Gun Barrel Highway

The Gun Barrel Highway earned its name from running arrow-straight for hundreds of kilometers across the desert between Alice Springs and Newman — 1380km of gravel and dirt that cuts right through Australia’s empty heart. This isn’t a scenic route; it’s pure utilitarian transport across the continent’s most unforgiving real estate. You’ll cross the Tropic of Capricorn, pass through tiny settlements like Yulara (Uluru turnoff) and Carnegie, and experience the kind of horizon-to-horizon emptiness that makes some people lose their minds.

Any decent vehicle can handle the Gun Barrel in dry conditions, but fuel planning is critical — there’s serious distance between reliable fuel stops. Carry spares for everything and enough water for emergencies. The road gets rough after rain and can be impassable during rare desert storms. It’s not about the journey here — it’s about proving you can cross one of the world’s great empty spaces and live to tell about it.