Road trip to Uluṟu – an Aussie rite of passage

If Sydney and Melbourne – where 40 per cent of all Australians now live – are the thumping pulse of this country, then its heart is the Red Centre and the monolithic Uluru.

A road trip from any of the country’s coast-hugging cities to Uluru should really be a rite of passage for all of us, but many will leave the drive to Central Australia until we feel like we have the time to do it properly.

It is, of course, a vast and varied journey that’s not to be rushed, no matter which way you go – more than 2000km from Perth, almost the same from Adelaide, and more than 2800km from Sydney.

It’s up to you and your schedule how many days you’d like to spend on the trail, and how long you’d like to stop in each town, but here are some suggested itineraries for your ultimate outback Australia road trip, ranging from a few days to more than enough.

Sydney to Uluru

You’re going to experience changes in scenery, ecology and emotion on this unforgettable road trip, so make sure both you and your car are charged up with plenty of energy for what’s to come.

Day One
Sydney to Dubbo

Leaving the big smoke behind, you’ll soar past the bashful Blue Mountains, seemingly emitting their own mist, and on down to Bathurst, a town famous for its Bathurst 1000 motor race (a quick lap around Mount Panorama – a public road outside of race weekends – is a must). You could detour through Orange, if you can fit in some wine tasting and gourmand experiences, or just push on to the edge of the outback at Dubbo.

Day Two
Dubbo to Broken Hill

If you can resist a visit to the famous local zoo, head for the tiny town of Narromine, and its tempting wetlands, then take a photo stop at the Big Bogan statue in Nyngan, before ticking off Cobar and the outback outpost of Wilcannia. That evening you’ll arrive in the town that Priscilla made famous, Broken Hill, where you can visit the Pro Hart Gallery and the Living Desert Sculptures.

Day Three
Broken Hill to Coober Pedy

Head onto the red dirt, starting at the stunning town of Silverton, with its excellent pub attached to the Mad Max Museum (this area is where the original movie was filmed).

Then cross into South Australia before alighting in Coober Pedy, known as the Opal Capital of the World and famous for its many mines and unusual, but pleasantly cool, underground homes.

Day Four
Coober Pedy to Uluru

The final day of your journey to Uluru takes you past the visually splendid Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and into the Northern Territory, your final destination. Pass through Marla and Kulgera before taking a left at the town of Ghan to head for Uluru. Finally, it’s time to check into your Ayers Rock Resort Uluru accommodation, which is the perfect place to stay.

Perth to Uluru

Day One
Perth to Kalgoorlie

Be sure to give yourself time to properly explore Perth’s stunning beaches, and the world-famous Rottnest Island with its gorgeous quokkas, before heading east. Your first day takes you on the Great Eastern Highway to Kalgoorlie – not just a country town but a proper outback city with an unfeasibly large open-cut gold mine you simply have to see.

Day Two
Kalgoorlie to Laverton

From the city locals call simply “Kal”, you’re off to Laverton, home of the educational Great Beyond Explorers Hall of Fame, and the Outback Gallery, an excellent place to see Indigenous art showcased in a suitable environment.

Day Three
Laverton to Milyirrtjarra (Warburton)

Take time to stop in the middle of the vast land and sky around you and breathe in the silence. Refuel at Tjukayirla Roadhouse before powering on to Milyirrtjarra (Warburton), where you can visit the stunning Tjulyuru Regional Arts Gallery, which showcases the largest community-owned collection of Indigenous art in the world, the Milyirrtjarra Art Collection.

Day Four
Milyirrtjarra (Warburton) to Warakurna

Made famous by Midnight Oil’s song of the same name, Warakurna is everything you expect from a remote outback town. Visit the nearby Giles Weather Station, where you can explore a museum showcasing the remains of the Blue Streak rocket, which was launched from Woomera in 1964.

Day Five
Warakurna to Uluru

Incredibly, you’re still in Western Australia (an enormous state!), but today you will finally reach your Uluru road trip’s final stage and cross into the Northern Territory. Head to Kaltukatjara (also known as Docker River), the Northern Territory’s border town, and over the boundary of the enormous and impressive Great Sandy Desert, with its meandering mulga scrub and rich red sand hills. From here, drive to Ayers Rock Resort Uluru after finally spying the domes of Kata Tjuta, and Uluru itself, in the distance.

