Alice Springs to Uluru drive

The road distance is 465 km and a direct drive takes about 5.5 hours of wheel time.

Add the 15 minute break advised every two hours and a fuel stop at Erldunda and the day is long, so treat it as a full day of travel rather than a morning.

It is a safe road for a rested driver, and the risks are the ones that come with distance. Many Territory roads are unfenced, and animals are most active at sunrise, sunset and at night. Never swerve for an animal: slow down and sound the horn. At night, drive within the reach of your headlights.

Road trains are common in the Territory and can be over 50 m long, so give them room and only overtake on a long clear stretch. If you break down, stay with the vehicle, because help may not be possible for many hours, particularly at night.

Whether a one-way return is allowed, and what it costs, depends on the rental company and the car, and you are told at booking. For example, Hertz's Australian terms say a one way fee may apply if you return the car to a different location, and that you are advised at reservation whether it is permitted. The same terms say a daily kilometre allowance may apply, so a 465 km run is worth checking against it.

Supply at the Uluru end is thin: there are only a limited number of rental cars in Yulara, so book a few weeks ahead. That also applies if you want to pick up at Ayers Rock Airport and drive back to Alice Springs.

The highway is not the restricted part. Rental companies may limit where you can drive. For example, Hertz lists driving on unsealed roads as a prohibited use, so read that clause before you plan side trips off the sealed road.