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Finke to Uluru via Old Gunbarrel
Difficulty:
Suitable for:
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.
Start
Finke (Aputula)
Finish
Ayers Rock (Uluru)
Distance
538.23 km
Minimum Days
2
Average Speed
78.58 km/hr
Driving Time
6 hr 50 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team Updated: 26 Nov 2007
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Description
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Interactive Route Map
Driving Directions
Permits
Trek Feedback
Things to See & Do
Related Pages
Preparation
Recommended Reading
In this Trek Note
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)
Finke, also known as Aputula is administered by the Aputula Aboriginal Land Trust.
Features:
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:
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:
Position: 134.3548ºE 25.6101ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Lilla Creek Station Turn Off
Distance:
28.03km
Average Speed:
60.86km/h
Lilla Creek Station Turn Off
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 134.3019ºE 25.7545ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Bloodwood Bore
Distance:
1.97km
Average Speed:
92.33km/h
Bloodwood Bore
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features: Place Name
Position: 134.2885ºE 25.7676ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Umbeara Station Turn Off
Distance:
64.32km
Average Speed:
91.58km/h
Umbeara Station Turn Off
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
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:
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:
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:
Position: 133.2032ºE 25.9873ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Victory Downs
Distance:
24.73km
Average Speed:
4.81km/h
Victory Downs
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
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:
Position: 131.6710ºE 25.9055ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Lasseter Hwy & Mulga Park Rd
Distance:
66.25km
Average Speed:
102.83km/h
Lasseter Hwy & Mulga Park Rd
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
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:
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:
Position: 130.9805ºE 25.2453ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Lasseter Hwy/Uluru Rd & Kata Tjuta Rd
Distance:
8.06km
Average Speed:
72.91km/h
Lasseter Hwy/Uluru Rd & Kata Tjuta Rd
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
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:
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
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)
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
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.
Lambert Centre
Ayers Rock (Uluru)
Yulara
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Finke (Aputula)
,
Kulgera
,
Curtin Springs
,
Yulara
Diesel
4cyl 75 litres
ULP
4cyl 87 litres
LPG
4cyl 108 litres
6cyl 83 litres
6cyl 87 litres *
6cyl 95 litres
8cyl 87 litres
8cyl 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
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mean Max. °C
36.6
35.7
32.2
27.8
22.6
19.0
18.9
22.0
26.8
30.1
33.6
35.0
Mean Min. °C
21.9
21.5
18.0
13.7
9.2
5.6
4.9
6.8
11.1
14.9
18.5
20.5
Mean Rain mm
32.2
35.7
32.7
14.3
12.2
17.5
12.5
9.2
16.2
21.0
21.8
33.5
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
Finke (Aputula)
,
Kulgera
,
Curtin Springs
,
Yulara
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Finke (Aputula)
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
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
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
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.
Finke (Aputula)
Curtin Springs
Yulara
Kulgera
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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