Travel Into The Red Centre

There are a range of ways you can travel to Alice Springs or Central Australia, depending on your planned itinerary, budget and preferences.

Driving is one of the most popular options to access Alice Springs and Central Australia, with plenty to do on the road while travelling into the region. Greyhound buses, The Ghan train experience and hopping on a plane are other ways to start your holiday.

Flights

Flights to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock Airports are a great option to help you enter and exit the region from major capital cities. These flights are relatively regular and the costs vary depending on your location and the time and date you choose to visit. 

Qantas, and Virgin offer return flights to Alice Springs from major urban centres such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar are the main airlines offering trips to Ayers Rock (Uluru). 

Airnorth also operate out of Alice Springs to/from Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin, as well as an Alice Springs to Perth flight.

Bonza now operate a Melbourne to Alice Springs flight.

Airport Transfers

Alice Springs

Transfers are available from Alice Springs Airport 

• Alice Silver Passenger Services - Airport shuttle $20 per person
• Taxi - approximately $45 to $50

Uluru/Yulara

Ayers Rock Resort offer a complimentary airport shuttle to all accommodation sites in Yulara.

Car Hire

If you are flying into our region and want autonomy to get around, hiring a car or motorhome could be your best option. Book through the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre to get unlimited kilometres on your car or motorhome hire.

Buses

Greyhound Australia offers tours from some major capital cities to Alice Springs and provides the comfort of reclining seats, WiFi and large windows to enjoy the journey. See a list of printable timetables here.

A trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs takes 20.5 hours on the bus with stops at a range of locations including Coober Pedy, Marla and Indulkana. The coaches leave daily for this route. The service also offers a daily service from Darwin to Alice Springs, with 21 hours 40 minutes of travel time, and a 6 hour trip from Tennant Creek.

If you need help booking a Greyhound bus, contact our Visitor Information Centre.

The Ghan Railway

The Ghan is a much loved option to access the region, offering a range of price points and comfortable way to reach Alice Springs. Travelling up from Adelaide, through to Manguris, Maria and then Alice Springs, it extends as far as Katherine and Darwin in the North. The Ghan departs from the Adelaide Parklands Terminal, about 3 kilometres from the city centre.

From March to November, The Ghan leaves on Sundays at 12.15pm from Adelaide, stops in Marla on Monday for a morning experience and arrives in Alice Springs at 1.45pm the same day (Monday). Passengers can depart Alice Springs that evening (Monday) at 6.15pm to reach Katherine for a morning experience on Tuesday before arriving in Darwin at 5.30pm that evening (Tuesday).

There is another option operating from April to September, leaving Adelaide at 12.10pm on Wednesday, arriving in Marla on Thursday for a morning experience before an afternoon experience at 1.45pm in Alice Springs. The Ghan departs Alice Springs at 6.15pm that day to reach Katherine by Friday for a morning excursion before arriving in Darwin at 7.50pm.

If you need help booking the Ghan Train, contact our Visitor Information Centre.

Driving

Driving to Alice Springs is another option available for travellers with time to spare who want more autonomy.

• Alice Springs is roughly the middle point between Adelaide and Darwin with 1,500 kilometres on either side.
• Access from Queensland can be from Barkly Highway (from Mt Isa), coming into Tennant Creek, or Plenty Highway/the Outback Way (from Winton) onto the Stuart Highway approximately 50km north of Alice Springs.
• From Western Australia you can come directly into the Territory in 3 locations. Via the Great Central Highway (the Outback Way) from Laverton to Uluru, via the Tanami Road at Halls Creek, or via the Kimberly into the Top End.
• From New South Wales, ACT and Victoria access to the Territory is largely through SA connecting onto the Stuart Highway.

Safety precautions must be taken when driving long distances spanning thousands of kilometres and remote areas. You should research the location of petrol stations in advance and while the majority of roads are sealed to Alice Springs from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide it is critical to check on government road reports for up to date conditions prior to travel.