Campervan hire is a popular option to explore the centre of Australia, including Alice Springs, Ayers Rock (Uluru) and (Kata Tjuta). So if you are considering hiring a campervan for your next Outback holiday, our 5-day Alice Springs campervan hire itinerary might be just what you are looking for! Our itinerary is based on our personal experience of travelling the dusty roads of the Red Centre.

Day 1: Alice Springs to Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Most flights into Alice Springs come in around lunchtime, so your first day will be spent collecting your campervan and hitting the road. We hired an Apollo 4WD Adventure Camper to allow us to travel on the unsealed Mereenie Loop Road, which saves some back-tracking on the way back to Alice Springs. The drive from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock Resort is approximately 500 kilometres (310 miles). It takes nearly 6 hours to drive, with a fuel stop at Erldunda. The highway is sealed and you can travel up to 130 km/h in parts.

Ayers Rock Resort is a large complex made up a variety of accommodation options, restaurants and bars. The Ayers Rock campground is pleasant enough with large powered sites and clean shower and toilet amenities. An interesting dinner option is the nearby Pioneer BBQ and Bar which offers a variety of fish and meat options to cook on the outdoor BBQ’s (kangaroo skewers anyone?!).



Day 2: Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)

Rise and shine! If you want to see the sunrise over Ayers Rock, you need to be at the viewing platform bright and early (around 7.15am when we travelled in August). Leave about 30 minutes to get from the campground, through the National Party entry gate ($25 per adult, under 16 free) and to the sunrise viewing area. Be warned – the viewing area will be packed when the tourist buses arrive but they quickly clear out once the sun has risen. It is quite magical to watch the sun hit Ayers Rock and the rock face colours do change rapidly as the sun gets higher.

Once the tourist buses move on, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the car park with Uluru providing a wonderful backdrop. The Apollo campervans have a 12V fridge so you don’t need to be plugged in to main power and you also have gas bottles, so you cook up a hot breakfast or make a cup of coffee on the outdoor gas stove.

After breakfast, head to the base of Ayers Rock to either climb the rock (about 3 hours return) or walk around the base (9.4km loop). The local Anangu people request that you do not climb Uluru but we decided to experience the climb and were surprised at how strenuous the first part of the ascent is. There is a chain rope to guide you but one slip and you would be gone. So make sure you take your time and wear shoes with a good grip. The view from the top is spectacular and you can even see the Olgas in the distance.

After the climb down, we had lunch under some shade with our outdoor table and chairs. From there, you can drive over to the Olgas (44km from Ayers Rock) which are large dome-shaped structures that are very impressive and unique. You can either do the 7km Winds Walk or the shorter 2km Olga Gorge Walk, which takes you through the middle of the Olgas. If you had more time, it would be best to save the Olgas until the next day, to make sure you experience them properly.

Tonight you could either relax and cook up a meal in your campervan, or do as we did and book in for the Sounds of Silence dinner. A bus collects you from the campground and takes you into the desert (about 2km from the Resort), where you watch the sunset over Uluru before enjoying a buffet dinner under the stars. The best part of the night is the star talk from a local Aboriginal astronomer, who takes you through the Aboriginal history of the planets, stars and other constellations. They even set up some telescopes so that you can see the constellations for yourself.



Day 3: Ayers Rock Resort to Kings Canyon Resort 

Today's itinerary involves driving from Ayers Rock Resort to Kings Canyon Resort. The drive is approximately 300km (186 miles) on sealed roads, but there are a few attractions along the way, including the Mount Connor lookout off Lassiter Highway. Mount Connor is a table-topped mountain about 3 times the size of Uluru and seems to rise out of nowhere over the flat landscape.

Kings Canyon Resort is smaller than Ayers Rock Resort but the campground was prettier with more grass and a great view out to the Canyon walls. After checking in and reserving your powered site, drive out to the Canyon to either do the Rim Walk (6km loop) or the Creek Walk through the gorge (2.6km return). We did the Rim Walk in about 2 hours with a few stops for photos. The first part of the climb up to the rim is taxing, but the rest of the walk is not too hard, but a decent level of fitness is recommended. Spectacular is the only word to describe the Canyon and it is well-worth the drive from Ayers Rock.

Spend the night at the Kings Canyon Resort campground and either cook your own meal or have dinner at one of the dining options within walking distance of your campsite. It gets very cold at night in the Outback but the Apollo Adventure Camper has an onboard heater that makes the sleeping area nice and warm.

Day 4: Kings Canyon Resort – Glen Helen – Alice Springs

A big day is ahead of you, with a 400km (249 mile) drive from Kings Canyon, along the Mereenie Loop Road to Glen Helen and then back to Alice Springs. If you have more time, it would be best to split the day up and overnight at Glen Helen. But if you need to get back to Alice Springs, leave the whole day for the trip back.

The Mereenie Loop Road is a 155km section of dirt road that allows you to drive north from Kings Canyon to meet up with the sealed road. It saves you back-tracking along the Highway but it may not save you a lot of time because it is slower travelling on the dirt road. You can only drive this section with a 4WD campervan or 4WD car. It takes you through some real Outback landscapes and you might see a few dingos, horses and other wildlife on the way.

Once you reach sealed roads again, you can drive further north to Glen Helen. On the way, you have the option of detouring to Tnorala (Gosse Bluff), about 14km off the sealed road. Tnorala is a crater formed around 142.5 million years ago when an object from space (believed to be a comet about 600 metres wide) crashed to earth, blasting a crater some 20km across. The remaining bluff is about 5km in diameter and the road takes you into the middle of the crater where you can have lunch at some picnic spots. 

Glen Helen is the next major stop. Glen Helen Resort is located on the edge of the West McDonnell Ranges and is a small resort offering accommodation, fuel and access to the many gorges in the area. Ormiston Gorge is one of the more popular gorges to visit with a number of short and long walks to do. Alice Springs is just over 100km from Ormiston Gorge and the drive back takes you through some rugged landscapes with the sun setting behind you. For overnight accommodation in your campervan, you may like to try Stuart Caravan Park.

Day 5: Alice Springs

Depending on your departure time (by plane or otherwise), you may have time to enjoy breakfast at a café in Todd Mall which also has lots of options for souvenir shopping. If time permits, it’s also worthwhile to spend some time exploring Alice Springs itself, particularly the Alice Springs Desert Park and the Old Telegraph Station.

Most campervan hire companies have a 7-day minimum on all rentals, so even though this itinerary is for 5 days, you can easily spread out the trip over 7 days. This would be better because it would allow you more time at Ayers Rock and the Olgas, as well as an overnight stop at Glen Helen to explore the many gorges in the area.

Some final tips for your Alice Springs campervan hire:

- Driving distances: Don’t underestimate how long it takes to get from point A to point B in Australia’s outback. Make sure you make regular stops and swap drivers if possible.

- Night driving: Driving at night is dangerous because more wildlife are present so try to avoid driving at dusk or during the night.

- Phone reception: Mobile phone coverage is practically non-existent once you leave Alice Springs. Currently the only other reception is at Ayers Rock so keep this in mind. Most campervan hire companies hire satellite phones if you want a back-up in case you get stuck.

You are welcome to contact Salamanda Travel if you would like more information on this itinerary or to discuss your own Alice Springs campervan hire. Happy travelling!