Uluru to Brisbane - quickest way home?

Uluru to Brisbane - quickest way home?

by Jackie
(Beachmere, Brisbane)

Rainy day in Queensland

Hi Rita, love this website!
We are doing a big trip from Brisbane to the Top End, the Kimberleys, Red Centre and back home to Brisbane. By the time we get to Uluru we will be pretty buggered I reckon, and just want to get home.

Do you or your readers have any advice on the fastest way from Uluru to Brisbane? We could travel the highways either south through SA, or north and through Mt Isa which will take a number of days. We're wondering if anyone has cut straight through the desert and if so, how long did it take and what are the roads like. There are so many tracks I'm not sure which ones are rough and which ones are relatively easy!

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Jackie

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Uluru to Brisbane - quickest way home?

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Jan 18, 2011

When do you go?
by: Rita

Hi Jackie,

I am glad you like the Outback Guide :).

It's not easy to answer your question. When you want to go straight through from Uluru to Brisbane using one of the tracks you are depending on the weather. Unsealed roads and tracks are closed when they are wet, even some sealed highways have been partially closed recently. I guess you know that.

Do you have a 4WD?
The route along the Sandover & Donahue Hwys then to Bedourie, Windorah and Charleville would be a good connection in dry weather. A 4WD would be good as the Donahue can be rather rough.

More to the south you could go from Marla (Stuart Hwy) along the Oodnadatta Track to Marree, and then either along the Birdville Track to Windorah, or along the Strzelecki to Innamincka, along the Adventure Way to Thargomindah and Cunnamulla to Brisbane.

These are great routes in dry weather, and doable with a normal car (but not with a hired car) when road conditions are good.

Here is more info I gave travellers for the Birdsville to Uluru and Boulia to Alice Springs sections.

So the most important advice, whichever route on the tracks you choose, check the weather reports for the next couple of days before you go. Otherwise the quickest way could turn out very long if you get stuck in one of these great Outback towns when it rains.

Have a safe trip.

Rita

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