Darwin to Alice Springs itinerary
Three days, or a week with UluruAbout 1,500km down the Stuart Highway, with Litchfield on the way.
Three days by road, with Litchfield's waterfalls on the way. The trip leaves Darwin at 7am on Fridays, takes in Buley Rockhole, Tolmer, Florence and Wangi Falls in Litchfield, spends the nights at Adelaide River and the Daly Waters pub, and reaches Alice Springs on day 3, from $799. With a week, keep going to Uluru: the 7 day trip does the same road south, then three nights swag camping near Uluru, at Kings Creek Station and at Curtin Springs, finishing at Uluru airport or Alice Springs, from $1,599. The 6 day version takes the overnight coach down instead and spends the extra time in the Red Centre, from $1,199.
Checked on 28 October 2026.
Darwin to Alice Springs is about 1,500km down the Stuart Highway, from the tropics to the desert. Done with a guide, the road is the trip: waterfalls in Litchfield at the top end, a night at one of the Territory's best-known outback pubs in the middle, and the Red Centre at the bottom.
Three days: Darwin to Alice Springs
| Day | What happens | Where you sleep |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leave Darwin at 7am, heading south | Adelaide River |
| 2 | Further down the Stuart Highway | The Daly Waters pub |
| 3 | Into the Red Centre | Finish in Alice Springs |
From the 3 Day Darwin to Alice Springs trip's own transport and accommodation sheets. It departs on Fridays. Both nights are hostel rooms, dorm share, with hot showers, flushing toilets and power points. Litchfield's Buley Rockhole, Tolmer, Florence and Wangi Falls are on the way.
Seven days: all the way to Uluru
| Nights | Where you sleep |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide River |
| 2 | Daly Waters, with dinner and live music at the Daly Waters Pub |
| 3 | Alice Springs |
| 4 to 6 | Swag camping near Uluru, at Kings Creek Station, with an Aussie BBQ, and at Curtin Springs |
| Day 7 | Finish at Uluru airport, or take the transfer on to Alice Springs |
From the 7 Day Darwin to Alice Springs Adventure's own accommodation and meals sheets. It departs Darwin on Fridays, in a 4WD with a group of 21 at most. Litchfield's falls are on this trip too.
Six days: the quick way down, more time in the Centre
- Night 1 is the overnight coachfrom Darwin, leaving at 9:55am, with the ticket booked for you.
- Night 2 is the Alice Springs YHA.
- Nights 3 to 5 are swag campingnear Uluru, at Kings Creek Station and at a private bush camp at Curtin Springs.
- Finish at Yulara or back in Alice Springswhichever suits your flight.
The three trips compared
| Trip | Length | Starts and finishes | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Day Darwin to Alice Springs Tour | 3 days, 2 nights | Darwin / Alice Springs | $799 |
| 6 Day Darwin to Alice Springs | 6 days, 5 nights | Darwin / Yulara or Alice Springs | $1199 |
| 7 Day Darwin to Alice Springs Adventure | 7 days, 6 nights | Darwin / Uluru airport or Alice Springs | $1599 |
Prices update on their own.
Which suits you
- Just need to get to Alice Springs?The three days turn the drive into the trip, with Litchfield's waterfalls thrown in, from $799.
- Want Uluru too, and the whole road?The seven days cover every kilometre from Darwin to the rock, from $1,599.
- Want Uluru, and short on time?The six days sleep through the long stretch on the coach and spend it in the Red Centre instead, from $1,199.
Going the other way?
The same journey runs north too: three days Alice Springs to Darwin, leaving at 5am on Mondays, from $799, and six and seven day trips that start in the Red Centre and finish in Darwin, from $1,199. Our what can you do from Alice Springs page has more on the run north.
3 Day Alice Springs to Darwin Tourfrom $7993 days, 2 nightsHostels3 days, Alice Springs to DarwinView trip
6 Day Alice Springs to Darwinfrom $11996 days, 5 nightsCamping and Hostels6 days, Alice Springs or Uluru to DarwinView trip
7 Day Alice Springs to Darwin Adventurefrom $15997 days, 6 nightsSwag Camping and Hostels7 days, Alice Springs or Uluru to DarwinView tripWhen it is at its best
June to August is the dry season at both ends. Darwin averages 31°C with 1 to 5mm of rain a month, and Alice Springs has clear days around 20 to 23°C, with cold desert nights down near 4°C in July. The wet months bring the green to the Top End and its waterfalls at full force.
3 Day Darwin to Alice Springs Tourfrom $7993 days, 2 nightsCamping and Hostels3 days. Litchfield and the Daly Waters pubView trip
7 Day Darwin to Alice Springs Adventurefrom $15997 days, 6 nightsSwag Camping and Hostels7 days. By road all the way to UluruView trip
6 Day Darwin to Alice Springsfrom $11996 days, 5 nightsCamping and Hostels6 days. Overnight coach, then the Red CentreView tripPeople also ask
- What can you do from Alice Springs?
- How do I get from Alice Springs to Uluru?
- How many days do you need in Darwin and the Top End?
- When is the best time to visit Alice Springs?
Where this comes from. Departure days and times, where each night is spent, meals, group sizes, finishing points and prices are each trip's own details as held on its page here, and prices update on their own. The 1,500km distance is the road distance on the Stuart Highway. Temperatures and rainfall are Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Darwin Airport, station 014015, and Alice Springs Airport, station 015590, each from 84 years of records.