From the Stuart Highway, there is more of a journey than a road because it takes you directly to Australia’s core. As the trail of legend winds its way from the northern city of Darwin to the southern outpost of Adelaide, weaving a seemingly impossible thread through Australia’s most inhospitable country. Spending a week just driving this road would be wrong, but the scenery is well worth it. The sight through a sun-drenched windscreen of your rugged four-wheel drive will be unimaginable due to all the myriad… and countless number elements comprising the landscape. This is where quintessential Australia, as we conceive of it — wide open spaces and big skies through a red desert — lies, precisely what you’ll find in many places up this highway.
Beyond a mere road, the Stuart Highway is an expedition into the Aussie interior. Handsomely running from Darwin out of the north to Adelaide down south and weaving its way improbably through the most remote, untamed land in Central Australia. In fact, you could probably have a worse holiday in Queensland if all your itinerary included was the drive—and still enjoy it. You will likely be gobsmacked by the diversity and scope of terrain — as seen through an almost-always sun-soaked four-wheel-drive windshield. After all, the enduring image of Australia, as we imagine it to be – wide open spaces crisscrossed with a red desert beneath big skies, is discovered in patches along this highway.
Darwin: Your Gateway to the Outback
Your adventure to see this will start from Darwin, the vibrant capital of the Northern Territory. Before you head out, allow yourself some time to explore a few of the best things NYC has to offer. Eating a spiced crab at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets while watching street performers is an experiential playback of life in a tropical paradise. If you are eager to learn more about the region’s past, head for the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. You can read about Cyclone Tracy and visit some incredible Indigenous art there. When you’ve had enough of Darwin, hire a car and drive about an hour to Litchfield National Park. You will consider it an excellent place for a picnic. Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole or those bizarre magnetic termite mounds are all swimming and picnic options.
Litchfield National Park: A Nature Lover’s Paradise
Close to Darwin, Litchfield National Park is famous for its accessible waterfalls and swimming holes. Buley Rockhole: the smoothest, most beautiful place you are going to swim anywhere in Australia down a half and Buley. Another must-do in Litchfield is Florence Falls, which is equally amazing, as well as a gorgeous crystal-clear swimming hole. For the more adventurous, there are a few guided abseiling adventures to really get up close and personal with Litchfield Falls in a way that very few people do!
Katherine, The Jewel in the Top End
Move further down the way to Katherine, which marks the entrance of Nitmiluk National Park. This is where Katherine Gorge, with its towering cliffs and twisting river, lay in wait. Whether you splurge for a boat cruise, rent a kayak or hike on your own two feet – the gorge is not to be missed. Also, inside the park, do not miss Edith Falls, where cool, clear water and pristine surroundings make for an appealing swimming spot.
Then there is Elsey National Park and its Bitter Springs or the Mataranka Thermal Pool. With their source in the springwater underground, these thermal pools provide a beautiful resting place for those who have been walking all day. This is a historic area (visit the John McDouall Stuart Memorial to learn about one of Australia’s greatest explorers – that we chat a bit more about because his route was used as a precursor for the formation of what became known as The Stuart Highway)
Daly Waters: What An Aussie Overture
Keep heading south and stop in at the iconic Daly Waters Pub. It was more than a pub, it was the true Aussie experience; walls lined with bush legend and corrugated iron. You can have a drink with the locals and experience some fair dinkum aussie atmosphere. The hotel is a well-used stopover motel for the long distance traveller with room, caravan park and camp site accommodation.
Tennant Creek — Heart of the Barkly Region
Heading farther down the Stuart Highway, you hit Tennant Creek – at about 3,000 people it’s the largest town between Alice Springs and Darwin. An old gold rush town rich in history and culture, there is much to see. The Battery Hill Mining Centre offers an insight into the regions gold mining history, while a walk to Telegraph Station provides a lesson in Australian communication time management. Centred around Tennant Creek is the vast Barkly Tableland, with its wide-open spaces and huge cattle stations.
This one in particular is Sacred to the Aboriginal Communities of Australia: Devils Marbles (aka Karlu Karlu).
Right next to Tennant Creek, these huge granite boulders are laying around as the Devils Marbles or Karlu Karlu. These older-than-historic football-sized boulders of quartzite are sacred to the local Aboriginal mob, and they shine blood red in dusk light at 256m above sea level. Spend some time touring the area, understanding its cultural significance and taking in spectacular outback scenery.
Hub of the Red Centre, Alice Springs
Further south is Alice Springs, the beating heart of Central Australia. This iconic outback town lies on the doorstep of Australia’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders and Indigenous culture landmarks, such as AutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints. At Australia’s defining moments museum go to Alice Springs Telegraph Station, it is the birthplace of Alice Springs and its pivotal in Australian history. The West MacDonnell Ranges provide some fabulous walks through gorges and to waterholes. Make sure not to overlook Standley Chasm and Trephina Gorge for some of the most fantastic scenery.
