Stuart Highway - Adelaide to Alice Springs

A journey to the red centre of Australia

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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 60s.


The Stuart Highway begins in Port Augusta, 305 km north of Adelaide. The total distance to Darwin is 2711 km. This is a very long drive through the different climate zones of Australia.

The tourist route known as the Explorer's Way describes the entire route from Adelaide to Darwin (3016 km), from the southern farmlands through the central deserts to the tropical north and its magnificent wetlands. It is a journey of contrasts and natural beauty. Travel one of the best long distance drives in the world.

The Explorer's Way includes Port Wakefield Road from Adelaide to Port Augusta.

Let me take you on an epic journey to Australia's red centre. Why not further north? Well, unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to do the entire trip to Darwin yet. You know already, that I only tell you about my own experience in this Outback Guide. :)

Port Wakefield Road - Adelaide to Port Augusta - 305 km

Port Wakefield Road is the quickest route from Adelaide to Port Augusta as it bypasses all the small country towns.

If you have a little extra time at hand, you can also use the Main North Road which is more scenic, and invites you to explore picturesque Clare and wineries in the Clare Valley, Gladstone, Melrose and Wilmington. You can even make a detour to the Flinders Ranges before you go on the long track northwards.
Although this is not the real Australian Outback, South Australia's Mid North region is a beautiful rural area with charming country towns. It's an area worth to stay a couple of days.

Stuart Highway - Port Augusta to Coober Pedy - 536 km

Port Augusta - population ~15,250

Port Augusta is on the edge of the South Australian Outback. It's here where the Stuart Highway begins its long journey up to Alice Springs and further north to Darwin, right across the red centre.
Port Augusta offers all major services, shopping facilities and accommodation. Actually, it has city status.

Eyre highway is another major Outback highway that starts in Port Augusta, leading across the Nullarbor plain into Western Australia.
But we're going north now.

As you leave Port Augusta, enjoy the panorama of the Flinders Ranges to the east. It won't take long until the country becomes fairly flat with shimmering salt lakes on the horizon, or sometimes, close to the road.

Pimba - population ~35

Pimba is a small settlement on the junction to Woomera, Roxby Downs and Andamooka.
Established as a worker's camp for the Transcontinental Railway in the early 20th century, both the Indian Pacific and the Ghan stop on request in Pimba.

Facilities: The late Spud Murphy started Spud's Roadhouse in 1969. The roadhouse offers Outback atmosphere, fuel, take-away food, drinks and dinner daily. Accommodation (hotel, caravan park and backpackers) is available at Woomera which is only 7 km away.

Tours in the area: Leave the Stuart Highway and explore Andamooka, an unique opal mining town, about 110 km east of the highway. On the way you'll pass by Woomera and Roxby Downs. From Roxby Downs, the Borefiled road connects with the famous Oodnadatta Track. You can drive a section on the track, and return to the highway at Coober Pedy or Marla.
These detours can be done with a sturdy car in dry conditions.

Back on the Stuart highway, don't miss the Lake Hart lookout and rest area about 50 km past Pimba. Lake Hart is one of these glistening salt lakes South Australia is famous for.

Glendambo - population ~30

Glendambo came into existence when the main highway was realigned in 1982, and left Kingoonya 44 km off the main road.

Facilities: Hotel/motel with bar & bottleshop, 60 airconditioned motel units. Camping facilities, powered sites, bunkhouse. There is a BBQ area, and a laundry for guests.
The licensed Woolshed restaurant offers tasty food, it is a place I can recommend.
Fuel station and general store.

Tours in the area: A fairly good unsealed road leads to Kingoonya, 44 km west of Glendambo. Once a thriving railway town, Kingoonya became nearly a ghost town when the highway was relocated.
Check out the Kingoonya and Areas Progress Association website for more info about this unique place.
From Kingoonya a fairly good track goes south to the Gawler Ranges and Mount Ive Station. It is a lonely but interesting drive, and a great shortcut if you come from the north and want to go to the Gawler Ranges or the Eyre Highway.

Back to the Stuart Hwy, from Glendambo to Coober Pedy you'll face the longest stretch without any facilities, 265 km. Don't forget to refuel bevor your leave.
Although the road is a bit boring, we enjoyed seeing lots of wedge-tailed eagles along the route.

Coober Pedy - population ~3,500

It is worth to stop for a night and explore Australia's opal capital.

Facilities: Coober Pedy has a wide range of accommodation, both underground and above ground. Shopping facilities include a supermarket, opal shops, cafes and restaurants.
Check out my Coober Pedy page for more info.

