Uluru (Ayers Rock) is not only a stunning sight — it’s also a sacred place to Australia’s Aboriginal people. Steep rockface towering over vast lands, there’s simply no geological feature like it anywhere in the world. Here’s how to make the most of it:
Image credit: Parks Australia
1. Give yourself enough time to soak it in.
We recommend three or four days to really uncover Uluru, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon.
2. Don't consider climbing.
Out of respect for local tradition, climbing the rock is now prohibited. We love alternatives like walking and Segway tours, which offer plenty of vantage points.
Image credit: Parks Australia
3. Go guided.
Catch the subway over to While you can explore Uluru and the Red Centre yourself, joining a tour or day trip with an expert local guide will help you appreciate this profound place. Interested in knowing more about ancient Aboriginal rock art? Specialised guides can let you in on the secret history.
4. Grab a meal beneath Uluru.
If you’re looking for a meal or a drink inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, head to the community-owned Ininti Cafe at the Cultural Centre or book in for AAT Kings’ BBQ dinner, which includes heaping plates of outback favourites served under the open sky. For an especially unforgettable experience, Ayers Rock Resort’s Sounds of Silence outdoor dining in Yulara treats you to a buffet on a special viewing platform overlooking Uluru. As the sun sets, enjoy bush tucker-inspired cuisine, sparkling wine, a didgeridoo performance and a special astronomy lesson by an expert star talker. On a budget? Nothing beats a picnic beside a watering hole!
Image credit: Unsplash
5. Don't miss the viewpoints.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park’s dedicated viewpoints really do offer the best views of Uluru’s colourful sunrises and sunsets. Stay a bit longer to watch the colours of the desert intensify.
Image credit: Mark Pickthall/Ayers Rock Resort
6. Experience “Field of Light Uluru.”
The perfect evening experience: 50,000 spindles of light illuminate at dusk for a spectacular sight. The installation by artist Bruce Munro — aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku or ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ in local Pitjantjatjara — covers a space larger than seven football fields. Wander the fantasy garden of light stems swaying through a spectrum of desert colours. Book early!
7. Be creative.
Get in touch with a long history of creativity with a Dot Painting Workshop at Voyagers Ayers Rock Resort. Perfect for families and creative types, the workshop explores how Anangu paintings are created for educational and ceremonial purposes as well as storytelling. Join local Indigenous artists and learn about the different symbols depicting Creation Time (Tjukurpa) stories. Then — under the expert guidance of Maruku Arts and the local Indigenous artist — have a go at creating your own dot painting artwork — the perfect souvenir!
