Ultimate Guide For Visiting Uluru in Australia’s Outback

Uluru, or otherwise known as Ayers Rock is a giant sandstone rock that lies in the heart of the Australian desert. It is regarded as having sacred cultural significance with more than 300,000 visitors, both foreign and domestic, flocking to it each year. Here are my top tips for planning your visit:

Best time of year to visit

You can visit anytime of year and it will be incredible, but the best time would be between May and September when the maximum daily temperature ranges between 20 and 30 degrees (C).

If you visit between December and February, keep in mind this is the Australian summer and temperatures usually hit the mid 30’s (celsius) and can reach 43-45 degrees on some days).

Getting here

There are a few options here. You can fly, drive or join a group tour that takes you there by coach.

FLY: Connellan (Ayers Rock AYQ) airport is about 8km from the resort, which is about a 9 minute drive.

Alternatively, you can fly into Alice Springs and make the 5 hour drive.

Pro Tip: Flights to and from Alice Springs (and car hire in Alice) can be easier and cheaper depending on which Australian city you are flying from and which airline you are flying with. We chose to fly in and out of Alice to save some money, for a better flight route and time coming from our previous location…and so we could see some of the beautiful natural sites in the area. Check out my Top Things To Do in Alice Springs HERE.

DRIVE:

This is relatively straightforward. If you are coming from Alice Springs you will take the Stuart Highway south for about 200 kilometres (2 hours) and then a right onto the Lasseter Highway- following this the whole way there. You can’t miss the turn (there is a roadhouse called Erldunda there). It is well signposted.

From Kings Canyon (in Watarrka National Park) you will take Luritja Road south (the same way you got there…not many people enter Kings Canyon from the road on the north side as this route requires a 4WD) for 160 kilometres (just under 2 hours) and then link up with the Lasseter Highway (turn right for Uluru, Left for Alice Springs). Once again, everything is well signposted.

Roads in the Aussie outback are long and relatively straight, without much being passed on the way. Make sure you plan accordingly with your fuel stops.

GROUP TOUR/COACH:

AAT Kings offer 2-5 day short escapes or you can simply book a coach transfer with them if you want to ride solo once arriving at Uluru. You have several options here:

From Alice Springs
From Kings Canyon
From Ayers Rock Airport

Getting around

The best way to get around to all the different activities and go in and out of the national park is by private vehicle, so I highly recommend hiring a car. If you are not an Australian who has driven their own car out there, you can either pick up a rental at the airport in Alice Springs, Ayers Rock or even the town of Yulara (where you will find the Ayers Rock Resort).

If you are just wanting to move around the resort itself to grab groceries, use an ATM, access the visitor centre or attend one of the cultural activities then you can make use of the free shuttle so you don’t have to move and park the car again.

If, however, you don’t feel comfortable driving or it is not in the budget to hire a car then you can organise tours to pick you up at your accommodation within the resort village. These tours include the Field of Lights, Kata Tjuta and getting to Uluru for a walk or cycle around the base. Check out your options HERE.

Where to stay

The resort has a number of options depending on your budget and group size. We stayed in a 20 bed female dorm room at the Outback Pioneer Lodge and noticed that many families were using this place of accommodation too (there are rooms that sleep 4 people with bunk beds and double beds). Other options (in order of budget… low-high) include:

Campground
Emu Apartments
Desert Gardens Hotel (the only accommodation that offers rooms with a view of Uluru.
Sails in the Desert
Longitude 131 (Luxury Desert Camp).

All of these can be explored on the resort site, with the exception of Longitude, which is not a part of the main resort/village.

What to SEE and DO

Landscape/ Outdoor activities

Walk Base (you can no longer climb it without getting a possible fine)
Cycle around the Base
Hike Kata Tjuta (Valley of the Winds)

Cultural Activities

Visit the Cultural Centre
Dot Painting
Didgeridoo workshop
Bush Yarn
Bush Tucker

While visiting there are lots of great opportunities to connect with Indigenous culture and learn more about Australia’s first people. From food to music, to art there is something for all ages to add a bit of fun and creativity to the day. I also think it is a great way to experience the place as authentically as possible. Charlotte and I took a didgeridoo workshop, learnt how to dot paint with Aboriginal symbols and sat and listened to Aboriginal man have a yarn about his way of life.

Wildlife experiences

Ride a Camel

Bucket list

Sunrise and Sunset viewing
Field of Lights
Helicopter flight over Uluru/Kata Tjuta
Sounds of Silence (an evening of dining under the starry desert sky with with a 3 course dinner, drinks and didgeridoo performance).

All activities can be found on the Ayers Rock Resort website and booked online or through your accommodation once you are there. I highly recommend booking most activities online beforehand as some can be quite popular and sell out.

What to bring/wear

Hiking boots/trainers
Good quality thick socks to avoid sore, blistered feet.
Light Jumpers (layers). It can get cool at night and a bit windy at times around the base or at Kata Tjuta.
One thicker jacket.
SUNBLOCK
Broad brim hat
Swim suit (most accommodations have a pool you can access).
Backpack with reusable water bottles.
Nice dress for photos (if you are someone who loves to get a good instagram snap).
Leggings, shorts, t-shirts etc. Better to not expose too much skin to avoid getting sunburnt.
And a CAMERA of course 🙂

Food

The resort village offers several options from cafes to restaurants, most of which are located at the different hotels. Information on these can be found HERE. Alternatively, you could do what we did…stay at a place with access to a communal kitchen and prepare our own. Groceries are available at the IGA supermarket, which is walking distance (or accessible using the free shuttle) from all accommodations.

Or if you are looking for a little luxury/romance you can book one of the special dining experiences such as the Sounds of Silence listed above or Tali Wiru which is an exclusive 4 course dinner designed to draw attention to native ingredients and indigenous culture, history and spirituality of the land.

Other useful tips:

Fly nets vs Insect repellant

Flies are rampant here and DO NOT respond to repellant! They get all through the areas of your nose, eyes, face etc and you will spend all day doing what is called the ‘Aussie Salute’ (swatting flies away from you by waving your arms)… and no I’m not kidding, that is what it is called, yes I’m serious! 😂 In light of this, as unattractive as they look, you may want to opt for the Fly net. You can purchase one cheaply around the resort once you get there.

Wifi/Signal

This can be a little slow and ‘patchy’ so use the opportunity to disconnect for a few days and catch up on all your socials once you are back in Alice Springs.

Photo spots

To capture these once in a lifetime memories for either the mantlepiece, scrapbook or the ‘gram’ there are a few spots you will definitely want to check out. Remember that Uluru looks different at different times of day, so to see it in ALL of its glory you need to experiment with the lighting at Sunrise, Sunset and during the day.

Sunrise viewing area
Sunset viewing area
The lookout located behind the Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge.
If you walk/cycle the base you will come across a heap of photo spots, just take your time and enjoy it.