Melbourne to Alice Springs road trip: Distance, driving time & stops
Melbourne to Alice Springs drive: Stuart Highway section
But we’re interested in the Stuart Highway, which continues north to Alice Springs and – eventually – Darwin. The first leg is from Port Augusta to Coober Pedy, the strange underground opal mining town. This is all outback, with the best stops being the former secret weapons-testing town of Woomera and the dazzling salt pan expanses of Lake Hart.
In Coober Pedy you can take opal mine tours and visit underground show homes. You can also stay overnight in a cave hotel.
Across the Northern Territory border
The last leg of the Melbourne to Alice Springs road trip is from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs. This slog up the Stuart Highway takes just over seven hours.
Best Coober Pedy accommodation choices
The most interesting places to stay in Coober Pedy are:
- For gloriously weird underground rooms in a former opal mine: Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience.
- For (usually) the cheapest rates: The Underground Motel.
- For pool, playground and apartments: Big4 Stuart Range Outback Resort.
- For above ground rooms made from rammed earth, with merciful air-conditioning: Mud Hut Motel.
You might want to pull over for photos at the Breakaways just north of Coober Pedy, then the Northern Territory border sign. Otherwise, it’s all Stuart Highway roadhouses. Erldunda Roadhouse is at the junction of the Lasseter Highway heading to Uluru, and Stuart’s Well is home to Camel Tours NT, which takes visitors out on camel rides.
Sort out your Red Centre transport now
Once finally at your destination, things to do in Alice Springs include the Araluen Cultural Precinct and the Alice Springs Desert Park.
Best Alice Springs accommodation choices
These are the best Alice Springs accommodation picks:
- For a solid, relatively affordable motel: Elkira Court Motel.
- For villas, gardens and a lagoon-style pool: Desert Palms.
- For backpackers: Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn.
- For a kid-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Alice Springs.
- For business-friendly serviced apartments: Quest Alice Springs.
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