Tours in the area: The Breakaways north of Coober Pedy are a beautiful area of arid hills and mesas. Follow the highway 20 km north of town. A lookout is 10 km off the highway, accessible by conventional cars.

If you have enough of the bitumen, you can escape to the Oodnadatta Track from Coober Pedy. There's the William Creek Road, and another dirt road to Oodnadatta, crossing the desolate moon plain.

Stuart Highway - Coober Pedy to Northern Territory border - 397 km

The Stuart Highway continues through flat landscapes with little vegetation. Every now and then you'll see low ranges on the horizon.

Cadney Homestead - population ~16

Cadney Homestead is a small roadhouse with typical Outback flair. Walk around the complex, see the Central Australia Railway line, breathe pur Outback air.

Facilities: 6 modern motel rooms, budget cabins, caravan and camping facilities. The roadhouse has all types of fuel and offers puncture repairs. A small general store has basic groceries. Enjoy a hearty meal in the fully licensed restaurant, or drop in for a drink at the happy hour.

Tours in the area: A day-tour to the painted desert, also known as Arckaringa Hills, is very worthwile. Stay until late afternoon for the best views. The colours of the hills are marvellous then.
You can also reach the Oodnadatta Track from Cadney via the painted desert.

Marla - population ~243

Marla is a small town with a huge roadhouse, Marla Travellers Rest, right on the junction of Stuart Hwy and the Oodnadatta Track. It is usually a busy place, especially with trucks. A good place if you want to take a photo of the famous Australian road-trains.

Facilities: Motel and camping facilities, drive-thru caravan sites. The complex has a restaurant, take-away food, post office and banking facilities, fuel and repair services, and a supermarket.

Tours in the area: Mintabie is a small opal town about 40 km west of Marla. The township is on Aboriginal lands, so you need a permit from the police station at Marla if you want to visit.

As you travel further north, you'll notice a change of colour in the landscape. Yes, you're approaching the beautiful red centre!

Stuart Highway - SA / NT border to Alice Springs - 284 km

There is not much to see on the border, apart from a small "Welcome to the Northern Territory" sign. If you're driving southwards from Alice Springs or Yulara, the South Australian welcome sign is by far bigger.

However, I think crossing the border is a reason to get off your car and stretch your legs. :) There are tables, water, toilets and an info bay.

Kulgera - population ~20

Kulgera is a small town only 19 km north of the border. The roadhouse is the most visible feature in town. The pub at the roadhouse is the centre most pub in Australia. That's a reason to stop for a drink, isn't it?

Facilities: Motel accommodation, camping, restaurant, fuel, small shop, public toilets, rest area.

Tours in the area: If you have a 4WD you can drive to Finke/Apatula, 148 km east of Kulgera, and then continue on the track along the old Ghan railway line north to Alice Springs.

On this route you'll also have access to Chambers Pillar, one of the well-known landmarks in the Northern Territory. John McDouall Stuart was the first European who saw this landmark in 1860.

Erldunda - population ~50

Erldunda is a great spot to stay for a night. Situated on the corner of Stuart Highway & Lasseter Highway, it is a great place to relax from your long trip. I camped twice at Erldunda, and I have font memories of a great place surrounded by beautiful desert landscapes.

Facilities: 47 motel rooms, backpacker accommodation, swimming pool, dining room, shop and fuel.

The camping and caravan area has trees for shade, and a BBQ area. I enjoyed the bird life during the day, but not the quarrel a few Galahs had in the tree next tou our camp at 1 am.

Get best rates at the Erldunda's Desert Oaks resort

Tours in the area: Erldunda is the place where you have to make decisions! Continuing on the Stuart Highway, you'll reach Alice Springs in two hours / 200 km.

The alternative? Turn west and follow the Lasseter Highway to Yulara, the village on the edge of Uluru / Kata Tjuta National Park.
More on this route later. First we go to the Alice!

Stuarts Well

Although you have nearly reached Alice Springs now, it is worth to stop at the Stuarts Well Roadhouse to enjoy some real Australian Outback atmosphere.
Also known as "Jim's place" to the locals, Jim Coterill has many stories to tell. Don't miss Dinky, the singing dingo, although his performance might sound a bit strange for your ears. :)

Facilities: Wide range of budget accommodation, from cabins to bunkhouse and caravan/camping facilities.

