Hi folks, haven't been on for ages but wondered if any of you guys had any tips or accommodation recommendations for driving up to Uluru and Alice Springs via Coober Pedy please?
I did the drive from Adelaide earlier this year and there are not many places to stay. As far as Coober Pedy goes there is the dug out hotel where your room is dug out of the earth, which we thought would be pretty cool but it was booked out so if you want to do that, book ahead. Instead we stayed at a mud brick motel that was quite nice, just as you come into town it is on the right. As far as food goes, in the centre of town not far from the roundabout is a great Greek restaurant that comes highly recommended, even the house wine was good so make sure you go there.
For Uluru you have very limited accomodation options as it is one big resort really so don't think that you can just turn up and get a cheap room. Instead go on readyrooms.com.au and book ahead there (we did it the day before and saved 40%) but TAKE SOME WINE WITH YOU because Uluru is a dry area and there are no booze shops. The resort holds you to ransom and charges $30+ for a bottle of Jacobs Creek so for God's sake if you like a drink take some with you.
Don't walk on the rock but do the entire trip around the base, it's a lovely walk. The flies are atrocious so while you are still in a big city go to a camping store (Ray's Outdoors etc) and get a fly net to stick over your head.
If you have time, go to Kings Canyon, the photos look great and I wish that we went there.
Thanks for that.. really appreciate it! Actually, we'll be camping and I've contacted a few campsites who say that I don't need to book for unpowered camping - even in Yulara. I'll definitely be picking up a case of wine before I leave!
Well there's bugger all between Adelaide and Uluru so it only took us 3 days or so. The campground at Uluru looked quite good so I expect that you'll have a great time. If you have loads of time we cut across from Tennant Creek to Mt Isa and then down the east coast because going straight up the middle is a very monotonous drive.
We did this journey back in December 2003 so might have changed since then but thought i would reply anyway. After leaving Coober Pedy we stopped at the roadhouse in Kulgera. We judge accommodation by the pools and this one was very refreshing and clean!
The campground in Uluru was really nice and again a good pool if not a bit small compared to the number of people using it. I agree with dwaldron regarding food and alcohol take as much as you can with you as very expensive. If you have time to visit Kings Canon it is definatley worth the visit, get up early and do the canyon walk, although it was the most expensive place for fuel in the whole of Australia at the time!
On the way back down the Stuart Highwway we visited Woolmrea, very eerie!!! Used to be a military town but now nearly empty. There are some old models of rockets etc. Campground was ok but the local open air swimming pool was fantastic!!!! Complete with diving board!
Hope this info helps and hope it is not too much out of date.
B
It's a long time since we did the drive, however, we stopped in the Flinders Ranges on the way to Coober Pedy, for a few days and then also went out to King's Canyon which was spectacular, and into part of the MacDonnel Ranges too. I suppose it depends how much time you've got, but if you are going to drive all that way then definately don't miss Kings Canyon, or the walk round the Olgas. We camped, and from what I remember all the road houses had campgrounds next to them (this was 1992 tho), and it is just possible that things might be different now!
