Australia is one of the best countries in the world for road trips. Not only the roots are great, but the landscapes are magnificent. Taking a road trip from Adelaide to Uluru is one of the best things you can do in Australia. Plan a five-day road trip to discover the extraordinary landscape of the South Australian outback along with the famous Explorers Way route.
Start your road trip from Adelaide to Australia’s Red Centre that combines gourmet food and wine with epic outback scenery and Australian history. Driving yourself from Adelaide to Uluru is the best way to enjoy the Australian Outback, along with passing through vineyards, deserts, and mountains. You can also get to choose your stops and set your own pace.It’s also fun and interesting with unique places to explore, and the roads on the Stuart Highway are easy to drive on. In this road trip Itinerary, check out where to stop between Adelaide and Uluru.
Stops Between Adelaide to Uluru Drive Road Trip
Adelaide
Start your road trip journey from Adelaide- the capital of South Australia. Often in the shadow of its big sisters, Melbourne and Sydney, it is still a place worth checking out. The city center of Adelaide is quite small and easily navigable. Spend some time relaxing on the beaches. Rundle Street and Rundle Mall is a heaven for shopping lovers. It is also a great place to enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife. You can head to Hindley St, where you can find plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs with good live music.
Mount Remarkable
Mount Remarkable is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets as this beautiful national park offers a lot of hiking opportunities and is the perfect place to make a stop between Adelaide to Uluru road trip. You can even visit Flinders Ranges and stop by the visitor center to get more information from the park rangers. It is a great place to go biking and also one of the best camping spots in Australia. Some of the amazing hikes in Mount Remarkable National Park include:
- Gorge Circuit Hike
- Hidden Gorge Hike
- Mount Remarkable Summit Loop
- Baroota Hike
Port Augusta
Port Augusta is a town located on the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, and it is just about a 3 hours drive from Adelaide. One here, make sure to check out the Water Tower Lookout to get to enjoy beautiful 360-degree views. There is plenty to do in Port Augusta including, the Australian Arid Lands Botanical Gardens and the Port Augusta Heritage Walk that showcases just how diverse and fascinating the ecosystems are. There are also many look-out points plus a gallery and cultural center to explore.
Ikara – Flinders Ranges National Park
This place on the Adelaide to Uluru road trip is perfect for nature lovers. This national park is worth spending some time. Also, the mountain ranges here are interesting for various reasons. One of them is that you will find a few scenic drives, which is perfect to discover beautiful landscapes from the comfort of your rental car. This place is also a paradise for hikers. You can head to Wilpena Pound, where you can find some great hikes such as Mt Ohlsson Bagge or Saint Mary Peak. Other great hikes around here include Rawnsley Bluff hike and Mount Brown Summit.
If you are into history, you are in for a treat as there are also some historical walks in Ikara Flinders Ranges. Some of them include Mound Springs Walk, Quorn Heritage Walk, and Settlement Walk.
Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy, located in South Australia, is unique and is known as the opal capital of the world. There are mines everywhere, which is quite interesting. The other thing it is famous for is its underground houses, which feels like if you were on another planet. The landscapes here are a bit moon-like. You can head to the spectacular Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, home to 15,000 hectares of the majestic landscape, abundant with native flora species and wildlife.
Some very famous movies like Star Wars and Mad Max were shot here. Some of the major attractions to check out during your time in Coober Pedy are:
- Kangaroo Sanctuary
- Umoona Opal Mine & Museum
- Crocodile Harry’s
- Old Timers Mine & Museum
Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru — Kata Tjuta National Park is home to the real heart of this country, with many natural wonders and excellent opportunities for learning about Aboriginal culture. About eight-hours from Coober Pedy, It is Australia’s most iconic landmark and a perfect spot to end the road trip.
The park is made of two natural landmarks: Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Uluru, with the massive big red rock in the center of Australia, is particularly symbolic and also the most famous landmark in the country. With a height of 348m that can be seen from far away, it is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage and is sacred for the local aboriginal community, the Pitjantjatjara Anangu.
But the best part of the park is the other landmark: Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, and offers way better views and walks. You can go to the Valley of the Winds walk in Kata Tjuta, which is one of the best hikes in Australia, and not only the views are incredible, but it offers such a great experience to have in the red center.