Wild And Wonderful Adelaide To Uluru Road Trip

The first stop on your journey is picking up your motorhome from maui Adelaide in South Australia. When you arrive, the team will brief you on your vehicle and will happily answer any of your campervan questions. Once you’re all set, it’s time to explore Adelaide. Dubbed the ‘20 minute city’ Adelaide is incredibly driving friendly. A must-do in Adelaide is to stock up your campervan pantry and go shopping at Adelaide Central Market. Here you will find anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to artisan delights. A few other top things to do in Adelaide, Australia, include:

• Enjoy the shopping and architecture at Rundle Mall
• Visit Adelaide Zoo
• Swim at Glenelg Beach
• Explore the small german settlement of Hahndorf

Once you have finished exploring the city, it’s time to drive north an hour to the Barossa Valley. This scenic drive will wind through the lush Adelaide hills and into the coveted wine region of the Barossa. Once you have parked up at your campsite for the evening, treat yourself to a Barossa Valley wine tasting before turning in for the night.

Where to stay: Discovery Parks Barossa Valley

Start the day with breakfast at the Lyndoch Lavender Farm & Cafe. This unique cafe is set on a backdrop of blooming lavender fields and features a range of lavender-infused baked goods, ice creams and more. Then begin the short drive to the neighbouring Clare Valley. As one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, the Clare Valley is overflowing with cellar doors to explore. There are plenty of winery tours to choose from, starting at around $175 per person, including lunch along the way.

Alternatively, you can choose to rent a bike and cruise your way through the vineyards along the Riesling Trail for around $50 per person. That way, you don’t have to worry about organising a sober driver and can soak up the ambience as you pedal your way through wineries beneath the cool reprieve of the eucalypt trees.

Where to stay: Clare Valley Caravan & Cabin Park

The next highlight on this Australian road trip is Mount Remarkable, but not without a stop on the way! Jamestown Railway Station Museum sits about an hour north of Clare Valley and is a great insight into the bygone way of farming life. Jumping back in the motorhome, drive the remaining hour to the rugged landscape of Mount Remarkable National Park. There are three sections to this park, being:

1. Alligator Gorge
2. Mt Remarkable
3. Mambray Creek

Throughout all of these distinctive terrains, you can enjoy scenic lookouts, stunning gorges, ruins, picnic areas and campgrounds with basic amenities.

Where to stay: Mambray Creek Campground

After waking up amongst the peaceful surrounds of this wild space, spend the morning with a final exploration of Mount Remarkable National Park. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Willowie Forest Trails. There is a range of walks for all abilities, winding their way through the tranquil eucalypt forests.

Next up on this great Australian road trip is the former seaport of Port Augusta. When you arrive in town, be sure to make a stop at the Wadlata Outback Center. This award-winning attraction features several self-guided tours that offer great insight into the creation of Flinders Ranges and the Outback. Feeling hungry? Grab a Malu (Kangaroo) burger with native bush chutney from the on-site cafe, The Outback Tuckerbox.

Where to stay: Shoreline Caravan Park

Wake up and enjoy a final exploration around this laid-back seaside town with a walk to the water tower lookout. If you are here in winter between May and July, it’s worth making the detour south to swim with the cuttlefish in Whyalla. This is the only place in the world where these masters of camouflage gather annually in mass for the breeding season. Swim alongside these fascinating creatures as the male cuttlefish put on a colourful shape-shifting show to attract a mate. Then jump in the campervan and continue the drive north to Woomera.

When you arrive in town, make a stop to check out the Woomera Observatory. Featuring a 3.5m fibreglass dome in this sleepy outback town, you can enjoy a show of the planets, star clusters, and nebulae like never before.

Where to stay: Woomera Traveller’s Village & Caravan Park

Day six, and you are well and truly in the outback now. On the way to Coober Pedy, stop for a picnic at the Lake Hart rest area. If you have time to wait around, this salt lake offers a stunning pink glow at sunrise and sunset. There is even a freedom campsite where you can stay for the night!

After hours of nothing but flat horizons, approaching Coober Pedy, you will notice what appear to be pink and white rolling hills. As you get closer, you will realise that these are, in fact, the remaining rubble of dirt and opal shards from the seemingly endless opal mines surrounding the town. It is definitely a sight to see. While in town, try hunting (known as ‘noodling’) for your own opals and take a tour of the Old Timers Mine & Museum.

Where to stay: Riba’s Underground Camping & Caravan Park

Today is a big driving day, so begin the day with a walk around the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park. This stunning ochre landscape is a spiritual place with the local Aboriginal tribes, and it’s little wonder why. Go for a walk to visit the two dogs, also known as Salt and Pepper - two huge mountain masses in a stark shade of white and brown, respectively. Then it's time to cross over into the Northern Territory toward Erldunda Roadhouse.

Stop for a picnic at Agnes Creek Rest Area to break up the driving, and make the final stretch to park up for the night at Erldunda Roadhouse. Keep an eye out for Cluck Norris - the resident rooster convinced he is a kangaroo (a kanga-rooster… if you will).

Where to stay: Erldunda Road House

Get an early start and drive the 2-hour and 45-minute drive to Kings Canyon. If you are driving these rural roads in the early hours of dawn, adhere to road safety rules and be aware of wildlife. When you arrive, park up and head off on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. This scenic walk winds its way along the rim, through incredible iconic desert plant life and wildlife. From the top, you will be treated to a bird’s-eye view of this sprawling desert landscape. On the way back to the campervan, make the detour to the Garden of Eden. This desert oasis is the perfect place to sit down, enjoy a snack and soak up the beauty of this area.

Where to stay: Kings Creek Station

Today marks the final day of the trip, and it’s time to experience all that Uluru has to offer. Get another early start to the day and drive the remaining three hours and 30 minutes to Uluru. Uluru weather is known to be quite hot all year round, so it’s important to avoid walking in the middle of the day. Depending on when you start, you can choose to do the full 10km walk around the base or enjoy the shorter Mala walk.

Find a nice place indoors for the hottest part of the day, or make the most of the shade of your campervan and cook up a meal. Then, when the afternoon rolls in, find a spot to watch the sunset light up Australia's largest monolith. There is really nothing like it.

Uluru has plenty on offer. You could easily stay for three or more days to experience the magnitude and beauty of this spiritual centre of Australia. If you choose to stay, why not treat yourself to a Field of Light sunrise tour or helicopter tour. Once you have finished exploring, it's time to begin the drive back to the maui Alice Springs branch to drop off your camper and head home. For more on the best time to visit Uluru and Uluru weather to help to plan your visit, check out the Uluru/ Katajuta National Park website.

Where to stay: Ayers Rock Campground

Keen to give this itinerary a go?

From the rolling hills of Adelaide's vineyards to the dusty red outback of Uluru, this road trip really encompasses the wild and wonderful sides of both South Australia and the Northern Territory. For more tips on motorhome holidays in Australia, where to stay, and other Northern Territory and South Australia itineraries, check out our blog.

Keen to rent a van to travel this wild and wonderful outback wonderland for yourself? Book your maui campervan online today.