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Finke to Uluru via Old Gunbarrel

Difficulty: Trek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD Caravan Camper Bike 
An alternative route to access the wonderful Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, this trip from Finke east of the Stuart Highway takes in the Lambert Centre - the planimetric gravitational centre of Australia, and a short section of the Old Gunbarrel Highway before intersecting the main route of the Lasseter Highway near Curtain Springs. An ideal trip for those combining their trip to the Red Centre with an extended 4WD adventure of nearby Chambers Pillar, Old Andado, or even the Simpson Desert.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesFinke (Aputula)
Trek
FinishAyers Rock (Uluru)
Distance538.23 kmMinimum Days2
Average Speed78.58 km/hrDriving Time6 hr 50 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 26 Nov 2007
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 Description

For many visitors to the Red Centre the drawcard of Ayres Rock pulls visitors year round from all corners of the country. For many self-drive adventurers in this region you're likely to be enjoying the dirt roads and camping experiences that got you this far. If your route has you passing through Finke, you can pick up this back route that will keep you away from those accessing Yulara from Alice Springs 'til you're almost there. You'll also get to follow an old stock route, stand at the planimetric centre of Australia, and drive a short section of the Old Gunbarrel Highway before intersecting with the main road into Yulara, which is the Lasseter Highway.

 Interactive Route Map

Finke (Aputula)Kulgera Finke Rd & Lambert Centre TkLambert CentreLilla Creek Station Turn OffBloodwood BoreUmbeara Station Turn OffCentral Australian Railway, Kulgera Finke RdKulgeraStuart Hwy & Old Gunbarrel HwyVictory DownsMulga ParkLasseter Hwy & Mulga Park RdCurtin SpringsYularaLasseter Hwy/Uluru Rd & Kata Tjuta RdAyers Rock (Uluru)
Finke (Aputula)
Finke, also known as Aputula is administered by the Aputula Aboriginal Land Trust.
Features: Populated PlaceFuel Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee
Position: 134.5770ºE   25.5839ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Kulgera Finke Rd & Lambert Centre Tk
Distance: 20.14km
Average Speed: 84km/h
Kulgera Finke Rd & Lambert Centre Tk
Turn off here to Lambert Centre - the planimetric centre of gravity of Australia. Well worth the visit if passing by.
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 134.4005ºE   25.6601ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lambert Centre
Distance: 12.94km
Average Speed: 59.7km/h
Lambert Centre
This is the planimetric centre of gravity of Australia (not the geographical centre). At the site is the Lambert Gravitational Centre Monument and a visitors book.
Features: Marker,SignPoint of Interest
Position: 134.3548ºE   25.6101ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lilla Creek Station Turn Off
Distance: 28.03km
Average Speed: 60.86km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 134.3019ºE   25.7545ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bloodwood Bore
Distance: 1.97km
Average Speed: 92.33km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 134.2885ºE   25.7676ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Umbeara Station Turn Off
Distance: 64.32km
Average Speed: 91.58km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 133.7183ºE   25.9094ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Central Australian Railway, Kulgera Finke Rd
Distance: 31.24km
Average Speed: 91.76km/h
Central Australian Railway, Kulgera Finke Rd
Nearby is the turn off to the rail head and trucking yards.
Features: Rail Crossing
Position: 133.4136ºE   25.8832ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Kulgera
Distance: 12.87km
Average Speed: 81.77km/h
Kulgera
Kulgera is a small town at the junction of the Stuart Highway and the Kulgera Finke Rd. The Kulgera Roadhouse is one of the predominant features at the town.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee Police Station
Position: 133.2990ºE   25.8388ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Stuart Hwy & Old Gunbarrel Hwy
Distance: 19.81km
Average Speed: 53.75km/h
Stuart Hwy & Old Gunbarrel Hwy
Turnoff highway here onto this easy section of the Old Gunbarrel Highway. No permit required thru to Lasseter Highway via Mulga Park Station.
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 133.2032ºE   25.9873ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Victory Downs
Distance: 24.73km
Average Speed: 4.81km/h
Features: Populated Place
Position: 132.9739ºE   25.9880ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mulga Park
Distance: 141.44km
Average Speed: 93.97km/h
Mulga Park
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 131.6710ºE   25.9055ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lasseter Hwy & Mulga Park Rd
Distance: 66.25km
Average Speed: 102.83km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 131.8610ºE   25.3542ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Curtin Springs
Distance: 11.44km
Average Speed: 102.83km/h
Curtin Springs
Curtin Springs is a working Cattle Station owned and operated by the Severin Family. The family took over the pastoral lease in 1956 and still operate the station today. Peter Severin opened his homestead as a key stop for passing travellers on their way to Ayers Rock.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Camp Free Fuel Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
Position: 131.7546ºE   25.3156ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Yulara
Distance: 83.6km
Average Speed: 102.83km/h
Yulara
Yulara is a mixture of pure camping in tents, unpowered and powered camping and carvan sites. It has resort accommodation, food supplies, shopping, a hotel and several other places where you can have a prepared meal or a few beers.
Features: Populated PlaceCaravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Position: 130.9805ºE   25.2453ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lasseter Hwy/Uluru Rd & Kata Tjuta Rd
Distance: 8.06km
Average Speed: 72.91km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 130.9977ºE   25.3010ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Ayers Rock (Uluru)
Distance: 11.4km
Average Speed: 82.8km/h
Ayers Rock (Uluru)
Ayers Rocks (Uluru) is protected within the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, which is a Commonwealth reserve inscribed on the World Heritage List for both the cultural and natural values of its landscape.
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 131.0322ºE   25.3442ºS (GDA 94)

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 Permits

Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park entry fees apply.

