| The Explorer's Highway, also known as the Stuart | | | | the world's opals. |
| Highway, is named after John McDouall Stuart, an | | | | Coober Pedy is located just south of the Northern |
| Australian explorer. It follows the route the | | | | Territory border, where the route is now known |
| explorer took when crossing the continent from | | | | as the National 87 highway. |
| south to north in 1862. It certainly lives up to its | | | | The next step of the Explorers Highway gives |
| name as the Explorer's Highway. | | | | you breathtaking views. In a total journey of over |
| The driving route stretches 3,245 km from | | | | 670 km you will pass through desert country, and |
| Adelaide to Darwin, a trip right through the | | | | you will pass through Marla, the final town on the |
| heartland of Australia. Some people take a 7-day | | | | border with South Australia and the Northern |
| trip, others take longer, it's up to yourself. | | | | Territory. |
| Just pick up your car rental and off you go. If | | | | You can head onto Alice Springs, with its red |
| you're start point is Adelaide you can book car | | | | desert, and known as the Australian Red Centre. |
| hire Adelaide or if your kicking off the journey in | | | | Alice Springs is the heart of the Red Centre of |
| Darwin you can pick up car hire there. | | | | Australia. You could take a detour here, and travel |
| The Explorer's Highway is known as one of the | | | | to the stunning Ayers Rock National Park, (also |
| main highways in Australia. It's a section of | | | | known as the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Park in the |
| Australia's Highway 1, and the National Highway of | | | | Aborigine language) with its stunning rock |
| Australia that runs form south to north, from | | | | landscapes and the Canyon of Kings along the |
| Adelaide to Darwin through Alice Springs. | | | | Red Centre Way, which will take you off the |
| You can follow in the footsteps of the first | | | | Explorers Way at the town of Erldunda. |
| European to cross the continent - and navigate | | | | Coming back to Erldunda, you will return to the |
| through the Red Desert and experience the feel | | | | Highway and travel to Alice Springs, a journey of |
| of the Australian outback on your way to the | | | | almost 400km from Ayers Rock. Alice Springs, |
| green and lush terrain of the Northern Territory. | | | | right in the centre of Australia, is a town that is |
| You'll pass some fabulous milestones on your total | | | | well worth exploring and you can revel in the |
| route: The Nitmiluk National Park, Cutta Cutta | | | | majestic landscapes and the gorges of the |
| Caves, Bitter Springs, Devils Marbles, and the | | | | McDonnell Mountain Ranges. |
| Litchfield National Park. In the south, the imposing | | | | The next stage takes you from Alice Springs to |
| East and West MacDonnell Ranges surround you | | | | Wycliffe Well a total driving distance of almost |
| on your journey. | | | | 400km. The Wycliffe Well is probably best known |
| Driving the Explorers Highway... | | | | for its wine production and is legendary as being a |
| Starting from the vibrant and growing city of | | | | place of strange UFO sightings! |
| Adelaide the capital of South Australia, take the | | | | Still on the National 87 highway, travel from |
| National A 87 route, heading in the direction of | | | | Wycliffe Well to Tennant Creek, a journey of |
| Port Augusta. You'll pass through Port Wakefield, | | | | 130km, and you'll see the majestic and strange |
| and the jetty at nearby Port Germein is well | | | | Devils Marbles, huge boulders and rock formations |
| worth visiting. | | | | that have a place in Aboriginal folklore (they're |
| When you reach Port Augusta, a top place to | | | | said to be eggs from a large snake!). Tennant |
| visit is the Wadlata Outback Centre and the Arid | | | | Creek is an area that played a major part in the |
| Lands Botanic Garden where you'll get an insight | | | | Australian Gold Rush in the early 20th Century. |
| into plant life, and the fauna of the area. This | | | | The next stage is from Tennant Creek to Daly |
| journey is almost 400km. | | | | Waters, a road trip of 400km. You're right in the |
| Still on the National A 87 highway, head north | | | | heart of the outback here, and will see plenty of |
| from Port Augusta in the direction of Coober | | | | cattle farms, charming pubs and hot desert. Daly |
| Pedy, a total trip of 600km. You'll see remarkable | | | | Waters to Mataranka is the next stage of the |
| changes in the terrain, the soil becomes red, and | | | | highway and a distance of 165km. |
| foliage is limited. | | | | You can stop off and visit the Larrimah WWII |
| You can take a detour to see the NASA base at | | | | Museum, which covers the history of the area. |
| Woomera, and the rocket base. This is an area | | | | Mataranka is home to many therapeutic thermal |
| where many land speed records have been | | | | springs, and is worth a visit to rejuvenate the |
| broken. At Coober Pedy you'll be astounded to | | | | body after all the driving! |
| find out that the area produces nearly 90% of | | | | |