Adelaide to Darwin
Explore the rugged Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound . Walk around Uluru with an Aboriginal guide . Explore Nitmiluk National Park , home to Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge and see ancient Aboriginal rock art in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park .
© Kakadu National Park / Tourism NT
16 days / 15 nights Suggested Self-Drive
Day 1-2 : Adelaide – Wilpena Pound ( 455km ) Travel north via the Clare Valley Wine Region and Flinders Ranges National Park .
Day 3-4 : Wilpena Pound – Parachilna – William Creek ( 536km ) Make your way to Parachilna which has a population of seven . Travel north on the Oodnadatta Track to William Creek .
Day 5-6 : William Creek – Coober Pedy ( 167km ) Head to Coober Pedy , the heart of South Australia ’ s opal-mining industry . Discovered in 1911 , today there are hundreds of opal mines operating .
Day 7-8 : Coober Pedy – Uluru ( 750km ) Cross over the border into Northern Territory and continue to Uluru . Rising to 348m from the desert . Uluru is one of the iconic symbols of Australia .
Day 9-11 : Uluru – Alice Springs – Tennant Creek ( 970km ) Learn about the Aboriginal people whose traditional lands include the area in and around Alice Springs and the MacDonnell Ranges . Drive to Tennant Creek , where the Overland Telegraph Station was built in 1872 .
Day 12-16 : Tennant Creek – Katherine – Kakadu National Park – Darwin ( 989km ) Continue north to Katherine . Head to Kakadu National Park and visit Yellow Waters . There ’ s a lot to see on the road between Kakadu National Park and Darwin , from the clouds of waterfowl on wetlands to jumping crocodiles .
Rental Car : Hertz ( Group C ) from $ 69 per day
Our favourite places to stay :
• Desert Cave Hotel , Coober Pedy
• Quest Alice Springs
• Beagle Motor Inn , Katherine
INDIAN OCEAN
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Darwin
SOUTHERN OCEAN
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Kakadu National Park Katherine
Tennant Creek
Macdonnell Ranges Alice Springs
Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Coober Pedy William Creek
Parachilna Wilpena Pound
Highlights worth seeing along the way
Adelaide
QUEENSLAND
NEW SOUTH WALES
Parachilna Gorge – Walk through the Parachilna Gorge to the Blinman Pools waterfall . Best time to go April-October .
Breakaways Conservation Park – A must see lookout experience in Coober Peddy . Enjoy breathtaking views at sunset and sunrise .
Painted Desert – Located 150km north of Coober Pedy , discover this colourful landscape which has been 80 million years in the making .
Kata Tjuta ( the Olgas ) – These rock domes are a cluster of formations that look like heads . Kata Tjuta means “ many heads ” in the aboriginal language .
Uluru ( Ayers Rock ) from the Sky – See Uluru from above , on a helicopter tour where you can get the best aerial view of the Australian Outback .
Battery Hill Mining Centre – Located in Tenant Creek , you will find a large collection of mining machinery and two museum buildings . Guided tours will take you through the underground mine .
Walk the base of Uluru at sunrise , one of the best experiences you ’ ll have in Australia . The sun causes an array of colours to play on the rock , it ’ s a truly magical experience
Coober Pedy , South Australia Katherine Gorge , Norther Territory Flinders Range © SATC Photography / Adam Bruzzone
The price guide shown is per car hire based on 16 day hire rate . Price does not include one-way fees . Specials and surcharges may apply depending on travel date .
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