If you’re heading to the Northern Territory, then you’re in for a treat. There’s plenty to do on the way from Alice Springs to Uluru, giving you a real outback experience. Don’t miss out on stunning locations and views like the MacDonnell Ranges, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and more!
So, keep reading to make the most of your trip from Alice Springs to Uluru (or the other way around).
Other Northern Territory articles you may be interested in:
- Things to Do in the Northern Territory During COVID-19
- 12 Places to Visit in Australia to Add to Your Bucket List
- Things to Do Darwin Australia
Top 7 Things to Do from Alice Springs to Uluru
1. Explore Alice Springs.
Alice Springs is famous for its red desert landscape and beautiful bushland. From visiting local art galleries to watching the sunrise in a hot air balloon, there’s plenty of activities to do in Alice Springs. You can also enjoy the natural gems by hiking the nearby ranges or going on a camping tour.
2. Trek the MacDonnell Ranges.
The MacDonnell Ranges are a bit out of the way if you’re headed to Uluru, but they are worth seeing if you don’t mind taking the longer, but more adventurous, route.
Split into the West Macs and the East Macs, the MacDonnell Ranges both offer beautiful outback scenery and only adds an extra hour (6 hours and 36 minutes total) onto your driving time by going through the ranges.
The West Macs (Tjoritja).
The Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park is a great place to stop on the way from Alice Springs to Uluru. Stretching for about 200 kilometres, the park has impressive creeks, gorges and chasms. Swim in beautiful water holes, camp under the stars, walk the existing tracks, go on an overnight bush walk and see beautiful views every way you look.
The East Macs.
The East MacDonnell Ranges also offer spectacular Australian Outback scenery. You’ll also find plenty of hidden jewels here including gorges, gaps, bush walks and Aboriginal art among other stunning scenery.
Since the East Macs are less popular of the ranges, you can expect less crowds and more opportunity to take in views of just pure nature. You can also join guided tours to learn about the area’s rich culture and history.
3. Four-wheel-drive to the Finke Gorge National Park.
The Finke Gorge National Park has beautiful scenery and rich cultural history and you can only get here by 4WD. The national park is estimated to be 350 million years old, which now is home to spectacular walking trails, rivers and Aboriginal cultural sites.
You’ll also find Palm Valley here, which has rare red cabbage palms in addition to unique plant species. The gorge is surrounded by high red cliffs and waterholes, making it an astonishing place to visit.
4. Enjoy the views from Kings Canyon.
Kings Canyon is situated just 300 kilometres away from Uluru, offering visitors incredible landscapes of a rockier Australian outback. With plenty of walks with incredible views, make sure to bring your hiking boots!
The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a 6 kilometre trek, taking you up high for spectacular views of the gorge and 360 degree views.
5. Admire the beautiful Kata Tjuta.
Kata Tjuta, meaning ‘many heads’, encompasses 36 large rocks just a half hour’s drive from Uluru. The incredible land formations, also popularly known as The Olgas, seem unnatural, especially if you’re driving there at sunrise or leaving at sunset, when they look purple with the glow of the setting or rising sun surrounding them.
The tallest rock formation, Mt. Olga, stands at 546 metres high, which can be admired while walking through the popular 7.4 kilometre Valley of the Winds trail. The hike takes about 3 hours, so set off early to enjoy the sunrise and leave before the midday heat, or head off later when it’s cooler and enjoy the sunset.
6. Take in all Uluru has to offer.
Uluru is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, at the top of the list with the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Ocean Road. With incredible cultural history, there is so much to see and learn about when visiting the incredible land formation.
Sitting at 348 metres high, it’s an incredible sight with beauty like no other. You can head to Uluru and walk around its base, stopping at the plaques to learn about its history, view it from further away at the different platforms or join guided tours for in-depth knowledge about Aboriginal culture and history.
There’s also the Field of Light, an installation using over 50,000 lights, which is incredible to see in person. You can take in the beautiful changes in colours as the sun sets on Uluru, and the lights come to life.
Want to go on a road trip to explore beautiful Australian scenery? You can find car rentals on Localsearch.com.au!
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