Before you go

If you’re sticking strictly to the main highway, you’ll have sealed roads the whole way from Adelaide to Darwin and petrol stations frequently enough to cover your average fuel tank range. However, if you want to explore some of the national parks, remarkable landmarks and infamous four-wheel-drive tracks, you’ll need to leave the bitumen behind. As such, we suggest choosing a car with 4x4 capability, packing enough fuel, water and food to cover you while you venture off the beaten track. 

For details on permits required in South Australia, click here. 

For details on permits required in Northern Territory, click here.

Internet access in regional Australia can be limited, so it’s important to be prepared with all the information you need for your trip before you depart, including having your itinerary and booking information available in an offline format. 

For more details on how to plan an outback road trip, visit Tourism Australia's how to guide.