Travel Down Explorer’s Way from Adelaide to Alice Springs in 7-days

Embark on one of South Australia’s rugged and unique escapades and acquire a new set of memories you will always cherish.

Discover gorgeous landscapes in the breathtaking wilderness along Explorer’s Way, one of Australia’s greatest driving adventures, beginning from Adelaide to Darwin on the Stuart Highway. This great driving adventure follows the route of intrepid explorer John McDouall Stuart, who in 1862 became the first recorded person to travel the continent from south to north. Today, with a modern highway, you’ll accomplish the route in seven days of glorious driving through breathtaking wilderness.

Start your journey from Adelaide in the south and drive north for one-and half hours to reach the Clare Valley. This premium cool climate wine region, known for its Rieslings, offers a picturesque country with many cellar doors and restaurants. Drive to Port Augusta in the Flinders Ranges via Melrose, an historic town at the foot of Mount Remarkable. The national park here is an excellent place for walkers and cyclists. Stop for lunch at the historic North Star Inn at Melrose and don’t miss the Wadlata Outback Interpretive Centre for a fascinating historical insight into the origins of the region or take a cruise to the very top of Spencer Gulf.

Just off the main highway 171km north of Port Augusta is Woomera, with lots of tourist facilities. It was once the site for land-based rocket and missile range by the military. Visit the Woomera Heritage Centre to explore some more. Then head 365km northwards on the Explorer’s Way and you’ll encounter the unique town of Coober Pedy. This legendary Outback town produces around 85% of the world’s opals. Its inhabitants enjoy an underground lifestyle from churches, bookshops, hotels, cafes and other businesses. Less than an hour’s drive from Coober Pedy is the Breakaways Reserve, a region rich in Aboriginal and European history and home to an array of native fauna and flora. Nearby is the Moon Plain where films including ‘Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Ground Zero’ were shot.

The Northern Territory with its abundance of natural environments, begins after you leave Coober Pedy on the highway. Here, the World Heritage listed Uluru (Ayers Rock) offers a monolith-frame best seen at sunrise or sunset when it glows as if lit by a fire within. Immerse yourself in one of the world’s oldest living cultures by joining the guided tours conducted by the traditional land owners, the Anangu people. Soak in some of the 90 Aboriginal rock art sites scattered around the base of Uluru, with paintings dating as far back as 8,000 years.

From the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, drivers with 4WD vehicles may choose to journey to Alice Springs via the Meerenie Loop and Kings Canyon. This spectacular 270m-deep ravine and conservation area is home to over 600 species of plants and native animals. A visit to the stunning Alice Springs Desert Park will probably make you not be in such a hurry to leave. From Alice you have the option of taking a regular domestic flight or continuing north to Darwin. Just before that, you may want to stop at the Devils Marbles Conservation Area, a worthwhile stop along the way.

Enjoy this self-drive adventure from Adelaide to Alice Springs from A$699 for land packages only. Itinerary includes 7Days/6Night Self Drive Ex-Adelaide to Alice Springs with car rental (2.4litres) including accommodation in Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Ayers Rock, and Alice Springs.

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