|
|
|
|
Whether you are starting from Uluru
or Alice Springs,
both connected via the sealed Stuart Highway and the Lasseter Highway,
the Red Centre Way allows a unique drive to experience outback Central Australia.
If you have landed in Alice Springs and wish to start from Uluru
or vice versa,
the sealed drive of the Stuart / Lasseter Highways provides a number of stop-offs along route to
enjoy, especially those who are self-drive. Of course there are a number of tour
operators who can also take you along this route, most providing great commentary on-route.
Once you are at your destination, you can then plan your travel via the ‘Red Centre Way’.
Much of the route is sealed road, except for the Mereenie Loop Road that connects to Namatjira Drive
and the side road taking in Tnorala and Redbank Gorge, which are
still unsealed and requires off road 4WD vehicles. |
|
Mount Sonder, one of the iconic images along the Red Centre Way. |
 |
|
|
|
The Red Centre Way has two options from Alice Springs to Glen Helen. |
Distances from
Alice Springs to Glen Helen to
Kings Canyon
|
Km
|
Alice
Springs to Glen Helen
Option 1 — As you head west from
Alice Springs
along the
West MacDonnell Range, you can explore the gaps, chasm, gorges and
waterholes along the route. This of course will add extra kilometres, but make
for a wonderful drive as you take in
Simpsons Gap,
Standley Chasm,
Ellery Creek Big Hole,
Serpentine Gorge,
Ochre
Pits, Ormiston Gorge
and then to Glen Helen. |
130 + |
|
Alice
Springs to Glen Helen
Option 2 — Take the Larapinta Drive all the way to the historic
Hermannsburg,
once home to the famous Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. Of course you can
also stop in via Simpsons Gap
and Standley Chasm on
route. As you leave Hermannsburg, this part of the route will require a 4WD and
Mereenie Loop permit, taking you on pass the turnoff to Watarrka National Park,
Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve, Tylers Pass Lookout, Redbank Gorge,
Mount Sonder
Lookout and then to Glen
Helen. Stop off at any or all the attractions of course will add extra
kilometres, but make for a wonderful drive. |
270 + |
|
|
Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate
maps.
The
Australian Automotive Motoring Associations also offer select access to travel trip planners. |
|
Waterhole at Glen Helen Gorge. |
|
|
|
|
Distances from
Glen Helen to
Kings Canyon and
Uluru
|
Km
|
Glen Helen to Kings Canyon
— From Glen Helen you continue on along the unsealed road. On-route can stop off
at Redbank Gorge and Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve. A place of
great cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people, it is
also of great scientific interest. You then continue on along the Mereenie Loop
Road (permit is required) to
Kings Canyon
and
Watarrka National
Park. |
260 + |
|
Kings
Canyon to Uluru
— After enjoying the highlights of the canyon through a number of walks that can
take in the Lost City and the Garden of Eden, you continue on along the Luritja
Road, pass Kings Creek, and taking the Lasseter Hwy to
Uluru-Kata
Tjuta National Park. |
310 |
|
Kings Canyon /
Watarrka National Park
to Glen Helen
— This is an unsealed road and you can take in Redbank Gorge and Tnorala (Gosse Bluff)
(permit is required). |
260 + |
|
— Kings Canyon is accessible from Alice Springs, via the sealed road Stuart
Highway, Lasseter Hwy and Luritja Road. |
470 |
|
— Kings Canyon via Ernest Giles Road - 4WD vehicle only. |
318 |
|
— Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop - 4WD vehicle only (permit is required). |
328 |
|
|
Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate
maps.
The
Australian Automotive Motoring Associations also offer select access to travel trip planners. |
|
Early morning at Kings Canyon after recent rain. |
|
|
|
|
Distances from
Alice Springs to
Uluru
|
Km
|
Rainbow
Valley Conservation Reserve
— about 75 km south of Alice Springs along the Stuart Highway, take the left
turn onto unsealed road. 4WD recommended. |
97 |
|
Stuarts Well
Roadhouse / Jim’s Place
— a great place to stop and spend an hour or so, or maybe stay overnight. There
is a general store for basic supplies and fuel. You can also get take-away food,
fresh home cooked meals and a selection of souvenirs and Aboriginal art. It is
also home to Dinky the Singing Dingo. |
90 |
|
Henbury Meteorite Conservation Reserve / Craters
— via Stuart Highway, then turn right into the Ernest Giles Road (this part is
accessible by 2WD vehicle into the Reserve, although the road conditions can
change to impassable. The rest of the road through to Watarrka National Park is
4WD only). |
140 |
|
Erldunda
— south of Alice Springs via Stuart Highway. Fuel, provision, accommodation. It
is also the intersection where travellers heading to Uluru, turn right onto the
Lasseter Highway. |
200 |
|
Mount
Ebenezer Roadhouse
— turning off from the Stuart Highway onto the Lasseter Highway, and some 56 km
later is the Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse, providing fuel, food, accommodation and an
art gallery. |
256 |
|
Mount
Connor (the lookout on Lasseter Hwy)
— located on private property, accessible via tours from Curtin Springs, Mt
Connor is approximately 115 km east of Uluru. |
340 |
|
Curtin Springs
— south-west of Alice Springs via the sealed road Stuart Highway and Lasseter
Highway. |
355 |
|
Yulara
Tourist Village
— south-west of Alice Springs, 194 km along the Stuart Highway, then right on
to the Lasseter Highway. |
445 |
|
Uluru (Ayers Rock) / Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
— located within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and approximately
20 km beyond the Yulara Tourist Village, via the sealed road Stuart Highway and
Lasseter Highway.
|
465 |
|
From
Uluru to
Kings Canyon |
310 |
|
Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
— Kata Tjuta is 32 km west of Uluru, via the sealed road Stuart
Highway, Lasseter Highway and Kata Tjuta Road. |
492 |
|
|
Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate
maps.
The
Australian Automotive Motoring Associations also offer select access to travel trip planners. |
|
By helicopter is a great way to view the landscape, as we look down on the Finke
River
and the West MacDonnell Range, south of Glen Helen. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Road Report
Website
• A NT government maintained
resource, the Road Report Website is an essential service for all road users
within the Northern Territory of Australia. This website provides up to date
road condition information on all Government controlled roads including
graphical representations of restrictions on regional maps.
There is a WAP version of the road report exists which can be accessed by going
to the following URL on your WAP enabled device:
www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/wml.jsp.
|
Fuel Outlets on the Northern Territory’s National Routes
• Northern Territory Transport Group
• Government site providing
listing of fuel outlet locations on the Northern Territory’s National Routes.
|
Red Centre Way — One of NT’s iconic drives |
|
