If you are planning to continue the journey through the centre of Australia from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs and Uluru, we are here to show you what to expect along the route.
On this trip we visit Coober Pedy dugouts and Coober Pedy opal mining attractions, the roadhouses along the Stuart Highway and take a side trip to Uluru (formerly Ayres Rock) before reaching Alice Springs in the centre of Australia.
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Best time to drive from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs?
You can drive from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs any time of year, but it is important to note that some attractions throughout the outback are seasonal and may close for the hotter months from November to March, a time of scorching heat and annoying flies.
The most pleasant time to see the outback is during the cooler Australian autumn and winter months between April and October.
Of course, if you are planning an Alice Springs to Coober Pedy road trip just start from the bottom and reverse the itinerary.
Coober Pedy Attractions
There are a host of things to do in Coober Pedy Australia. While there you can shop for the famous Coober Pedy opals, visit one of the Coober Pedy underground houses or take a Coober Pedy tour.
Tom’s Working Opal Mine
If you have always wanted to visit one of Coober Pedy opal mines, Tom’s Working Opal Mine is the place for you. This is one of the most popular Coober Pedy tours as it gives you the opportunity to see Coober Pedy mines in action.
There is a choice of guided and self-guided tours which are both family and pet friendly. Guided tours are offered during peak season from April to October at 10am and 1:30pm. Self-guided tours run from 9am to 4pm.
The Big Winch 360
One of the best Coober Pedy things to do is to enjoy sunset with spectacular views from the Big Winch 360.
The Big Winch was built in the 1970’s by local character Claus Wirries and has expanded to include an epic outback cinema experience. The Big Winch Café serves a fabulous range of meals and is a popular meeting place for coffee, cake and more.
Old Timers Mine & Museum
The Old Timers Mine is a combination of Coober Pedy opal shop, a historical network of mine shafts and Coober Pedy underground house. Here you will learn about the back breaking work of old time mining and be intrigued by the Coober Pedy dugout lifestyle of times gone by.
The Old Timers Mine & Museum is open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
Accommodation in Coober Pedy
There is a good selection of Coober Pedy accommodation which include Coober Pedy accommodation underground, caravan and campervan parks, above ground Coober Pedy hotels and Coober Pedy motels.
Just be aware that Coober Pedy motel, the caravan parks and Coober Pedy hotel accommodation sells out quickly during high season and needs to be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Click here to book Coober Pedy accommodation
Underground Motel Coober Pedy
During our visit to Coober Pedy, we stayed at the Underground Motel Coober Pedy. The hotel is perched on a hill and has views across Coober Pedy and beyond. This Mediterranean themed dugout style accommodation is carved into the side of a hill and allows you to experience underground living.
The modern room was comfortable and well ventilated with private bathroom. There is a shared kitchen with hotplate, microwave, fridge, cooking utensils, tea and coffee making facilities.
The shared outdoor area is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset views with a glass of wine after a busy day of sightseeing.
Click here for Underground Motel Coober Pedy latest rates
Coober Pedy weather
In the summer months from December to February the Coober Pedy temperature can soar to highs of around 42 degrees Celsius. Average temperatures range from 36°Celsius during the day and 20°Celsius at night.
Winter is the best time of year to visit as average Coober Pedy temperatures range from 18°Celsius during the day and falls to around 6°Celsius at night.
The Coober Pedy to Alice Springs distance
The distance Coober Pedy to Alice Springs is 688 km along the Stuart Highway and crosses the borders of South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Coober Pedy Alice Springs drive time is around seven hours if you drive straight through. Be aware that drive times can vary as outback road trains towing five trailers may slow down the trip. As you drive make sure to look out for livestock and native wildlife wandering onto the road.
Regularly refuel at the roadhouses along the route and make sure to have plenty of water and food as there are vast distances between each community.
Side trip to Uluru from Coober Pedy
If you want to take a side trip to world famous Uluru, the distance from Coober Pedy to Uluru is 726 km driving along the Stuart and Lasseter Highways with a drive time of roughly eight hours.
