Longest shortcut
CAIRNS TO PERTH TAGALONG TOUR
Welcome to the Longest Shortcut Tagalong Tour Itinerary!
This is your guide to Australia’s iconic journey from Cairns to Perth through the heart of the Outback. Discover everything you need to cross the desert, visit Uluru, explore remote communities, camp under endless skies, and experience the true spirit of Australia’s rugged interior.
Our tours run on set departure dates, which you’ll see listed below. Scroll down further for the full day-by-day itinerary, packed with details about the tracks you’ll drive, the places you’ll camp, and the incredible experiences along the way.
If you still have questions or need extra info, check out our FAQ Page or Contact us directly. We’re always happy to help.
TOUR DATES
(2027)
14th – 30th April – 3 x PLACES REMAINING
CAIRNS TO PERTH 16 DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 – Cairns - Hughenden
Drive via the Gillies Range and Ravenshoe (bypassing Undara). Stop at Porcupine Gorge.
Day 3 – Winton - Boulia
Cross the Channel Country to the “Home of the Min Min Light”
Day 5 – Birdsville - Simpson Desert
Depart Birdsville and head deep into the Simpson Desert, taking on the first of the iconic red sand dunes and remote 4WD tracks.
Day 9 - Simpson Desert - Mount Dare
Finish the Simpson Desert crossing and make our way to Mount Dare, leaving the dunes behind after an incredible few days in one of Australia’s most remote landscapes.
Day 11 - Erldunda - Uluru
Head west to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for sunset at the monolith.
Day 13 – Uluru - Warburton
Enter WA via the Great Central Road (permits required); stop at Tjukayirla Roadhouse.
Day 15 - Laverton - Kalgoorlie
See the massive Super Pit gold mine and historic Hannan Street.
Day 2 – Hughenden - Winton
Explore the Australian Age of Dinosaurs and the Waltzing Matilda Centre.
Day 4 – Boulia - Birdsville
Drive the remote Boulia, Birdsville route, passing through open Channel Country before arriving in Birdsville.
Day 6-8 Simpson Desert
Spend the next three days crossing the Simpson Desert, navigating endless dunes, remote tracks and spectacular outback scenery, with unforgettable bush camps along the way.
Day 10 - Lambert Centre - Kulgera / Erldunda
Visit the Lambert Centre, the geographical centre of mainland Australia, before continuing north toward Kulgera or Erldunda and rejoining the Stuart Highway.
Day 12 – Uluru Kata Tjuta
Explore the Valley of the Winds domes before starting the Great Central Road.
Day 14 – Warburton - Laverton
Complete the desert crossing; visit the Gwalia Ghost Town near Leonora.
16 - Kalgoorlie - Perth
Final run via Wave Rock (Hyden) and the Wheatbelt into Perth.
Day 1 – Cairns - Hughenden
Drive via the Gillies Range and Ravenshoe (bypassing Undara). Stop at Porcupine Gorge.
Day 2 – Hughenden - Winton
Explore the Australian Age of Dinosaurs and the Waltzing Matilda Centre.
Day 3 – Winton - Boulia
Cross the Channel Country to the “Home of the Min Min Light”
Day 4 – Boulia- Birdsville
Drive the remote Boulia, Birdsville route, passing through open Channel Country before arriving in Birdsville.
Day 5 – Birdsville - Simpson Desert
Depart Birdsville and head deep into the Simpson Desert, taking on the first of the iconic red sand dunes and remote 4WD tracks.
Day 6-8 Simpson Desert
Spend the next three days crossing the Simpson Desert, navigating endless dunes, remote tracks and spectacular outback scenery, with unforgettable bush camps along the way.
Day 9 - Simpson Desert - Mount Dare
Finish the Simpson Desert crossing and make our way to Mount Dare, leaving the dunes behind after an incredible few days in one of Australia’s most remote landscapes.
Day 10 - Lambert Centre - Kulgera / Erldunda
Visit the Lambert Centre, the geographical centre of mainland Australia, before continuing north toward Kulgera or Erldunda and rejoining the Stuart Highway.
Day 11 - Erldunda - Uluru
Head west to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for sunset at the monolith.
Day 12 – Uluru Kata Tjuta
Explore the Valley of the Winds domes before starting the Great Central Road.
Day 13 – Uluru - Warburton
Enter WA via the Great Central Road (permits required); stop at Tjukayirla Roadhouse.
Day 14 – Warburton - Laverton
Complete the desert crossing; visit the Gwalia Ghost Town near Leonora.
Day 15 - Laverton - Kalgoorlie
See the massive Super Pit gold mine and historic Hannan Street.
16 - Kalgoorlie - Perth
Final run via Wave Rock (Hyden) and the Wheatbelt into Perth.
GALLERY
FUN FACT
While Uluru stands 348 meters tall, geologists estimate that about two-thirds of it is below the ground, so what you see above the surface is just the tip.