 Things to See & Do
Lambert Centre   
Marker,Sign Point of Interest
This is the planimetric centre of gravity of Australia (not the geographical centre). At the site is the Lambert Gravitational Centre Monument and a visitors book.
Ayers Rock (Uluru)   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
Ayers Rocks (Uluru) is protected within the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, which is a Commonwealth reserve inscribed on the World Heritage List for both the cultural and natural values of its landscape.
Yulara   
Populated Place Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Yulara is a mixture of pure camping in tents, unpowered and powered camping and carvan sites. It has resort accommodation, food supplies, shopping, a hotel and several other places where you can have a prepared meal or a few beers. It is like a little town, it is well run and the rangers are really helpful.

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolFinke (Aputula), Kulgera, Curtin Springs, Yulara Diesel4cyl 75 litres ULP4cyl 87 litres LPG4cyl 108 litres
6cyl 83 litres6cyl 87 litres *6cyl 95 litres
8cyl 87 litres8cyl 89 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

June - November

Closest Climatic Station

Kulgera
Distance from Trek Mid Point 60.68km SE
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 36.635.732.227.8 22.619.018.922.0 26.830.133.635.0
Mean Min. °C 21.921.518.013.7 9.25.64.96.8 11.114.918.520.5
Mean Rain mm 32.235.732.714.3 12.217.512.59.2 16.221.021.833.5

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Finke (Aputula), Kulgera, Curtin Springs, Yulara

 Camp Sites & Accomodation
Finke (Aputula)   
Populated Place Fuel Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee
Finke, also known as Aputula is administered by the Aputula Aboriginal Land Trust. Facilities, goods and services available at Finke (Aputula) include: food, water, fuel, EFTPOS, medical services, postal services, some mechanical and tyre repairs, public phone, tourist information, toilets, showers, accommodation and camping facilities.
Kulgera   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee Police Station
Kulgera is a small town at the junction of the Stuart Highway and the Kulgera Finke Rd. The Kulgera Roadhouse is one of the predominant features at the town.
Curtin Springs   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Camp Free Fuel Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
Curtin Springs is a working Cattle Station owned and operated by the Severin Family. The family took over the pastoral lease in 1956 and still operate the station today. Peter Severin opened his homestead as a key stop for passing travellers on their way to Ayers Rock. They installed petrol pumps and a small store to help Len Tuit start tourism in the Ayres Rock area.
Yulara   
Populated Place Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Aboriginal Lands,Communities Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Yulara is a mixture of pure camping in tents, unpowered and powered camping and carvan sites. It has resort accommodation, food supplies, shopping, a hotel and several other places where you can have a prepared meal or a few beers. It is like a little town, it is well run and the rangers are really helpful.
For those who still prefer to bush camp rather than take the luxury of the camp ground or more upmarket accommodation available in the tourist resort at Yulara you need to stay out of town a little and pick a spot off to the side. Ensure that you have passed the "No Camping Allowed" zone that is clearly signed along the Lasseter Highway and follow any of the tracks off the main road until you find a site you like.

 Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Finke (Aputula) to Kulgera Finke Rd & Lambert Centre Tk 20.14 km SW 244° 14 min
Kulgera Finke Rd & Lambert Centre Tk to Lambert Centre 12.94 km NW 321° 13 min
Lambert Centre to Lilla Creek Station Turn Off 28.03 km S 198° 27 min
Lilla Creek Station Turn Off to Bloodwood Bore 1.97 km SW 223° 1 min
Bloodwood Bore to Umbeara Station Turn Off 64.32 km W 254° 42 min
Umbeara Station Turn Off to Central Australian Railway, Kulgera Finke Rd 31.24 km W 275° 20 min
Central Australian Railway, Kulgera Finke Rd to Kulgera 12.87 km NW 293° 9 min
Kulgera to Stuart Hwy & Old Gunbarrel Hwy 19.81 km SW 210° 22 min
Stuart Hwy & Old Gunbarrel Hwy to Victory Downs 24.73 km W 270° 5 hr 8 min
Victory Downs to Mulga Park 141.44 km W 274° 1 hr 30 min
Mulga Park to Lasseter Hwy & Mulga Park Rd 66.25 km N 17° 38 min
Lasseter Hwy & Mulga Park Rd to Curtin Springs 11.44 km W 292° 6 min
Curtin Springs to Yulara 83.6 km W 276° 48 min
Yulara to Lasseter Hwy/Uluru Rd & Kata Tjuta Rd 8.06 km S 164° 6 min
Lasseter Hwy/Uluru Rd & Kata Tjuta Rd to Ayers Rock (Uluru) 11.4 km SE 144° 8 min
Finke (Aputula) to Ayers Rock (Uluru) 538.23 km     6 hr 50 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

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