Driving Alice Springs-Uluru/Ayers: A Complete Itinerary Driving Alice Springs to Uluru/Ayers Rock: A Complete Itinerary Travel Outback Australia.com Copyright ©2017 Gary Weir & Amanda Markham No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact us here: http://traveloutbackaustralia.com/contact.html 2 Driving Alice Springs-Uluru/Ayers: A Complete Itinerary Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 7 Quick Facts ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Costs (2017) ................................................................................................................................. 9 National Park Entry ................................................................................................................ 10 Permits ................................................................................................................................... 10 Need to Know ............................................................................................................................... 11 TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR ULURU ADVENTURE ...................................................................... 13 Tip 1: You DO NOT NEED A 4WD ............................................................................................... 14 Tip 2: Distance, Distance, Distance ........................................................................................... 15 Then there are the distances at the Rock itself. .................................................................... 15 And don’t forget Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)… .............................................................................. 15 Tip 3: So Much to See and Do ................................................................................................... 17 Tip 4: Our BEST Outback Local’s Tip: Plan Two Nights/Three Days at Uluru ............................ 18 SUGGESTED ITINERARIES .............................................................................................................. 20 Itinerary 1: Budget Adventure .................................................................................................. 22 Day 1: Alice Springs Highlights ............................................................................................... 22 Day 2: Travel to Uluru ............................................................................................................ 24 Day 3: Around Uluru .............................................................................................................. 25 Day 4: Kata Tjuta – The Olgas ................................................................................................ 25 Day 5: Heading Off ................................................................................................................. 26 Itinerary 2: Nature & Culture (Our TOP Recommendation) ...................................................... 27 Day 1: Alice Springs ................................................................................................................ 27 Day 2: Travel to Uluru ............................................................................................................ 28 Day 3: Around Uluru .............................................................................................................. 29 Day 4: Kata Tjuta and More ................................................................................................... 29 Day 5: Heading Off ................................................................................................................. 30 Itinerary 3: Adventure Calls ....................................................................................................... 31 Day 1: Alice Springs Highlights ............................................................................................... 31 3 Driving Alice Springs-Uluru/Ayers: A Complete Itinerary Day 2: Travel to Rainbow Valley OR Redbank Waterhole ..................................................... 31 Day 3: Travel to Uluru ............................................................................................................ 33 Day 4: Exploring Uluru ........................................................................................................... 34 Day 5: Kata Tjuta & More ...................................................................................................... 34 Day 6: Heading Off ................................................................................................................. 35 Itinerary 4: The Grand Tour - Once in A Lifetime Trip ............................................................... 37 Day 1: Alice Springs ................................................................................................................ 37 Day 2: Alice Springs – Erldunda (4WD options also) ............................................................. 37 Day 3: Travel to Uluru ............................................................................................................ 39 Day 4: Exploring Uluru ........................................................................................................... 39 Day 5: Kata Tjuta or Cave Hill Aboriginal Cultural Tour ......................................................... 40 Day 6: Uluru to Kings Canyon - Watarrka .............................................................................. 42 Day 7: Kings Canyon – Alice Springs ...................................................................................... 42 Day 7 (Extended Option): ...................................................................................................... 42 Days 8-10: Red Centre Way/West MacDonnell Ranges ........................................................ 43 Alice Springs – Uluru/Ayers Rock Driving Itinerary ....................................................................... 44 Start Here: Alice Springs ............................................................................................................ 44 60km: Mt Polhill Roadside Rest Area ........................................................................................ 47 67km: Owen Springs Reserve Turn Off ..................................................................................... 48 77km: Rainbow Valley Turn Off ................................................................................................ 50 92km: Stuarts Well Roadhouse ................................................................................................. 51 98km: Cannonball Run Memorial ............................................................................................. 53 127km: The Finke River Crossing .............................................................................................. 54 132km: Ernest Giles Road/Kings Canyon turnoff ...................................................................... 55 169km: Free Desert Oaks Rest Area/Campsite ......................................................................... 57 201km: Erldunda Roadhouse & Ayers Rock/Uluru turnoff. ...................................................... 59 257km Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse ............................................................................................... 61 301km: Kernot Range Roadside Rest Area................................................................................ 62 307km: Kings Canyon/Luritja Road Sealed Road Turnoff ......................................................... 63 332km Curtin Springs East Rest Area ........................................................................................ 64 338km Mt Conner Lookout & Roadside Rest Stop ................................................................... 65 4 Driving Alice Springs-Uluru/Ayers: A Complete Itinerary 360km: Curtin Springs Roadhouse ............................................................................................ 67 416km Sandy Way Free Roadside Rest Stop ............................................................................. 69 440km: Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park Information ................................................................ 71 447km – Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) ......................................................................................... 72 Starting at Uluru ............................................................................................................................ 74 0km Yulara/Uluru ...................................................................................................................... 74 20km: Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park Information .................................................................. 77 28km Sandy Way Free Roadside Rest Stop ............................................................................... 78 84km: Curtin Springs Roadhouse .............................................................................................. 80 106km: Mt. Connor Lookout