Note that travel along the Lasseter Highway to Uluru begins at the Erldunda Roadhouse at Ghan NT and is a 267 km drive which takes around three hours one way. It is advisable to either stay at Uluru overnight or spend a couple of nights at the Erldunda Roadhouse and plan an early same day return trip.
Alternatively, there are a fabulous range of day tours to Uluru from Alice Springs where you can sit back and relax and enjoy your day.
Coober Pedy to Ghan Drive
The next stop on our Coober Pedy to Alice Springs road trip is Ghan in the Northern Territory. The distance from Coober Pedy to Ghan is 488 km and takes around 5 hours to drive.
As you drive along the Stuart Highway towards Ghan you will pass roadhouses which offer the opportunity to stretch the legs, grab a bite to eat, refuel the car or if you are feeling tired a place to stay the night.
Driving along the highway you will be in awe of this imposing landscape which stretches far off into the horizon. Here you come to realise the vastness of this sunburnt country and discover a beauty that is uniquely Australian.
Ghan sits at the intersection of the Stuart and Lasseter Highways and is a good place to spend the night to take a break from the road. From here you have the option of visiting Uluru by turning onto the Lasseter Highway and continuing the three hour journey to Uluru.
Cadney Homestead Roadhouse
The distance from Coober Pedy to Cadney Homestead Roadhouse is 153 km and takes roughly 1 ½ hours to drive.
The Cadney Homestead Roadhouse is a pleasant place to stop, there is a café and restaurant, character filled bar area and swimming pool. If you would like to stay the night, there is an adjoining caravan park and campgrounds.
Marla Travellers Rest
Cadney Homestead Roadhouse to Marla Travellers Rest is 80 km and takes about 50 minutes to drive.
Marla Travellers Rest is a massive roadhouse and service station which houses a restaurant and bar, good sized supermarket, post office, laundry, hotel and caravan park accommodation options.
Because of its size and amenities many people driving this route choose to drive straight through from Coober Pedy to Marla Travellers Rest which is 234 km and takes approximately 2 ½ hours to drive.
If you are travelling north Marla Travellers Rest is the last roadhouse in South Australia and is 159 km south of the Northern Territory border.
Kulgera Roadhouse
Marla Travellers Rest to Kulgera Roadhouse is 180 km north on the Stuart Highway and takes around 2 hours to drive.
The Kulgera Roadhouse has the honour of being the first pub in The Northern Territory. The roadhouse shows off its quirky side with a curious collection of hats and bras dangling from the ceiling.
If you need to take a break from the road you will find a range of motel style rooms and a caravan park.
Erldunda Roadhouse
The distance from Kulgera Roadhouse to Erldunda Roadhouse is 75 km and takes about 45 minutes to drive on the Stuart Highway.
Sitting on the intersection of the Stuart Highway and Lassiter Highway the Erldunda Roadhouse at Ghan is a popular place to break the journey to Alice Springs as it is a steppingstone to Uluru.
The Erldunda Roadhouse has a range of comfortable accommodation options including motel and caravan park with pool. There is a café, restaurant and bar area which serves superb meals with good size portions.
If you choose to continue to travel onward from Ghan to Alice Springs distance is 200 km with a drive time of around 2 hours.
Click here for Erldunda Roadhouse rates
The Ghan to Uluru Drive
If you are planning a road trip from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs, consider tacking on a side trip to Uluru. The Ghan to Uluru drive is 267 km and a one way trip takes approximately 3 hours to drive.
Be aware that if you want to visit for the day that you will be spending at least six hours on the road during your round trip drive. If you choose this option, make sure to drive during the daylight hours as there is a lot of wandering livestock along the route.
As you drive to Uluru you will see a huge flat-topped monolith standing out against the horizon. Due to its size Mount Conner is often mistaken for Uluru and is estimated to be around five hundred million years old.
If you would like to take a photo of Mount Conner, take the time to stop off at the Mount Conner Lookout and marvel at Mount Conner as it towers above the plains.
Uluru & Kata Tjuta Attractions
Uluru and Kata Tjuta (formerly Ayres Rock and the Olgas) are located within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and are a short 45 minute drive apart.
Both iconic Australian landmarks are sacred sites to the local Anangu people and seeing them up close is a truly humbling experience.
