Alice Springs camping ground at the National Road Transport Museum is a surprisingly good hidden gem. It’s in a securely fenced area with full amenities and all for a great price. We highly recommend it if you’re looking for camping in Alice Springs.

Alice Springs Camping Ground National Road Transport Museum

Alice Springs Camping Ground Amenities

We spent three nights here for the princely sum of only $15 per night. Showers and flushing toilets as well as a washing machine are all provided for this small fee. The amenities are old and a bit run down however they are clean and tidy and do the job well.

Potable water is available to fill your tanks at a central filling point. Powered sites are also available for an extra $10 per night. We opted for unpowered as we just about always do as the unpowered sites are away from the vast majority of other campers who opted for power. The sites are all quite generous in size and they have a lot of them. Most of the powered sites were taken while we were there but there were plenty of unpowered sites available. Fires are allowed in contained fire pits so long as they are up off the ground.

The location is nice and close to central Alice Springs. Alice Springs is only a ten minute drive from the National Road Transport Museum campground.

To Book A Site

Camping and general inquiries call reception on (08) 8955 5047. After hours camping enquiries 3pm – 7pm Daily 0414 185 886.

About The Museums

One of Alice Springs’ most popular tourist attractions is the National Road Transport Hall of Fame. A number of buildings house old trucks and themed displays as well as the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame and Shell Rimula Wall of Fame, where road transport pioneers are remembered. There are also the Old Ghan Train, Museum and Tea Rooms, a cameleers garden, a resource library, three DVD rooms and several function and event venues within the precinct. In addition to three locomotives, the museum houses some of the rarest road vehicles in the country.

How To Get There

The Norris Bell Avenue turnoff is located 1.8km north of the Airport turnoff. Take a left at this intersection (Cemetery on corner). After driving south 6 km from The Gap roundabout, turn right onto Norris Bell Avenue.

The Uluru Sunset Viewing Area is a superb place to watch the rock change colours and moods as the sun goes down late in the day. Amanda and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Uluru From Uluru The Viewing Area

Today we drove out to the cultural centre and Uluṟu and had a look around. The cultural centre is superbly done. There are a lot of artefacts on display as well as a great overview of the history of the areas people.

After visiting the Uluru Cultural Centre we went to the Uluṟu Sunset Lookout and watched the sunset. The different colours and the shades and contrasts the rock went through while we watched were mesmerising. If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it. Uluṟu is something else. It gives off the feeling to me that it is alive and it knows who I am and who we all are and it is watching over us. It’s bloody awesome.

David And Amanda At Uluru Sunset

About The Uluru Sunset Viewing Area

A dramatic sunset at Uluru can be experienced from this vantage point. You can also visit this area at sunrise to capture Uluru silhouetted against the rising sun. It is only accessible by cars and small vehicles – buses must use the Bus Sunset and Dune Walk Viewing Areas.

Getting to Uluru Sunset Viewing Area From Yulara

We stayed at the Yulara Resort at Yulara so accessing Uluru was easy. Leave Yulara and head south. It’s about 15km to the Uluru Viewing Area. It will take you about 15 minutes. You will have to stop at the park boom gates to either scan the pass you bought online or to buy a parks pass. A three day pass is only $38 per person.

Parked At Uluru Sunset Viewing Area

The Olga’s traditional name Kata Tjuta are an absolute must visit. We visited them and it was an awesome unbelievable mesmerising experience of epic proportions. Yeah sure that was a whole lot of superlatives in one sentence that probably doesn’t make any sense but I was just trying to encapsulate the feeling of being there.

Dave And Amanda At Kata Tjuta Dunes Viewing Area

Accessing The Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park

You need a parks pass to visit the Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. You can get one at the gate or you can get one online. They are available at a cost of $38 per person for a three day pass. I reckon they represent great value.

Kata Tjuta The Olgas Valley Of The Winds Walk

Getting to The Olga’s – Kata Tjuta From Yulara

We stayed at the Yulara Resort at Yulara so accessing The Olgas was very easy for us. Leave Yulara and head west on Kata Tjuta Road. It’s about 53km to the start of the Valley Of The Winds walk. It will take you about 45 minutes. You will have to stop at the park boom gates to either scan the pass you bought online or to buy a parks pass. A three day pass is only $38 per person.

Kata Tjuta The Olgas Dunes Viewing Area

Walks At The Olgas

Walpa Gorge Walk

There is a lot of animal and plant life in Walpa Gorge, which is a desert refuge. In this area, they can find relief from the hot desert sun. Due to the refreshing winds that pass through the gorge, Walpa means windy. From the rocky path, a small track leads to a spearwood tree grove, passing rare plants. There may be a small stream running through the landscape depending on the weather. A sacred men’s site, Walpa Gorge is part of Kata Tjuta. Take plenty of drinking water and allow yourself at least an hour to complete the walk.

Kata Tjuta The Olgas Walpa Gorge

Valley Of The Winds Walk

Valley of the Winds is a must-see attraction for many people visiting Kata Tjuta – The Olga’s and it was for us. On the walk you can see Kata Tjuta’s formations from two lookouts. We made it as far as the first lookout.

On the Valley Of The Winds walk you’ll find yourself far from everyone and everything. Unless like us there are two tourist coaches there at the same time! Bring lots of drinking water, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and a hat. For people’s safety the parks people close the walk after 11 am if the temperature reaches 36 degrees Celsius. The Valley of the Winds walk is best done early in the morning, especially in summer. As a bonus for early risers it’s more likely that you’ll see kangaroos early in the morning.

Kata Tjuta The Olgas Valley Of The Winds Walk First Lookout

Agnes Creek on the Stuart Highway is one of the best free camping sites we have camped at. It’s well back off the road with loads of room and firewood. There is also abundant birdlife if that’s your thing.

