Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Travel Answers

Brisbane to Uluru by car is about 3000ks one way, so you are looking at 6000ks return. From Brisbane, you would head through Toowoomba to Roma, Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton,Mt. Isa, Alice springs to Uluru, this would be the most direct route. Depending on what time of the year you travel as to the time it takes, as if in storm season and there is plenty of rain, often large areas of land are flooded, and you may be stuck for a while until floodwaters reside. You can work it out how long it would take you by estimating how many ks you wish to drive a day, then add in the time for sightseeing. It is about 4 -5 hours drive from Alice springs to Uluru. Long days of driving and it would probably take 4-5days one way, with no sightseeing. Flying would probably be a good option, as fuel is expensive in outback areas.

First do you know Australia and Australian road conditions? If not we need to direct you to pages where you can read up...such as pedroswift, 1+1, my Qld tips.Some very very important stuff to know. You can drive from Brisbane via Roma to Longreach(Stockmans Hall of Fame), then to Winton, Boulia, head for Plenty Highway(just forget name of highway that joins Plenty), across Central Australia to Darwin then Uluru. (Alternative up the Qld Coast is longer or if time do on return journey) Distances are long, esp across the Plenty(Boulia to Alice Springs), you need water, petrol, a good car...depends on what you know and where you are from for me to know how much to type at this minute. How long does it take? If you are used to distance driving you can keep up the pace. Do you want to stop on the way and see outback places? After Longreach stop a day at Winton ,and then Boulia (min min lights)to rest before the long drive across. So if we were going we would probably stop at Roma overnight, then Longreach. But we would stop overnight at Winton as well and then Boulia but you could do Longreach to Boulia in a day.But Winton has things to see. David drove across to Alice Springs in one day...no punctures ,2 petrol stops (need to refresh on availability of those those at outback stations and possibility of stopover) but it was a long day...left at 5am and got in about 7pm. Take food and water. Then Alice Springs to rest or sight see. Then next day drive to Uluru. We went to Uluru and back in a day...time was limited we were doing a round trip as well. This is pushing things. If you have time stay over there are things to do in Uluru as well. But this is enough for one post. Will await your reply and the input of others.

You could take a train to Longreach and maybe hire a car there for rest of journey. Looks like you have an option to go via Mt Isa but we went via Boulia. We were both answering at same time.

ALERT Sorry omit Darwin in my first answer that should read Alice Springs. You go on Donohue Highway to join Plenty Highway which is not sealed but shorter.

Thanks for your replies. My main dilemma is the whole Mt Isa thing. To me on paper it looks like a major route and all sealed roads. Google and RACQ both want to take you down the Plenty Highway. It looks like this way saves a couple of hours, but is it worth the stress on the vehicle or is the road prettey good? We are Qlders and experienced 4wders and use to driving long distances. We are going mid May. We did think about 4 or 5 days with sightseeing which would still leave a good week for Alice to Uluru. We were hoping to get to Longreach in a day. What can we estimate for fuel? Double the Brisbane price or more? Thanks heaps!!

Hmm.. Food for thought!! If we get stuck waiting for floods it would put a ding in the plans as we would have to be back for work!! Maybe we should compare the cost of flying and hiring a car and just doing the centre and leave the rest for when we retire!!

Well we used the Donohue and Plenty Highway with no problem a few years ago...we did not even consider going via Mt Isa. Certainly much of it is not sealed. There were two places to buy petrol then and we carried some with us. You should certainly check that out with RACQ or at Boulia re availability. Phone the Boulia Hotel ...there is only one in town and they could tell you As I said we did not even have a flat tyre but we saw little other traffic.. I think Brisbane to Longreach is a very long haul...do you have a relief driver? Boulia to Alice Springs is a very long day as well and my David was a "truckie" but now retired from "truckin" so he is no novice. As far as petrol costs it depends on your vehicle...do you know Brisbane prices...I would have to look but prices vary and certainly were more expensive as I recall on the outback trip esp at the cattle stations on the Plenty.

Going in May? Usually not flood time. We came up from Quorn in May one year and even the Mighty Finke was dry. Best time to do the trip in my opinion. Try emailing 1+1 in VT and see what he says. He lives in Darwin and is a ranger and may have missed your post.

At that time of year you shouldn't get floods. The roads are good. All sealed, no problems there. When I do a trip like this I usually leave just before sunrise, I find this a lovely time to travel, and you can get some good hours of driving in before you need to stop. I usually stop and have a good meal and coffee about 4 hours into the trip. Then drive until I feel I am tired. I stop every 2 hours or so, have a cold drink and a walk around. Take a little esky in the car to pack drinks or something to eat in it. You will have a good time with 3 weeks to cover this trip. I wouldn't drive back, I would drop the car off at Alice or Uluru, then fly back from there. You will probably have to pay a drop off fee, check out different rentals and see what difference in the drop off fees are... I love driving and the distance never worries me. It may sound strange, but I have found that a lot of the time petrol is cheaper out in the bush , than the city prices. Most cars these days are fuel efficient. I wouldn't go for a small car, I would go for a medium size, something that is comfortable for this long trip. Have a great time planning this adventure.

Anne,just to clarify when you say all roads are sealed do you mean via Mt Isa.? There is the option of the Plenty Highway which is being considered(RACQ ,Google, and me) and my last advice is that this is not sealed. Marg

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply Marg, yep made a mistake, I hope you had a great Christmas...

So tell us ozmalangie17 which way you go and pls let us know how you get on...an update. Marg

Hi, We have been following this thread with interest as we are also planning on driving from Brisbane to Uluru in May. We are experienced 4WDers & campers, but this will be our first long trip. We are planning on taking about 3 weeks to do this trip. Are there any other links, websites, books that people can reccommend to us? Thanks!

Well Dgtay you could explore Virtual Tourist..Look at 1+1 see what he has to say..or type a key word in the search box and follow that. Big thing is to check out availability of petrol if you go via Plenty. Not sure if one of the stations is still open.You can google that os check with RACQ Best put on a new question in VT as this has been up for a while and no new people are likely to come in now...they will not see these answers unless they are in the thread. We travelled the Donohue/Plenty from Boulia with no problems...mid year...not summer. What else is there. You have a few choices with stops in Queensland or the route... Boulia or MT Isa. If you are experienced no need to warn you about the transport trucks etc and need to be alert for roos etc.

Thanks guys. I think we have prettey well decided to follow wise 23 girls route via the plenty and get to the centre ASAP as this it what we mainly want to see. Time permitting we will probably go back via Mt Isa so we can see Tennant Creek and Devils Marbles. We feel prettey confident now that 3 weeks is enough time. One other question... We have a Hilux with a slide on camper. Is it ok to stop for a snooze at rest stops if need be and is it safe to do this?