Amanda, Id recommend trying the underground backpackers or budget accommodation at Radekas. I am driving from Sydney to Darwin at the end of this month via Coober Pedy and Stuart Highway. Alice Springs to Uluru: a 7-day road trip 9 days of waterhole hopping in the Northern Territory From Darwin to Adelaide: 14 days of nature, wine and Aboriginal cultures 5-day Darwin to Katherine road trip Start planning Accommodation Eat and Drink Diplomat Motel Alice Springs 20 Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs Hotels Swimming Pool 3 1/2 Stars As long as your tyres are not too worn, you shouldnt have any problems. (no flies, no heat at our place) . I cant wait to go now haha, I love Australia and Im sure our 5yr old will enjoy this trip immensely, Hi Amanda , Water. The colours of the hills are marvellous Train, bus or fly from Alice Springs to Adelaide? As you travel north, youre going to pass by some stunning salt lakes. We enjoyed Alice Springs so much on our first trip that we stayed and worked there until our kids finished schooling. Facilities: In a town of Alice Springs' size you won't miss anything! Allow at least a couple of days to do this journey and more if you want to stop and see other things along the way. There is a BBQ area, and a laundry for guests. Ive never been out there, so I cant say what the road is like. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. What is the time difference between Alice Springs and Birdsville? We regularly have below zero temps in July in the wee morning hours. Pimba itself is pretty ugly to look at a ramshackle collection of dilapidated houses with scarcely a tree in sight.