7 Day Uluru to Adelaide Backpacker Tour

Your adventure kicks off at 2:00 pm, when you meet your Storyteller Guide outside the Desert Gardens Hotel in Yulara. After a warm welcome and group intro, we head straight into Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park to begin connecting with Country.

Our first stop is the Cultural Centre, where you’ll gain insight into the ancient traditions of the Aṉangu people, Traditional Owners of this sacred land. Through exhibitions, art, and optional presentations from rangers or Anangu hosts, you’ll begin to understand the deep spiritual significance of Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa. Places where powerful creation stories converge.

After setting up camp, we make our way to a sunset viewing platform to witness Uluru glowing a vibrant red and gold in the fading light. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and take in the silence of the desert. Back at camp, share a hearty dinner and roll out your swag beneath a sky bursting with stars. This is just the beginning.

Accommodation: Swag camping with amenities at Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Meals Included: Dinner

Travelling from Alice Springs? Bus transfers to Yulara are available. See “IMPORTANT INFORMATION” for more details.

Wake to another untamed moment as the majestic domes of Kata Tjuṯa rise from the desert in the soft morning light. Towering 546 metres above the red earth, this sacred site holds deep spiritual significance for the Aṉangu people and is a striking icon of the Red Centre. Embark on the 2.6 km Walpa Gorge Walk, a serene trail through a dramatic natural corridor, where ancient rock formations and rare desert flora create a landscape rich in story and stillness. Back at camp, take the opportunity to unwind—cool off in the pool, explore the Gallery of Central Australia, or immerse yourself in cultural experiences like bush food tastings or didgeridoo demonstrations, each offering a deeper connection to Country.

In the afternoon, we journey to the heart of the outback—Uluru. This immense monolith is more than just a landmark; it’s a living cultural site and spiritual heartland. Join your guide for the Uluru Base Walk, a 10 km circuit that reveals sacred sites, geological wonders, and ancient rock art. Prefer a slower pace? Shorter walk options are available.

As the sun dips below the horizon, choose to dine at one of the many eateries at the resort—or, for a truly unforgettable evening, pre book and upgrade to the Field of Light experience. Here, 50,000 solar-powered lights transform the desert into a dreamscape under the stars.

Accommodation: Swag camping at Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we leave Yulara behind and journey into the heart of Watarrka National Park, home to one of the most striking natural features in the Red Centre, Kings Canyon.

Today’s highlight is the Rim Walk, a 6 km loop that takes in towering cliffs, beehive-shaped domes, and dramatic views that stretch across the desert. You’ll climb through the now-famous Priscilla’s Crack, wander through the weathered formations of the Lost City, and descend into the lush Garden of Eden, where unexpected waterholes and ancient plant life offer a moment of cool, green calm in the red rock landscape.

By afternoon, we arrive at Kings Creek Station, a working cattle station turned outback haven. Take a dip in the pool, grab a drink from the café-bar, or simply relax and soak in the stillness of the desert as the day fades into golden hour.

You’ll be able to buy dinner at the Station’s laid-back eatery, followed by another night under the stars in your swag.

Accommodation: Swag camping with amenities at Kings Creek Station

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s journey takes us south across the Northern Territory–South Australia border, through vast desert plains and ever-changing landscapes. It’s a big travel day, but the scenery makes every kilometre worthwhile, with stops along the way to refresh and refuel.

By late afternoon, we roll into Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world and one of Australia’s quirkiest outback towns. With daytime temperatures soaring, most of the town’s residents live underground. From homes and shops to churches and hotels, everything is carved into the hillsides to escape the desert heat.

Tonight, settle into your underground bunkhouse at Radeka Downunder, with time to explore town and grab dinner at a local spot of your choice.

Accommodation: 5-share underground dorm at Radeka Downunder

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, dive into the underground world of Coober Pedy with a visit to the Old Timers Mine. Discover how these precious stones are formed, and try your luck at noodling – fossicking through red dust for opal fragments. You never know what might turn up.

We then hit the road, travelling through vast outback country and lunar-like landscapes. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch in one of South Australia’s quirky outback towns. By late afternoon, we arrive at Warren Gorge, set in the heart of the Ikara–Flinders Ranges. This ancient mountain range is known for its dramatic geology, rich First Nations history, and rare wildlife, including the elusive yellow-footed rock wallaby.

After setting up camp, enjoy a delicious dinner cooked by your guide, then kick back and look up. The Flinders Ranges are famous for their crystal-clear skies and dazzling starscapes. Roll out your swag and fall asleep under the Milky Way, surrounded by the timeless energy of this extraordinary landscape.

Accommodation: Swag camping at Warren Gorge (toilets available, no showers)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Wake up in the rugged beauty of Warren Gorge, where today’s first adventure begins with a hike through a landscape rich in colour, texture, and life. The 5 km Warren Gorge Loop Trail winds through towering orange cliffs and ancient cypress pines, with lookouts like Smoke-Oh offering sweeping views over the surrounding ranges.

After the hike, we roll into Hawker, a small outback town with big artistic flair. You’ll have free time to grab lunch and check out the Jeff Morgan Gallery, home to massive panoramic artworks that bring the outback to life in vivid colour.

Later, lace up for the Wangara Lookout Hike (7 km return), starting at the visitor centre. The trail leads through Pound Gap, flanked by towering river red gums, and past the historic Hills Homestead before ascending to the lookout. If you make it to the top platform, the panoramic views over Wilpena Pound are more than worth the effort.

As the sun dips and shadows stretch across the ranges, we arrive at Wilpena Pound, our base for the night. Join a Welcome to Country with a local Yura guide, sharing stories first spoken in Yura Ngawarla, then brought to life in English. Enjoy a relaxed camp dinner and take in the night sky. You’re sleeping beneath a certified Dark Sky Reserve, where the stars promise to put on a show.

Accommodation: Swag camping with amenities at Discovery Parks Wilpena Pound

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After one last breakfast together, we roll up our swags and set out on the Arkaroo Rock Trail, a short but powerful walk with sweeping views over the Chace Range. This site holds deep cultural significance for the Adnyamathanha people and features ancient rock art depicting parts of the Yura Muda (Dreaming) creation story of Ikara. It’s a moment to reflect on the stories that have shaped this land for thousands of years.

We then make our way south to the historic railway town of Quorn, where you can pick up lunch. Once a bustling hub for steam trains, Quorn is now renowned for its vintage railway and movie-star past. It has been the backdrop for films such as The Water Diviner and Wolf Creek. Keep an eye out, you might recognise a scene or two.

As the outback fades into farmland, we roll through the scenic Clare Valley wine region, known for its vineyards and rolling hills, before arriving back in Adelaide around 7:00 pm, where your adventure comes to a close.

Meals Included: Breakfast