Route 02 · The heart of the continent

Red Centre Way

Alice Springs to Uluru the long way — through the West MacDonnell waterholes and the rim of Kings Canyon. Desert camping at its absolute best.

5 Days on the road

1,135 Touring km

12 Marked stops

Corrugations Grade

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Day by day

The itinerary

5 days · 1,135 km

Day 1:West Macs waterholes

Alice Springs Glen Helen 132 km

Standley Chasm at noon, swim at Ellery Creek Big Hole, camp under Mount Sonder. Cold water, warm fire.

Standley ChasmEllery Creek Big HoleOrmiston Gorge
Day 2:The Mereenie Loop

Glen Helen Kings Canyon 233 km

Permit country — corrugated red dirt most of the way. Air down, take it steady, watch for camels at dusk.

Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) lookoutGinty’s Lookout
Day 3:Kings Canyon rim walk

Kings Canyon · out and back no-move day

The 6 km rim walk before 9am heat — Garden of Eden, the domes of the Lost City, then an afternoon doing nothing well.

Rim WalkKathleen Springs
Day 4:Down the Luritja Road

Kings Canyon Uluru 306 km

Bitumen again. Mount Conner will fool you into thinking you’ve arrived — the real thing appears an hour later and shuts everyone up.

Mount Conner lookoutCurtin Springs
Day 5:Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Uluru · out and back 104 km

Base walk at dawn, Valley of the Winds in the afternoon, sunset at the dune viewing area with everyone else — it earns the crowd.

Uluru base walkMutitjulu WaterholeValley of the Winds

Plan it right

Good to know

The route

The line is a straight join between waypoints, not the driving track. Navigate with official maps and road signs on the ground.

1 Alice Springs
2 Glen Helen
3 Kings Canyon
4 Uluru

Best season

May–Sep (winter desert)

Grade: Corrugations

Long unsealed stretches. High clearance recommended, air down and slow down.

Leave no trace: pack it in, pack it out, fill your holes. And tell someone your plan before you lose bars.

Before you go

Safety & preparation

This route is editorial guidance, not a substitute for current, official information. Conditions in the outback change fast. Always check the official sources below before you travel, and be ready to change or abandon the plan if the weather, roads or your gear turn against you.

Review date not recorded Treat these notes as indicative and verify everything against official sources.

Official sources to check

NT Road Report: road conditions & closures
NT Parks & Reserves: park alerts & closures
Bureau of Meteorology warnings: weather, flood & fire
AMSA beacon registration: register a PLB/EPIRB before remote travel

These point at government landing pages and can move. Confirm you're on the current official site before you rely on any of them.

Plan & pack for it

Permits & access. Some sections cross Aboriginal land, pastoral stations or parks that need a permit or pass. Check requirements and carry them.
Seasonal closures. May–Sep (winter desert) is the usual window; roads, gorges and campgrounds close outside it and after rain. Never drive past a road-closed sign.
Water, fuel & food. Carry more than you think you need and plan every fuel stop. Remote services are far apart and can be shut without notice.
Comms. Mobile coverage is patchy to none out here. Carry a satellite messenger, sat phone or registered PLB, and leave your route and return time with someone reliable.
Vehicle & recovery. Corrugations grade. Long unsealed stretches. High clearance recommended, air down and slow down. Carry recovery gear and know how to use it.
Water crossings. Assess depth and flow on foot only where it's safe to, watch another vehicle cross first, and turn back if you're unsure. Northern waterways can hold crocodiles. Stay well clear of the water's edge.
Emergency. Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency; where there's no signal, try 112 from a mobile or activate your PLB / satellite messenger.

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