Two-week outback itineraries

These outlines assume the main touring season: roughly April to September in the arid outback, and May to October in the tropical north. Each has at least one rest day built in. Check official road reports every day, and be ready to reshuffle if a road closes.

1. Adelaide to Alice Springs and Uluru (14 days)

Vehicle: 2WD on the sealed Stuart Highway. Add a 4WD if you want to take the Mereenie Loop or the Oodnadatta Track.

• Day 1: Adelaide to Port Augusta.
• Days 2–3: the Flinders Ranges: Wilpena Pound and the gorges. See Ikara-Flinders Ranges.
• Day 4: back to the Stuart Highway, and on to Coober Pedy.
• Day 5: Coober Pedy's underground homes, churches and mines. See Coober Pedy underground.
• Day 6: Coober Pedy to the Erldunda or Kulgera area, near the NT border.
• Day 7: on to Yulara.
• Days 8–9: Uluru and Kata Tjuta. See our Uluru itinerary.
• Day 10: Kings Canyon.
• Day 11: Kings Canyon to Alice Springs, by the Mereenie Loop (4WD and permit) or the sealed route.
• Days 12–13: Alice Springs and the West MacDonnell Ranges.
• Day 14: fly out of Alice Springs, or continue north.

See Adelaide to Darwin and the Red Centre guide.

2. The Matilda Way, Cunnamulla to Karumba (14 days)

Vehicle: 2WD; the main route is sealed.

• Days 1–2: Brisbane to Roma, then to Charleville, with the Cosmos Centre and bilbies.
• Day 3: Charleville to Tambo and Blackall.
• Day 4: Blackall to Barcaldine and Longreach.
• Days 5–6: Longreach: the Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum.
• Days 7–8: Winton: the Age of Dinosaurs and the Waltzing Matilda Centre.
• Day 9: Winton to Cloncurry via Kynuna.
• Day 10: Cloncurry to Normanton.
• Days 11–12: Karumba: fishing and Gulf sunsets.
• Days 13–14: return south, or continue on the Savannah Way.

See the full Matilda Way guide.

3. Broome to Kununurra (14 days)

Vehicle: a high-clearance 4WD for the Gibb River Road. The Great Northern Highway is sealed if you'd rather avoid it.

A day-by-day outline for both routes is in our Kimberley road trip itineraries. See also the Gibb River Road guide.

4. Outback SA tracks loop (14 days)

Vehicle: a well-prepared 4WD, and towing only if the road warnings allow it.

• Days 1–3: Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges.
• Day 4: on to Marree.
• Day 5: along the Oodnadatta Track via Lake Eyre South to William Creek.
• Day 6: a scenic flight over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre from William Creek, if conditions allow.
• Day 7: William Creek to Oodnadatta.
• Day 8: Oodnadatta to Marla, or to Coober Pedy via the Painted Desert.
• Days 9–10: Coober Pedy.
• Days 11–12: south via the Stuart Highway, with a stop at Lake Hart or Woomera.
• Days 13–14: Port Augusta to Adelaide.

Experienced travellers sometimes add the Birdsville Track from Marree to Birdsville, or the Strzelecki Track to Innamincka, but these need extra days. Check SA's Outback Road Warnings, because sections are often closed or restricted after rain.

Planning tips

• Distances: plan around 400 to 500 km a day at most on sealed roads, and less on dirt.
• Rest days: build in at least one every four or five days. Fatigue is a major risk on long outback drives.
• Fuel: check the distance to the next fuel before every leg. See fuel, permits and road conditions.
• Bookings: reserve accommodation early for school holidays and events. See the seasonal events calendar.
• Communications: carry a satellite communicator or PLB for remote sections.
• Road reports: check the NT Road Report, QLDTraffic, SA Outback Road Warnings, Main Roads WA or Live Traffic NSW, depending on where you are.

Choosing between the routes

All four routes take about a fortnight, but they suit different travellers. The Adelaide to Uluru route is fully sealed if you stick to the Stuart and Lasseter highways, which makes it the best choice for first-timers and caravans. The Matilda Way is also sealed and works for any reliable car, with towns close enough together for daily stops. The Broome to Kununurra trip is the most dramatic, but it needs a high-clearance 4WD and dry-season timing if you take the Gibb River Road. The SA tracks loop is the most remote. Its unsealed tracks can close after rain, so it suits experienced drivers in suitable vehicles who are comfortable checking SA's Outback Road Warnings each morning.

Season and weather

In the southern and central outback, the cooler months from about April to September are the most comfortable for touring. BOM averages show January maximums above 36°C in Alice Springs and above 40°C in Birdsville, while July nights in Alice Springs average under 4°C. In the tropical north, the dry season from about May to October is the touring window. Our outback weather by month guide has the monthly figures.

Budgeting time on the road

Fourteen days sounds generous, but long driving days are tiring. A sustainable pace for most people is a few hundred kilometres on travel days, broken up with days off at the highlights. Avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night because of wildlife and livestock. See kangaroos and driving safety and the best vehicle for the outback.

Related guides

• One-week outback itineraries
• Outback regions
• Road trips
• Outback safety
• Caravanning in the outback