Uluru to Chambers Pillar

I could also head straight to the Stuart Hwy and then onto Horseshoe Bend but on the map it looks like the track past Horseshoe Bend is a private track. Are you allowed to use this track?? if so do you need permission

Hi Stew

Sounds like the best way. We have been on all of those roads except the Ernest Giles (with our caravan in 2008), but from others who have been through the Ernest Giles it is no worse. We found parts of the track into Chambers Pillar from Maryvale about the worst - we had come down from Alice Springs on the Old South (Finke) Road. We went on the Ernest Giles for a very short distance from the Stuart Highway to see Henbury Meteor Craters. The Hugh Stock Route was good (one section which was not as well maintained had creek line dips to watch out for). We travel solo.

A little further north of the Hugh Stock Route is the turn off to Rainbow Valley. I particularly liked this small sandstone ridge which is very different to others in the area, being colourful, smooth, soft and creamy. A great sunset viewing spot, but good at any time of day.

Are you towing?

Motherhen

In 2007 we drove from Uluru to Chambers Pillar.
The Ernest Giles Road had the worst corrugations we have experienced (and we have experienced some doozies).
The Hugh River Stock Route was very good, just don't get lost crossing the rail line.
The Old South Road was "pretty ordinary".
Maryvale to Chambers Pillar was OK.
None of that information is of the slightest use to anyone now though :-(

Don't miss Rainbow Valley or the art gallery at Titjikala.

Cheers,
Peter

we did the Hugh River Stock Route a few months back from the Stuart Hwy to Chambers Pillar. i'm pretty sure that's the route we took anyway, you turn right off the hwy about 30 klms North of the metorite crater turn off from memory?
the track (more like a graded dirt road really) was in really good condition back then, and your Landcruiser will have no problems, heck it was that good i probably could have driven a Commodore along it without a drama. there's a few gates to open and close along the way, you turn left after crossing over the train line (not right like you'd think), then follow the line North for a tiny bit, before turning East at the bottom of the train bridge (i think where you cross the river?) for the run towards Maryvale.
you'll easily do that drive in a day, the slowest part will be once you turn off at Maryvale to go in towards Chambers Pillar. about 10 klms from the campground the track was quite corrogated, but the rest of the road had graders working on it when we were there, so was very easy going.

I recommend sticking to the Lasseter way.

We did 50odd klms along Ernest Giles Road from Rogers pass to Luritja Road after coming through the Finke Gorge National Park in June this year.

Sections of very heavy corrugations in places comparable to the worst sections of the Canning.

If you stick to the Lasseter - Stuart - hugh river etc you should have no problems getting there in one day.

Cheers Jim

I did Uluru to Chambers Pillar via the Stuart Highway and Hugh River Stock Route about 6 weeks ago. The Hugh River Stock Route was very cut up and muddy in places after the rain. There is a campground at a place called "Oak Valley" along the Hugh River Stock route if you don't quite make it. From memory, about 25 km from the eastern end of the route.

I was expecting a campground at the Maryvale store, but there is none. There were people camped in the township nearby, but it looked a very rough place with problems with the locals. I would not recommend staying there.

Do check out the Maryvale store. Sells a very wide range of products from frozen kangaroo tail, aboriginal artefacts, 3kg tins of bushells tea, clothes to a top loading washing machine. Fuel sales close at 5pm from memory.

The track from Maryvale to Chambers Pillar was very good.

All doable in a long day.

It was some years ago now, but upon returning from chambers pillar we turned off onto a station track, from memory about 25km from the pillar, and headed west towards the train line. We followed the train line to the "big white tyre' where we again turned west and entered rainbow valley from the back way. then proceed from rainbow valley to the highway and onto uluru. I have no idea wether or not this track is still allowable or not but it was a great trek at the time. Easily done but somesoft sandy sections and dry creeks to negotiate.
Dan