Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Stuart Highway (SA)

Stuart Highway (SA) was

The Stuart Highway, one of the longest highways in Australia, provides the premier road link between South Australia and Northern Territory. Starting at the crossroads and industrial city of Port Augusta at the tip of the Spencer Gulf, the highway immediately heads north-west through very remote pastoral country, straddling the Ghan and Indian Pacific railway line up to the roadhouse town of Pimba. The highway continues in an easterly direction to Glendambo where the railway line continues west with the Stuart Highway again heading in a north-westerly direction, passing through some extremely remote, pastoral and arid countryside up to the opal mining town of Coober Pedy. The highway continues north-west, set amongst a litter of opal mines which resemble the moon surface eventually phasing back to the dry, flat, arid countryside, passing Cadney Park roadhouse before reaching the service town of Marla. Heading north from Marla, the highway enters the Musgrave Ranges bringing a much needed change of scenery before reaching the SA/NT border near Kulgera.

State: South Australia
Name Origin: Named after the explorer John McDouall Stuart who made the first return trip from the south to north coasts of Australia (Adelaide - Darwin). The route of the highway approximates the path Stuart made on his journey.
Start: Port Augusta (Eyre Highway)
Principal Towns: Port Augusta, Pimba, Glendambo, Coober Pedy *, Marla
Finish: SA/NT border (25km south of Kulgera)
Length: 928km
Road Standard: All bitumen.
Road Quality: Excellent. The highway north of Pimba was completely re-aligned and subsequently properly sealed in 1986 - thus no older, narrower bitumen prevails. The road between Port Augusta and Pimba has mixed surface patches but is generally acceptable. A general warning for motorists driving on the Stuart Highway as its entire length passes through very remote, dry country with great distances between homesteads and little to no services available. Ample signage on the highway reminds motorists of such hazards.
Road Continuation: Click here for the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 110km/hr
* - denotes towns bypassed by the Stuart Highway

Photos from the Stuart Highway (SA) (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

On the Eyre Hwy, heading west, approaching the Stuart Hwy junction, Port Augusta West (2003).

Heading north on the Stuart Highway, Port Augusta West (2003).

The Stuart Highway, heading north-west between Port Augusta and Pimba (Tent Hill in the background) (2003).

Heading south on the Stuart Highway at the SA/NT border - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2001).

While technically in the Northern Territory, here we have the Stuart Highway heading south from Kulgera, 20km from the SA/NT border giving a good example of the surrounding scenery - thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).

	On the Eyre Hwy, heading west, approaching the Stuart Hwy junction, Port Augusta West (2003).
	Heading north on the Stuart Highway, Port Augusta West (2003).
	The Stuart Highway, heading north-west between Port Augusta and Pimba (Tent Hill in the background) (2003).
	Heading south on the Stuart Highway at the SA/NT border - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2001).
	While technically in the Northern Territory, here we have the Stuart Highway heading south from Kulgera, 20km from the SA/NT border giving a good example of the surrounding scenery - thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).