{"id":1026,"date":"2016-11-17T02:06:59","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T02:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/?p=1026"},"modified":"2019-08-28T13:03:56","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T03:03:56","slug":"like-drive-cairns-uluru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/like-drive-cairns-uluru\/","title":{"rendered":"What it’s like to drive from Cairns to Uluru"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve just launched a brand new, groundbreaking trip: Reef to Rock.<\/a> A 7-day overland journey from Cairns to Uluru. And who better to give it a test run than pro blogger Bridget Mahony from My Bold Lines<\/a>? \u00a0This is Bridget’s account of her seven days in the Queensland Outback.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re the kind of traveller who finds the remote regions of Australia alluring, but who wants to avoid the whole \u201ctourist stranded in the desert\u201d headline, then this tour is for you<\/a>. It\u2019s the most scenic way to get yourself from Cairns to Uluru<\/a>. Better than that: it turns Uluru into a journey<\/em>, not just a destination.<\/p>\n

\"person

Me on the trip<\/p><\/div>\n

According to the map, this tour takes you from Cairns<\/a> to Hughenden and on to Boulia, before reaching Alice Springs and exploring Australia\u2019s Red Centre. Sometimes though, depending on the weather, you can throw the map out the window and just follow the signs that say \u201croad open\u201d. It\u2019s all about the journey, after all.<\/p>\n

The journey begins<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An experienced guide will collect you from your accommodation in Cairns<\/a>\u00a0bright and early. And if you don\u2019t happen to feel particularly bright at this early hour, getting to know your fellow travellers will soon get you in the group tour mood.<\/p>\n

From Cairns you\u2019ll begin the gradual climb up the Gillies Range, a 19km highway with 263 twists and turns. This westward route takes you through tropical tablelands. Here,\u00a0 sugar-cane fields and cloud-capped mountains eventually give way to red dust-covered lands and the sweeping grass plains of the Gulf Savannah.<\/p>\n

\"Tall

Some of the things you’ll see<\/p><\/div>\n

A short walk to Millstream Falls is a good chance to stretch your legs, before heading on to Lynd Junction for lunch. Lynd Junction is home to (allegedly) the smallest bar in Australia. Here at Lynd Junction, all the ingredients for lunch appear from the trailer. All you have to do is make sandwiches, kick back in the shade and enjoy the fresh air and good company.<\/p>\n

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE WE STAY AND TRANSPORT HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Outback

One of the trails<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cows

Aren’t they nice?<\/p><\/div>\n

As you stop for photos on long dusty stretches of road, floodways and roadside where black cockatoos flaunt their red tails and cattle eye you curiously. It\u2019s hard not to marvel at the weather-beaten expanse. Back on the road, you\u2019ll soon arrive at Porcupine Gorge. It’s a beautiful place to just zone-out and stare out across the plains, towering sandstone cliffs and dense vegetation.<\/p>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Entering the Outback<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Depending on your tour and how much rain has been falling, nights will be spent camped out under a sky full of stars, at sprawling cattle stations, roadhouses, little outback motels or cabin parks.<\/p>\n

Outback<\/a> Queensland offers it all. Become an expert on dinosaurs, pioneers, the gold rush, or aviation. Learn about World War II secrets, Banjo Patterson\u2019s Waltzing Matilda or the mysterious Min Min Lights. Share a drink with locals at the pub, put your culinary skills to the test helping your guide with the group\u2019s evening meal or tell a story around the camp fire before you and your fellow travellers crawl into your sleeping bags and call it a night.<\/p>\n

\"person

Me and the sign<\/p><\/div>\n

There\u2019s something relaxing about travelling by road through the Outback<\/a>, for many it\u2019s simply the chance to stare out the window at the surroundings and not with unwavering concentration on the road ahead. For others it\u2019s the remote landscapes themselves, the sense of freedom that overcomes you. Tours allow you the freedom to be alone with your own thoughts one moment and completely engaged in conversation the next. Plus, you don\u2019t have to schedule all the toilet breaks!<\/p>\n

NOT AFRAID OF SNAKES? TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TRIPS IN THE OUTBACK HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Welcome to Alice<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The welcome to Alice Springs<\/a> sign is perfect for a group shot before a well earned rest day in the famous town, hugging the banks of the Todd River in the MacDonnell Ranges.<\/p>\n

