Adventure your way to Uluṟu on a road trip for the ages

Flying? Forget it. A self-drive adventure gives you the freedom to explore Australia’s astounding scenery and quirky towns on your own terms, culminating in the spine-tingling sight of Uluṟu.

From Sydney’s vibrant cityscape and over the lush Blue Mountains, through central Australia’s vast ranges and across the Northern Territory’s dramatic red desert, strap yourself in for the experience of a lifetime.

Few road trips capture the spirit of a country like the journey from Sydney to Uluṟu – an unforgettable crossing from coast to desert, city to sacred heartland.Credit: Ayers Rock Resort

Sydney to Dubbo – your Red Centre journey begins

Distance: 390 kilometres
Approx. five hours

Roll out from Sydney early for a scenic start through the majestic Blue Mountains. Grab a coffee in charming Leura and stroll the village streets, before visiting Echo Point to take in the spectacular views of the Three Sisters standing guard over the vast Jamison Valley. Time permitting, hop on the world’s steepest railway at Scenic World.

Continuing west, you’ll reach Bathurst with its gold rush history, motorsport pedigree and great distilleries. If you’re happy to add another day to the itinerary, nearby Orange is the region’s gourmet heartland. Think cool-climate wines, beautiful cellar doors and paddock-to-plate dining.

Otherwise, push on to arrive in Dubbo by evening and for a glimpse of rural living.

Dubbo to Broken Hill – a taste of the outback

Distance: 750 kilometres
Approximately: eight hours

Start your day on the wild side. Taronga Western Plains Zoo is Dubbo’s star attraction, with safari-style trucks and open-range enclosures housing lions, rhinos and elephants. If it’s a Saturday, swing by the Dubbo Farmers Market first to stock up on fresh fruit, artisan cheeses and perhaps a cheeky baked treat (or two).

Pay the locals a visit at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Credit: iStock

With Dubbo in the rear view-mirror, landscapes widen, towns grow smaller, and stories grow richer. In Narromine, aviation enthusiasts will relish the museum, which features vintage planes and tales of daring outback pilots. Stretch your legs in the nearby wetlands (and to enjoy your market haul) before rolling into Nyngan, home of the tongue-in-cheek Big Bogan and a museum that shares Indigenous and European histories.

From Cobar’s Fort Bourke Hill Lookout, catch your first real glimpse of the vast outback that lies ahead, and in nearby Wilcannia, take in the heritage sandstone buildings – a reminder of its once-booming river port days.

End the day in the famed outback town of Broken Hill, a frontier city rich with art galleries, museums and mining history.

Broken Hill to Coober Pedy – the classic and the quirk

Distance: 952 kilometres
Approximately: 10 hours

Today’s stretch is where the real outback adventure begins. Rise early and catch the soft glow of sunrise over the Living Desert Sculptures – sandstone figures set high in the Barrier Ranges, silently keeping watch over Broken Hill.

Then, it’s a quick detour to Silverton. This dusty town has graced the screen in iconic films like The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mad Max II. Be sure to check out the Mad Max Museum.

Crossing into South Australia, the scenery becomes even more surreal (don’t be surprised to see emus out the window). Detour through the Flinders Ranges to be met with ancient cliffs, dramatic gorges, and ochre-hued ridges rising out of the plains like the spine of a sleeping giant.

Keep your eyes peeled for the shimmering white expanse of Lake Hart, now a salt flat. Stretch the legs and join others walking across its otherworldly surface.

By day’s end, you’ll reach the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy.

Life happens underground in this quirky town, so a tour of the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum and some underground homes or dugouts are a must. Shop for Indigenous art and opals from local sellers in one of Australia’s most unique towns.

Coober Pedy to Uluṟu – entering the NT

Distance: 756 kilometres
Approximately: eight hours

The final stretch to Uluṟu is less about ticking off landmarks and more about soaking in the cinematic vastness of Australia’s desert heart. But before you leave Coober Pedy, there’s more beneath the surface (literally).

An absolute must is visiting Coober Pedy’s remarkable underground churches, like the Serbian Orthodox and St Peter and Paul’s, carved directly into the rock and cooled naturally by the earth.

Hit the road momentarily before reaching Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, where multicoloured mesas rise from the flat desert floor. These are some of the most spectacular rock formations in Australia.

Back on the Stuart Highway, stop in at tiny William Creek – population: 10 – and nearby Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake.

Say goodbye to SA after a pitstop in Marla before crossing into the NT, where it’d be rude not to pull into Kulgera Roadhouse for a cold drink. The self-proclaimed ‘first and last pub in the NT,’ this is your final stop before laying eyes on the Red Centre’s magnificent sacred monolith.

A fitting finale to a journey that’s as much about the road as the destination.

Then, finally, it happens: Uluṟu appears on the horizon. Towering and timeless. A fitting finale to a journey that’s as much about the road as the destination.

Immerse yourself in bucket-list experiences

Now, a new journey begins. It’s time to explore the spiritual heart of Australia.

Base yourself at Ayers Rock Resort for an unrivalled experience of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Catering to every kind of traveller, the resort offers access to local-led tours, cultural activities and renowned immersive experiences – from Field of Light and Wintjiri Wiṟu to Sounds of Silence and Sunrise Journeys.

Sunrise Journeys

Sunrise Journeys brings to life the work of three local Aṉangu artists as dawn rays split over the horizon. The interplay of laser projection, sound, and scenery will take you on a journey through the history and future of this sacred site. But the sensory experience doesn’t end there. Tuck into a gourmet breakfast with uninterrupted views of iconic Uluṟu glowing in the morning sun.

Sounds of Silence

An entrant into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence blends outback magic with Indigenous cultural storytelling over an award-winning dinner. Find yourself on a remote dune, drink in hand, as the sun sets over Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa. With light fading, move to white linen-draped tables for a fine-dining buffet with native flair. Once the desert is sparkling with stars, a local guide and ‘star talker’ shares stories of the ancient songlines in the Milky Way above.

The Roadtrip has its own story to tell. Find your drive.