Epic Australian Road Journeys – The Explorers Highway (Part 1)

Travel from Adelaide to Darwin in the footsteps of the great pioneer John McDouall Sturt

EPIC AUSTRALIAN ROAD JOURNEYS – THE EXPLORERS HIGHWAY (PART 1)

Travel from Adelaide to Darwin in the footsteps of the great pioneer John McDouall Sturt

The Explorers Highway is journey on the bucket list of many an Aussie traveller.

You can make the trip over 11 days but many choose to take more time to wander through the cellar doors and vineyards the Barossa, the colours and majesty of the Flinders Ranges, the outback towns of Cooper Pedy, Alice Springs, the jaw-dropping beauty of Uluṟu and the Kings Canyon, the ancient Aboriginal rock art of Kakadu National Park, and the crystal-clear swimming holes  of Litchfield National Park before taking a rest amongst the parklands, outdoor markets and festivals of tropical Darwin.

It’s the stuff RV dreams are made of.

Image courtesy Visit Australia

History of the Track

Part of the fascination of outback travels is knowing the history of those that been there before us.

The first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, through the centre of the continent, was made by John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866).

Stuart, was a popular and most accomplished inland explorer of Scottish decent. His success navigating the extreme landscape of the central deserts is attributed to his bushman skills, as well as the care he showed the men and animals that accompanied his journeys.

In 1871-72 the Australian Overland Telegraph Line was constructed along the route that Stuart pioneered. The principal road from Port Augusta to Darwin was also followed his route. Today, it is still known as the Stuart Highway in the explorer’s honour.

If you stick to the highway it’s possible to travel the 2,834 km journey in just 10 or 11 days consecutive journeys or 10 or 11 separate stages over an extended time frame. For most holiday makers, particularly Grey Nomads, the attractions along the way are too tempting and justify several detours at a more leisurely pace.

Stage One – Adelaide to Port Augusta

If you enjoy beautiful South Australian food, coffee, wine, arts and crafts it’s a no-brainer to include the Barossa and Eden Valleys on your journey before parking your rig at Port Augusta for the night

Stage Two – Port Augusta to Coober Pedy

The first detour from the main track is to wander into the Flinders Ranges National Park. Mountain ranges, gorges, gum-lined creeks, abundant wildlife and the spectacular Wilpena Pound await you.

You can take some wonderful treks that include Aboriginal rock art sites, abandoned farmsteads, an old copper mine, ancient fossils and the opportunity to spot a rare yellow-footed rock wallaby. If you’re not into walking you might enjoy unhooking the van to do some 4-wheel driving or booking a scenic flight. Either will be an experience you’ll never forget.

Continue to the opal mining town of Coober Pedy to join the multicultural locals who live and play underground to escape the searing heat. Things to do include visiting underground homes, churches, shops and hotels, playing a round on the grassless golf course, checking out an opal mine, opal fields or an opal cutting demonstration, and driving through the moonscape landscapes of Moon Plain, Dog Fence and the Breakaways where Mad Max III was filmed.

Stage Three – Coober Pedy to Uluru-Kata Tjuru National Park

The must-do detours on the way to the Alice include the Painted Desert, Uluru and Kings Canyon.

The Painted Desert is an area of spectacular colourful hills formed through 80 million years of erosion. Vivid ochre yellow, oxide red, and deep, rich brown come alive in the brilliant sunlight, changing hue from dawn till dusk.

Returning to the highway you will then travel through grasslands, past granite outcrops, over the Finke River until choosing to continue to Alice Springs or detour to Uluru. (The journey from the Sturt Highway turn-off to Uluru takes a little over 2 hours. The distance from the Uluru turn-off to Alice takes about 4.5 hours).

When you turn off to Uluru you have two excellent options for accommodation; either stop at Curtain Springs, a homestead located about 100 kilometers from ‘the Rock’ that has a small number of powered and unpowered van sites or continue to Ayers Rock Campground located 20 kilometers from the sacred site that boasts hundreds of powered and unpowered sites.

Curtain Springs offers a quintessential desert experience that features several desert walks. One way to get a feel for the experience would be to first watch the wonderful Australian film “Tracks” which features some of the nearby landscape.

Once you’re camped near Uluru you’ll be blessed with a huge number of attractions and activities ranging from watching the sun rise over the rock, camel treks, Aboriginal guided tours, helicopter flights, 4WD tours, bush tucker feasts, star watching and more.

Stage Four – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon, like Uluru, offers a range spectacular immersive experiences, either by foot, quad bike or by air that justify spending a couple of days exploring.

Engage an indigenous guide and climb to the canyon’s rim for sweeping views of the sheer sandstone cliffs, palm-filled crevices, valley floor and desert. Swim in the tropical pools of the Garden of Eden and explore the weathered rock domes of the Lost City. See sunset at Carmichael Crag, take the Kathleen Springs Walk to a pretty waterhole or do a 22 kilometre overnight trek on the Giles Track. You can also soar over this natural masterpiece on a scenic flight.

Stage Five – Kings Canyon to Alice Springs

After a six-hour journey, you will reach Alice Springs…. (to be continued)

The Journey continues in the next RV Life E-Mag!

Photo Credits

Img 1 “Explorers Highway Map” Source Visit Australia

Eden Vally Source Cellar Door Fest

Umoona Mine Guided Tour, Coober Pedy, SA Credit “South Australian Tourism Commission”

Uluru Feild Of Light Source Traveller

Kings Canyon Source Everything Australia