Free Camping Alongside Agnes Creek

We were originally going to stop in for the night at Marryat Creek Rest Area however after reading a lot of unfavourable reviews we decided against it. After spending the night free camping at Agnes Creek on the Stuart Highway and then driving past the Marryat Creek rest area the next day we are very happy we made the choice to camp at Agnes Creek instead. Marryat Creek rest area is just a roadside rest area with a fence around it and not much to look at. Marryat Creek does have drop toilets however we are self contained anyway so a toilet is not a necessity for us.

Stuart Highway Free Camping At Agnes Creek

This is a free campground. It is dog friendly. It is accessible to motorbikes, RVs, camper trailers, caravans and big rigs. Camping in tents is allowed.

Jayco All Terrain Free Camping

At Agnes Creek, there is a mile of space for camping. It does not have any services, that is, no toilets, no showers, no potable water. The only water is from the creek and it’s not a permanent source. It was dry when we camped there – you’d have to treat it before use. Dogs are allowed. There is no mobile reception. Fires are allowed and there is plenty of firewood around if you don’t mind going for a walk to find it.

Free Camping Alongside Stuart Highway

What is available at the Agnes Creek free camp on the Stuart Highway is a sense of freedom and complete tranquility. You can see millions of stars at night under bright, clear skies. This is all completely free of charge.

Night Sky Free Camping At Agnes Creek

Free camping in Coober Pedy is the way to go. We camped for three nights on The Commons at Coober Pedy. The Commons at Coober Pedy is a free camping area just out of town. It is a huge area with enough space to easily fit a couple of hundred vans, motorhomes or camper trailers.

Free Camping In Coober Pedy On The Commons

There are no services at The Commons Free Camp at Coober Pedy so you must be self sufficient however there were no signs or information saying that you have to be self contained.

Free Camping On The Commons At Coober Pedy

Potable water is available near the Stuart Highway end of town next to the tourist information service. The water isn’t free of charge as it is bore water that has to be treated. It’s cheap enough though at on $1 per 30 litres. You pay inside the tourist information centre. There is also a public dump point near the water filling station.

Loads Of Room On The Commons At Coober Pedy

We had absolutely zero security problems at the Coober Pedy Free Camp despite what we’d been told and had read. This was even with us and one other van being about the only vans there each day and night. We happily left the vans at the commons each day and went out and explored. As always when free camping we take simple security precautions. We put our chairs, table and BBQ away inside the van. We make sure the vans toolboxes and hatches are all closed and locked. Any valuables such as computers and iPads come with us in the car.

Things To Do In Coober Pedy

Go To The Drive-In Movies

This was a truly unique experience. It’s been a long time since we’ve been to the drive in. Never thought I’d go to one in Coober Pedy! The Coober Pedy Drive-In is the last operating drive in left in SA. It was a pretty good night. We thought we’d sit outside and watch it but it was a bit chilly Willy so we got back in the cars. We saw Black Phone – not the greatest of horror movies but it did make Amanda jump a couple of times.

Coober Pedy Drive-In Movies

The Big Winch

We drove up the hill to check out The Big Winch in Coober Pedy. It’s a massive bucket on the end of a winch. They also have an old truck up there with a blower setup fitted to the back of it that you can check out. The blowers are used like a giant vacuum cleaner to extract dirt and rock from the underground mines as it is being dug. It’s a great view from up on the top of the hill at the big winch and you can pretty much see all of Coober Pedy from up there. They have a restaurant and a coffee bar and they also show a movie about Coober Pedy. Enjoy a 360° cinematic experience at Coober Pedy. An Outback Cinematic Journey unfolds upon Australia’s first permanent Circlevison experience. we didn’t stay to watch the movie as we had a lot of things to do in Coober Pedy.

Views Over Coober Pedy From The Big Winch

The Old Timers Mine

We went in and had a look at The Old Timers Mine in Coober Pedy. It was quite well put together and very educational as to how they used to dig opal and live underground in Coober Pedy. We’ve been down quite a few opal mines over the years in different places and this was as good as any of them.

• Explore an underground opal mine from 1916
• Wear a hard hat and see the natural seams of opal and fossils
• Go through one of the first working mine
• Enjoy the museum full of the history of Coober Pedy
• Discover the original underground home from the 1960’s
• Try your luck by noodling in the pits
• Underground gift shop
• Opal jewellery
• Large range of souvenirs

Old Timers Mine Coober Pedy

John’s Pizza Bar

We’ve been to Coober Pedy before and had a feed at John’s Pizza Bar and it is bloody good! we went there again on this trip and it did not disappoint.

They do an Outback Range of pizzas and one of them features a Coat of Arms pizza, a popular, original fusion of sweet cranberry preserve and savoury Australian game meats, with the subtle flavours of asparagus and camembert cheese acting to balance the overall taste sensation. Basically you get to eat every animal on the Australian Coat Of Arms all on one pizza. Pretty cool.

Great Pizzas In Coober Pedy At Johns

The Breakaways At Coober Pedy

We drove out to a place called The Breakaways about 30 minutes north of Coober Pedy to watch the sunset. The sunset was a fair bit above and beyond spectacular! I fully understand why there were at least another 20 cars out there admiring the views. You need to buy a pass from the visitors centre in Coober Pedy to access the breakaways or you can do it online. For $11 it is well worth the price of admission.

The Breakaways Near Coober Pedy

The Old Cemetery

We called in and looked over the old cemetery in Coober Pedy. It’s one of the things we love to do in old or remote towns. It was very interesting and times must have been tough in Coober Pedy in earlier times and not many people managed to make it in to old age.

Old Cemetery In Coober Pedy