Tours in the area: 14 km north of Stuarts Well leads a dirt road to the Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve. The 24 km track can be managed with a convetional car in dry weather.
The main attraction are stunning red sandstone cliffs with rainbow-like bands of coloured rocks. The rocks are especially attractive in the early morning and late afternoon light. But even at noon it is worth to do the detour.

Alice Springs - population ~27,500

Finally, after a long drive, you'll arrive in the largest town of central Australia.

Alice Springs, the Alice, or just Alice, these are the common names for the city in the heart of central Australia.

Alice Springs offers heaps of attractions to its visitors, too many to list them all in this place. So here are just a few of my favourites:

Alice Springs Desert Park - presents the plants, animals and landscapes of Australia's deserts. A must see place.

The Old Telegraph Station - where white settlement began

Anzac Hill - lookout over Alice & the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges

Adelaide House - designed by Rev. John Flynn, it was opened as a hospital in 1926

Royal Flying Doctor Service - visit the institution which changed the life for Outback folks to the better

Alice Springs general cemetery

is well worth a visit. It is valued as the last resting place of many individuals who played an important role in the Northern Territory. Albert Namatjira, one of Australia's great artists and Aboriginal painter, is one of them.

The historical places fascinate me a lot, apart from the beautiful natural features surrounding the Alice.
If you want to join a guided tour, check out my Alice Springs Tour page.

Facilities: In a town of Alice Springs' size you won't miss anything!

Stroll along Todd Mall, there are plenty of shops and galleries with Aboriginal art.

Alice Springs has a wide range of accommodation.
Check out this list of Alice Springs hotels and search for the best offers.

The Heavitree Gap Outback Resort is a great place that offers motel rooms, cabins and a caravan park. It is at the entrance of Alice Springs, nestled at the base of the MacDonnell Ranges.

Lasseter Highway - Erldunda to Yulara - 244 km

Just in case you want to visit Uluru / Kata Tjuta National Park before you go to Alice Springs, I'll give you a quick introduction for this tour as well.

By now you'll certainly have noticed the change in scenery and vegetation. There are low sand ridges, spinifex bushes, desert oaks, and the earth is truly red.
We were really lucky to come here after good rain. Bushes and trees had fresh green sprouts, and there were many wildflowers. An absolutely beautiful sight.

Mt. Ebenezer Roadhouse - 56 km from Erldunda

The road house is run by the Imanpa Community. Apart from offering camping facilities and the usual roadhouse services, Mt. Ebenezer has an art gallery. They sell artworks produced by artists of the community.
Don't miss a visit if you are interested in genuine Aboriginal art.

Curtin Springs - 160 km from Erldunda

Curtin Springs is a working cattle station that offers budget accommodation, a caravan and camping ground, meals and cold drinks.

It is only 84 km from Yulara, so if you think Yulara is too expensive for you, Curtain Springs is a nice alternative to stay and explore Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Get best rates at Curtin Springs

Curtain Springs is close to Mount Conner, an ancient table top mountain that sits on a flat plain, and is sometimes mistaken with Uluru. You can book a tour to Mount Conner at Curtain Springs.

Yulara - 244 km from Erldunda

Yulara is the tourist resort outside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. From Yulara it is about 18 km to Uluru, and about 50 km to Kata Tjuta.

Yulara village has hotels, mostly in the upper price class, and a large caravan and camp ground. A shopping centre, roadhouse, and tourist information & booking centre offer everything tourists need in this isolated spot.

Check out Get best rates for Yulara accommodation. Yes, it is expensive, but you are in the middle of nowhere here. Although, a little less luxury would be okay as well.

The campground has cabins and permanent tents, plenty of powered and unpowered caravan and camp sites, a large camp kitchen, laundry, and shower blocks.

The Outback Pioneer Lodge is another place for budget accommodation.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a beautiful place. You can easily stay a few days, explore the park on your own, or join one of the excellent Uluru Tours .

If you flew to Yulara and want to go back to Alice Springs, this tour might be the right tour for you.

3-Day Tour from Uluru (Ayers Rock) to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon - $ 591.30 Discover Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs on this 3-day tour starting at Ayers Rock and ending in Alice Springs. Explore Australia's great Central Desert - watch the sunrise over Uluru (Ayers Rock), visit the magnificent Olga Gorge and Kings Canyon, with their beautiful waterholes and dazzling views. Stop off at a huge cattle station and the remote, early telegraph town of Alice Springs.

Have you travelled along the Stuart Highway? Visited Uluru?
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You already did the long journey along the Stuart Highway?

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