RoadAtlas
Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia — Desert
Australia & Pacific

Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru

Australia

Point-to-point
Wiluna Uluru

In short: Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru is a 1,500 km desert road trip in Australia, typically driven over 7 days, best in May–Sep. Highlights: Wiluna, Carnegie Station, Everard Junction.

Distance
1,500 km
Duration
7 days
Best Season
May–Sep
IconicExtreme4WD onlyDesertOff-road sectionsPermit requiredGuide recommended

An expedition from Wiluna over the Gunbarrel corridor to Warburton, then along the Great Central Road through Warakurna and Docker River to Yulara, followed by a separate Uluru day.

~2 refuels
~5 charges
Practical notes
This is an expedition combining the remote Gunbarrel Highway with the Great Central Road. Obtain every current Aboriginal-land transit permit well before departure (https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/tourist-information/plan-your-trip/aboriginal-land-permits.aspx), confirm processing/community restrictions, and check the Shire road report (https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/road-conditions/road-reports.aspx) before each section. Use a prepared high-clearance 4WD convoy with two spares, calculated fuel/water, recovery gear, satellite communications and contingencies; do not enter communities without permission.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Wiluna to Carnegie Station

Gunbarrel Highway expedition start · Carnegie Station booked meal

Day 2Carnegie Station to Everard Junction sector

Carnegie to Everard Junction · Carried Everard Junction camp meal

Day 3Everard Junction sector to Warburton

Tjulyuru Regional Arts Gallery · Warburton Roadhouse

Day 4Warburton to Warakurna on the Great Central Road

Great Central Road transfer · Warakurna Roadhouse

Day 5Warakurna and Giles to Docker River

Giles Weather Station tour · Self-catering expedition meal

Day 6Docker River to Yulara

Docker River to Yulara transfer · Kulata Academy Cafe

Day 7Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Uluru Base Walk · Ilkari Restaurant

Stops along the route

Wiluna — Departure — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Departure
Wiluna
Prepare the convoy, permits, fuel and communications.
Carnegie Station — City — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
City
Carnegie Station
Use only with confirmed station access and services.
Warburton — City — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
City
Warburton
A permit-controlled fuel and supply point, not an invitation to tour the community.
Docker River — City — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
City
Docker River
Observe transit-permit and community-entry restrictions.
Yulara — City — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
City
Yulara
Finish the remote transfer before sightseeing.
Uluru — Arrival — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Arrival
Uluru
Visit the national park on the separate final day.

Things to Do

Everard Junction — Landmark — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Landmark
Everard Junction
The remote junction marks the Gunbarrel expedition corridor.
Warakurna and Giles — Landmark — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Landmark
Warakurna and Giles
Join the Great Central Road and use only confirmed public services.
Gunbarrel Highway expedition start — Remote 4WD transfer — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Remote 4WD transfer
Gunbarrel Highway expedition start
Confirm the station access, road report, fuel range and issued permits before leaving Wiluna.
Carnegie to Everard Junction — Remote 4WD transfer — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Remote 4WD transfer
Carnegie to Everard Junction
Use only the formed permitted route and the preloaded expedition camp coordinates; there are no dependable visitor services.
Tjulyuru Regional Arts Gallery — Conditional public gallery — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Conditional public gallery
Tjulyuru Regional Arts Gallery
Visit only if the official centre confirms public opening and your permit permits the stop; do not independently tour the community.
Great Central Road transfer — Remote 4WD transfer — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Remote 4WD transfer
Great Central Road transfer
The route changes here from the Gunbarrel corridor to the Great Central Road; obey permit and community conditions.
Show 3 more
Giles Weather Station tour — Conditional official visit — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Conditional official visit
Giles Weather Station tour
Attend only a currently advertised public tour at its stated time; otherwise make this a fuel-and-transfer day.
Docker River to Yulara transfer — Remote road transfer — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Remote road transfer
Docker River to Yulara transfer
Keep the day for the long permitted drive and arrive before dark; do not add Uluru sightseeing.
Uluru Base Walk — Cultural landscape walk — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Cultural landscape walk
Uluru Base Walk
Start early, carry water, obey closures and cultural photography requests, and allow roughly 3.5 hours for the full 10.6 km circuit.

Where to Eat

Carnegie Station booked meal — Station dining — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Station dining
Carnegie Station booked meal
Arrange any meal and accommodation directly in advance; otherwise remain fully self-catering.
Warburton Roadhouse — Roadhouse supplies — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Roadhouse supplies
Warburton Roadhouse
Confirm fuel and store service before departure and carry enough food if it is unavailable.
Warakurna Roadhouse — Roadhouse meals and supplies — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Roadhouse meals and supplies
Warakurna Roadhouse
Reconfirm fuel, food and accommodation before relying on this remote service.
Self-catering expedition meal — Carried provisions — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Carried provisions
Self-catering expedition meal
Use carried food and water; community stores are supply contingencies, not guaranteed restaurants.
Kulata Academy Cafe — Cafe — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Cafe
Kulata Academy Cafe
A practical Yulara arrival meal once the remote transfer is complete.
Ilkari Restaurant — Australian buffet — Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru — Australia
Australian buffet
Ilkari Restaurant
Reserve through Ayers Rock Resort and verify current service hours.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru drive?

The Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru covers 1,500 km from start to finish.

How long does the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru take to drive?

Most travellers spend 7 days on the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru?

The recommended season for the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru is May–Sep.

Where does the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru start and end?

The Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru runs from Wiluna to Uluru.

What are the main stops on the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru?

The Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru passes through Wiluna, Carnegie Station, Everard Junction.

How difficult is the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru to drive?

The Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru is rated extreme and is best handled with 4wd only.

Do I need a 4WD for the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru?

Yes — the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru includes off-road or rough sections that require 4wd only.

Do I need a permit or border paperwork for the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru?

Yes — the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru requires permits, fees, or border paperwork. Plan ahead: This is an expedition combining the remote Gunbarrel Highway with the Great Central Road. Obtain every current Aboriginal-land transit permit well before departure (https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/tourist-information/plan-your-trip/aboriginal-land-permits.aspx), confirm processing/community restrictions, and check the Shire road report (https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/road-conditions/road-reports.aspx) before each section. Use a prepared high-clearance 4WD convoy with two spares, calculated fuel/water, recovery gear, satellite communications and contingencies; do not enter communities without permission.

How many fuel stops are needed on the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru?

Plan around 2 refuels (or about 5 EV charges) along the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru, based on its 1,500 km length.

Is the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru safe to drive?

This is an expedition combining the remote Gunbarrel Highway with the Great Central Road. Obtain every current Aboriginal-land transit permit well before departure (https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/tourist-information/plan-your-trip/aboriginal-land-permits.aspx), confirm processing/community restrictions, and check the Shire road report (https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/road-conditions/road-reports.aspx) before each section. Use a prepared high-clearance 4WD convoy with two spares, calculated fuel/water, recovery gear, satellite communications and contingencies; do not enter communities without permission.

What scenic tier is the Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru?

The Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road to Uluru is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.