The best time to visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is during the cooler months between May and October as you beat the scorching heat of the summer and the hordes of flies that come with it.
Uluru Viewing Points
The best time to visit Uluru is at sunrise or sunset when the rock puts on a show stopping performance as it turns from soft dusky pink to burnt orange, fiery red and deep purple.
When you visit Uluru, you will find designated sunset and sunrise viewing areas. There viewpoints take full advantage of the spectacular colours of Uluru’s sunrise and sunset. Of course, if you can’t be there for sunset or sunrise you won’t miss out as Uluru changes colours throughout the day.
Top Tip
Want to learn more about what to do at Uluru? Our Ultimate Uluru Travel Guide Australia has all the information on Uluru viewing areas, the numerous Uluru base walks and attractions around Uluru.
Uluru Walks
To see Uluru up close is breathtaking, its sheer size is overwhelming, and it exudes a mystical air which gives new understanding as to why the Anangu people call it a sacred site.
Surprisingly, the surface isn’t smooth, ingrained patterns swirl and plunge down its slopes which are often pitted, and battle scarred with deep gashes.
Large boulders litter its base, hidden within are caves, waterholes and seasonal waterfalls which are home to native wildlife.
These days climbing Uluru is prohibited but you will find a series of walks at the base that will have you exploring these ancient landscapes and learning the history and creation stories of the Anangu people.
Uluru Tours
To get the most out of Uluru and Kata Tjuta we advise staying at Uluru for at least one night. There are a fabulous range of tours that will help you make your visit to Uluru a trip of a lifetime.
Catch a stunning Uluru sunrise from the back of a camel, enjoy a peaceful Uluru sunset with an outback barbecue and glass of bubbles or for the ultimate Uluru experience take a scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Uluru Accommodation
All Uluru accommodation is at Yulara which is 25 km from Uluru. You will find a choice of Uluru accommodation options including camping and glamping, luxury hotels and apartments.
If you are planning a self-catering holiday at Uluru there is an IGA supermarket at Yulata. You can refuel at the Shell Ayres Rock Service Station before continuing your Coober Pedy to Alice Springs road trip.
Click here for Uluru Accommodation
Uluru to Alice Springs Drive
Uluru to Alice Springs is 467 km with a drive time of around 5 hours. Travel back along the Lasseter Highway and turn left at the intersection of the Stuart Highway at Ghan. Make sure to refuel at the Erldunda Roadhouse before continuing your journey to Alice Springs.
Erldunda Roadhouse at Ghan NT
If you are continuing your Coober Pedy to Alice Springs road trip from the Erldunda Roadhouse, the distance from Ghan to Alice Springs is 200 km and takes about 2 hours to drive.
Stuarts Well Roadhouse & Caravan Park
The Erldunda Roadhouse to Stuart Well Roadhouse & Caravan Park distance is 108 km and takes a little over an hour to drive.
Stuarts Well Roadhouse & Caravan Park is instantly recognised by the three legged camel which sits at the entrance to the roadhouse. Inside there is a dining and bar area, the place to stop for a beer or cool drink.
The countryside changes as you drive towards Alice Springs and pass through the rocky scenery of the James Ranges.
Alice Springs
The distance from Stuarts Well Roadhouse & Caravan Park to Alice Springs is 92 km and takes around one hour to drive.
The town of Alice Springs sits in the heart of Australia’s red centre, in a picturesque setting nestled between the spectacular East and West MacDonnell Ranges. To get the most out of these stunning landscapes make sure to stay in the area for at least three days or longer.
Alice Springs tourist attractions
There are so many things to do in Alice Springs and the surrounding region. The town’s remote location has produced a group of noteworthy Indigenous and pioneering heroes who not only changed the way we viewed the outback but also created a better and safer place for people to live.
Here are just a few of our favourite Alice Springs tourist attractions.
Anzac Hill
The first port of call when you visit Alice Springs should be Anzac Hill. Here you will find breathtaking panoramic views of Alice Springs and the surrounding West MacDonnell Ranges.
Opened on the 25 April 1934 this peaceful memorial pays tribute to the members of the armed services who fought in the wars and conflicts in which Australia participated.