Alice Springs is barely an hour away from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, its famous Ayers Rock (Uluru), and the stunning Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Whether you take a scenic helicopter flight over these primeval monoliths or walk amongst them, this area is inescapably top of the list for any Aussie outback adventure.
Kings Canyon & Watarrka National Park
Stuart Highway detour: Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park This is at the top of any list discussing Australia’s greatest wonders, with huge cliffs rising above lush forests of palms and breathtaking views. A tough but ultimately rewarding hike, the Rim Walk guides you around the top of the canyon, with panoramas revealing themselves at each turn. The Creek Bed Walk offers an alternative level of difficulty that is lower; on the canyon’s floor, it takes you for a stroll-along option.
Underground Opal Capital: Coober Pedy
When you cross into South Australia, the weird town of Coober Pedy awaits, and it is acclaimed as being the opal capital of the world. This one-of-a-kind outback town is renowned for its family of underground homes, churches and even hotels that have been burrowed into the earth to escape the intense desert heat. Stop by the Old Timers Mine and Umoona Opal Mine and Museum to find out about how opals helped shape this regional town and possibly grab a noodling licence for opal hunting. I would also recommend staying overnight in one of the underground hotels – it gives you a real Coober Pedy experience!
While there, make a quick detour to The Breakaways – it’s a scenic area of vibrantly colourful hills and mesas that look like something from another planet (it was in the film Mad Max). You can also visit the longest fence in the world, which is located at the nearby dog fence.
Space Down Under: Woomera and Lake Hart
Further south lays Woomera, a town famous for its association with missile and space warfare testing during the Cold War. One of Australia’s spookiest towns, Woomera now acts like a rural community without really doing so regardless of being an active military construction (there are few things worth knowing around for). A short ride away from Woomera is Lake Hart, a large salt lake known as a great place for photography, especially at sunset when the colours of sky and water turn colourful.
Adventure in the Flinders Ranges
As you approach your final destination, head inland to Flinders Ranges for some of the most stunning national parks in South Australia. After experiencing unforgettable 4 day Kakadu tours from Darwin, journey south to discover the high peaks of an ancient landscape steeped in rich Indigenous history and home to some impressive hiking trails. Walk around the natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound (an absolutely necessary experience) or take a scenic flight to view this stunning corner of South Australia. The Flinders Ranges are also where some of Australia’s oldest Aboriginal rock art is found on guided tours.
Adelaide: The Festival City
You then come to the finish of your Stuart Highway trip, Adelaide – the capital city of South Australia. Experts when it comes to food and wine, Adelaide has some of the best places in Australia for delicious eats, with great restaurants sure to be found around every corner. Shop for fresh produce at Central Market, or hire a car and drive out to the nearby Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale wine regions. Some of the best-known festivals in Adelaide are held through winter, such as the city-wide arts and music extravaganzas are The Adelaide Fringe (the world’s second-largest) & WOMADelaide.
This stretch isn’t just a way to get from A to B, but an expedition through the heart and soul of outback Oz. From jaw-dropping scenery to the history of Aboriginal elders, this road trip serves up a side serve of the best outback hospitality you’ll ever experience.
FAQ
What is the driving time from Darwin to Adelaide Stuart Highway?
Pinterest Ok, so it really takes about 3 to however many gazillion days you use stopping in all of the cool little towns along route. It was advised that each participant take a few weeks to stop and see all the magnificent sights on this amazing route.
Is the Stuart Highway a dangerous road to drive?
True story – the Stuart Highway sees a lot of traffic, including road trains and people like you! Ensure your vehicle is fit, stay on top of water supplies and carry plenty at all times (especially in low population areas).
When is the best time to travel The Stuart Highway?
Travel in the dry season (May-September). It should be cooler and less likely to rain, making the track more stable. The colder temperatures in winter also provide the perfect conditions to really check out some of the beyond natural wonders.
Does it need to be a 4WD??
While the Stuart Highway itself is sutable for a 2WD, you may need one off-road (for example to visit Kings Canyon –East MacDonnell Ranges -or most of Kakadu National Park). These areas are usually accessible by dirt roads that would be difficult for the average car to navigate.
Is there ample fuel and food available along the Stuart Highway?
There are more than enough roadhouses caravans parks, service stations on the highway. But always prepare in advance, especially through the outback between major towns like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Coober Pedy. If travelling in the off-peak season pack extra fuel and water, as roadhouses will be closed.
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