After a day spent in civilisation (and armed with a fresh load of washing) you\u2019ll be ready to hit the road again. If you want you\u2019ll have the opportunity to ride a camel by mid morning, and by midday you\u2019ll be at camp in Yulara, a service village for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It\u2019s effectively turned one of the world’s least hospitable regions into a comfortable place to stay. Lunch will be served by your Yulara campsite host. Eat up because then it\u2019s time to lace up your hiking boots – Kata Tjuta awaits!<\/p>\n

\"Rocks

You gonna find a lot of those on your way<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Person

Beautiful Kata Tjuta<\/p><\/div>\n

The 36 domes that make up Kata Tjuta are spread over an area of more than 20 kilometres. The sandstone domes are believed to be around 500 million years old and the tallest rock, Mt Olga (546m and 1066m above sea level) is approximately 200m higher than Uluru.<\/p>\n

Kata Tjuta is sacred to the Anangu people, who have inhabited the area for more than 22,000 years. But you\u2019ll inhabit the car park for all of three minutes before setting out on the short 2.6 kilometre Walpa Gorge walk. If you go in the afternoon, sunlight floods the gorge, and you\u2019re lead up a rocky, gentle slope and along a trail that follows the natural creek between sheer red rugged walls of the two tallest domes. At the end is a viewing platform where you can take some time to soak in your surroundings.<\/p>\n

READ THIS: 10 MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE NATURAL WONDERS IN AUSTRALIA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Uluru as the sun goes down<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The perfect introduction to Australia\u2019s most recognisable landmark comes at sunset. You\u2019ll see the rock at its blood-red best, all while sharing a tasty antipasto platter with new friends.<\/p>\n

\"Toasting

Our campfire<\/p><\/div>\n

Back at camp a feast awaits, with the table set and the campfire roaring. Sit down, pour yourselves a glass of wine. Then,\u00a0 tuck into a great Aussie barbecue of steak, sausages, marinated kangaroo, coleslaw and potato salad. It\u2019s a chance to get to know everyone a little better, share a few laughs and find out what\u2019s in store for the next day.<\/p>\n

Rise and shine! You\u2019ll be up in the dark, stuffing your gear into your pack, filling your energy reserves with a hearty breakfast and be on the bus bound for the Rock before you know it. With just 24 hours at Uluru<\/a>, this tour ensures you make the most of it. Who wants to say they went to Uluru and missed sunrise!<\/p>\n

Taking off in the dark, you can just make out that iconic silhouette before the sun comes up. There\u2019s a stillness about Uluru. I know monolith, and it\u2019s not exactly going to move about, but that\u2019s not what I mean. It\u2019s peaceful there. It\u2019s easy to be in the moment. The immensity of the Rock sticks in your mind long after you have driven away.<\/p>\n

INTERESTED TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR TRAVEL STYLES? FIND OUT ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"group

The sunset in Uluru is magical<\/p><\/div>\n

After completing the 9.8km base walk and devouring a very welcome morning tea, you\u2019ll join one of the local guides on The Mala cultural interpretive walk. It\u2019s a great opportunity to learn of Uluru\u2019s deep cultural significance to the land\u2019s traditional owners. You’ll also learn about the connections of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankuntjatjara Aboriginal people (known as the Anangu).<\/p>\n

Kings Canyon<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After a lunch time feast back at camp, you can sit back, relax and regroup on the drive to Kings Canyon Resort. Get ready for more laughter. Also, the chance to squeeze in a couple of toasted marshmallows by another roaring campfire.<\/p>\n

You leave camp the next morning bound for King\u2019s Canyon. You\u2019ll complete the round trip in about four hours, with plenty of stops for photos and water. It\u2019s certainly the best time of day to be out walking. You\u2019re done and dusted before the sun is out in full force.<\/p>\n

\"People

Exploring Kings Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s bittersweet, returning to Alice Springs. Especially having met new people from all over the world and made long- lasting friendships. It\u2019s hard to say goodbye. But then it should be, right? That\u2019s the beauty of a group tour.<\/p>\n

Want to take the Reef to Rock Challenge? There’s no better way to get from Cairns to Uluru. Check out the trip here.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Words and images by Bridget Mahony. You can follow her adventure at theboldline.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can you drive from Cairns to Uluru? You bet! Adventure Tours Austraila just launched a brand new 7-day overland journey: Reef to Rock.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":1027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,154],"tags":[208,18,156,109,13],"class_list":["post-1026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-guides","tag-cairns","tag-northern-territory","tag-queensland","tag-red-centre","tag-uluru"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1026"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2225,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1026\/revisions\/2225"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}