Painted Desert - Arckaringa Hills

Painted Desert - Arckaringa Hills

by Midge
(Illawarra NSW)

Arckaringa Hills or Painted Desert

I was wondering what the road is like from Stuart Wells to the Painted Desert and actually how far and could it be easily done in a day. We are planning to travel there May 2011, any info on this area would be appreciated.

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Painted Desert - Arckaringa Hills

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Nov 08, 2010

Stuarts Well to Painted Desert
by: Rita

Hi Midge,

I would think that 2 days would be better for this tour. When you are travelling to the south anyway, you could bypass the Stuart Highway
between Cadney Homestead and Coober Pedy for the detour to the painted desert.

The Stuart Hwy is sealed, it is 446km from Stuarts Well to Cadney HS.
The Painted Desert/Arckaringa Hills area is east of the hwy, you'll pass the beautiful hills when you travel the 125km (unsealed) from Cadney to the junction of the Oodnadatta to Coober Pedy road.
Then you'd drive south to Coober Pedy and cross the moon plain, another 146km unsealed road.

This is a 270km drive on a gravel road that is usually in good condition if it is dry. Check the road conditions in South Australia and the weather forecast before you go.

Rita

Jan 31, 2012

Done in 2WD end Dec 2011
by: Traveler

Just wanted to comment that I did the drive from Cadney Park (stayed there overnight) to Coober Pedy via the Painted Desert and Moon Plain in one day.

The road was in good condition and no real troubles with a 2WD. There were several places where I had to go around larger rocks, but it never felt impassable. The road does get rather grated about 90km in right around the Painted Desert, for around 5km in that stretch we could only go maybe 5-10km/hr as it really shook the car. I thought about turning around, but very glad that I didn't. Once you get to the Oodnadatta Road to Coober Pedy it is really easy and you can go 60-80km/hr fairly consistently. The interior roof of the car as well as every crack in the doors etc. were filled with dust, but managed to clean it well enough to not get fined by rental company.

I don't think I'd do it again, but once was certainly an experience! A highlight of a road trip from Alice Springs to Adelaide.

Feb 01, 2012

Latest Painted Desert Report
by: Rita

Hi Traveller,

Thank you for your report.

Sure, many, almost all tracks described in this guide can be done with a 2WD, careful driving and in dry conditions provided.
However, I don't engourage people to do that with a rented car. :).

Glad you didn't get in trouble with the rental company.

Rita

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