Adelaide to Uluru

Starting your Uluru self-drive holiday in Adelaide, your only problem will be getting yourself across and out of South Australia itself, because there’s just so much to see along the way. Just the wine regions alone that surround and cocoon the city are where you could easily spend a week, or more, enjoying yourself.

Day One
Adelaide to Clare Valley

With less than two hours of driving ahead, it’s an easy start to your epic Uluru journey, so you’ll likely have time to first explore the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Central Markets. Then it’s off to the lovely Clare Valley for wine-tasting, stunning views and a plethora of accommodation and eating options.

Day Two
Clare Valley to Mount Remarkable National Park

Plenty of time for a sleep-in today, with another measured number of miles to cover. Your main goal today is to explore and enjoy the accurately named Mount Remarkable National Park. Just be sure to visit Alligator Gorge and take in the stunning scenery on offer.

Day Three
Mount Remarkable National Park to Glendambo

You’re into the outback now, after climbing past the stunning Flinders Ranges, and Glendambo is the perfect place to break your trip and take in some proper country-town hospitality.

Day Four
Glendambo to Coober Pedy

It’s another short-ish hop today and this time to the famous mining mecca of Coober Pedy, where you’ll want a full day to enjoy the mine sites, museums and special scenery of this shining Opal Town.

Day Five
Coober Pedy to Kulgera

It’s a day of red dust and wide expanses as you continue to push towards the Northern Territory. Kulgera will be the first town in welcoming you to this very special part of Australia. 

Day Six
Kulgera to Kings Canyon

Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to explore the rightly revered Kings Canyon, which will take your breath away with its towering, colourful sandstone walls, standing as much as 100 metres tall. It’s all part of the epic Watarrka National Park you’ll be visiting today.

Day Seven
Kings Canyon to Uluru

From one incredible place to another, today you head for your ultimate destination — Uluru — with a stay at Ayers Rock Resort, which offers a range of accommodation to suit every traveller, from the relaxed Ayers Rock Campground to the 5-star luxury of Sails in the Desert.

Your ultimate destination

As magically memorable as a road trip to Uluru can be, nothing can prepare you for the awe with which you will be struck once you get within cooee of its presence.

Watching the sun set over Uluru is a kaleidoscopic experience of colour and emotion as the sky slides through pink and purple to sparkling black. But arguably the ultimate viewing time is before dawn, when Uluru’s majesty climbs out of the darkness in a rich riot of reds. It's a deeply moving experience and one you’d happily swap sleep for.

Once you’ve done it alone, you’ll want to return and take part in Sunrise Journeys, an Indigenous inspired experience based on the artwork created by three local Anangu women, which is brought to life in the rising sun and through laser projection, music and the natural desert environment, with Uluru as the backdrop.

Another jaw-dropping piece of art on a grand scale that you simply must see is the famous Field of Light by the celebrated artist Bruce Munro. Originally meant to be a temporary installation, due to its immense popularity this stunning and unforgettable display has now been extended until at least 2027 and will mark its 10-year anniversary in 2026. The Field of Light spans in scale across more than seven football fields of red desert and uses a swaying fantasy garden of over 50,000 spindles of light to create an immersive and seemingly organic vista of colours.

As far as the meals you’ll enjoy on your journey are concerned, it’s likely none will match the million-star views and reviews for the famous Sounds of Silence dinner. Held almost every night of the year, this out-of-restaurant event has you seated over crisp white tablecloths and red-earth sand dunes, with Uluru as the centrepiece. But perhaps it’ll be difficult to eat with such jaw-dropping scenery!

Another unforgettable Uluru experience is Wintjiri Wiru, featuring breathtaking sights and sounds that bring to life the ancestral Mala story using incredibly choreographed drone technology, lasers and projections illuminating the night sky. You also shouldn’t miss Tali Wiru, which is a world-class gastronomic feast of fine dining, held at sunset, with both Kata Tjuta and Uluru in the distance.