Simpson’s Gap
To get a taste of the West MacDonnell Range attractions take the 23 km drive out to Simpson’s Gap.
Here you will find an easy grade walking track which will make you feel like you are strolling through an Albert Namatjira painting as you walk past a quiet setting of knotted ghost gums, sandy creek beds and the rusty red hues of the towering canyon walls of Simpson’s Gap.
Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
The Alice Springs Telegraph Station is 4 km north of town and was the first European settlement in Alice Springs. The station was established in 1871 and within the reserve you will find a collection of historic buildings that tell the story of Alice Springs and Australia’s Overland Telegraph Line.
The Telegraph Reserve also has a café and shady barbeque area which is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic. The Telegraph Station is surrounded by a dramatic moonlike terrain, a wild beauty unique to Alice Springs and the red centre.
Guided tours of the Telegraph Station run from March to November at 9:30am and 11:30am.
Araluen Cultural Precinct
To get a better understanding of Alice Springs make sure to visit the Araluen Cultural Precinct. This interesting collection of art galleries and museums are spread across a large area.
When you visit you will see Aboriginal art Alice Springs and discover the culture of the local Indigenous people, the pioneering history and the wildlife native to the region.
Other Alice Springs Attractions
While in Alice Springs don’t forget to visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum, John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve, the Alice Springs School of the Air Visitors Centre or take a tour to attractions further afield.
Alice Springs Tours
Do you have dreams of watching the sun rise from a hot air balloon over Alice Springs? Why not take a ride on the back of a camel on a Alice Springs camel tour or learn about the local characters, history and culture during a Alice Springs walking tour?
These are just some of the tours and activities available in Alice Springs, there are many more that show the hidden gems of this beautiful part of the world.
Uluru/Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs
This Uluru/Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs is perfect for anyone wanting to visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) without driving the vast distance to get there.
This tour allows you to relax and enjoy the journey from Alice Springs to Uluru and includes a buffet breakfast, packed lunch and unforgettable sunset barbecue dinner with sparkling wine. Here are just some of the attractions you will visit along the way.
- Erldunda Roadhouse
- Uluru/Ayers Rock Resort Shopping Centre
- Walpa Gorge
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
- Kata Tjuta – The Olgas
Highlights are the guided Mutitjulu Waterhole tour and Mala Walk tour where you will see the rock art and hear the dreamtime stories of the Anangu people.
Click here to book this day trip from Alice Springs
Accommodation Alice Springs
We stayed at two different kinds of accommodation in Alice Springs and can highly recommend both. We stayed in self-catering accommodation at the Desert Palms Alice Springs and luxury style Alice Springs hotels at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters.
No matter what kind of accommodation you choose it is advisable to book well in advance especially during high season between May and October.
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
The Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters has the enviable position of being right next to the Lassiters Alice Springs Casino.
The hotel has a good assortment of rooms and suites which feature a modern décor with comfortable beds and pillows. There are several onsite restaurants & bars and there is a well shaded pool and gym.
Click here for Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters rates
Desert Palms Alice Springs
The Desert Palms Alice Springs has a variety of villa style accommodation which can host single travellers to families.
Villas have a range of bedding configurations and feature a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, tea and coffee making facilities, toaster and utensils.
Rooms are comfortable and there is a shaded balcony which is perfect for relaxing after a busy day of sightseeing. The Desert Palms Alice Springs has lush tropical gardens and crystal clear pool.
Click here for Desert Palms Alice Springs rates
Last words on Coober Pedy to Alice Springs and Uluru
The drive from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs and Uluru is one of the most rewarding of any Australian road trip. Not only do you get to experience outback landscapes, but you also get to tick off three of Australia’s most iconic destinations, Coober Pedy, Uluru and Alice Springs.
Coober Pedy to Alice Springs is a truly unforgettable journey, a chance to discover Australia’s outback identity and bask in a natural beauty that can be seen nowhere else in the world.
If you have dreams of doing a Coober Pedy to Alice Springs and Uluru road trip start planning now as you too will fall in love with the wide open spaces of Australia.
Have you taken a Coober Pedy to Alice Springs and Uluru road trip? We would love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment.
