The Red Center of Australia is an iconic landscape that stands out as a visually mesmerizing part of the country. The striking red dirt is something that most people relate to the country and getting to see it for yourself is something that is really unforgettable. Besides the remarkable color of the earth here, the other important aspect to this part of the country is the spiritual importance of the rock formations and landmarks to the Aboriginal people, such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and others.
The traditional owners and guardians of this area are the Anangu people. Traditional owners are the different Aboriginal groups that have inhabited the land for over 60,000 years. They see themselves as caretakers of the land, appreciative of what their ancestors have provided for them and maintaining the Earth for future generations. Because of this, they have a spiritual connection with the land and have many dreamtime stories (traditional narratives that explain creation of the world and animals, provide warnings for different natural phenomena, and explain the spiritual law that the communities abide by) that are tied to these important landmarks.
Dreamtime stories are incredibly sacred to the Aboriginal people and are not often shared with those outside their communities. (And you can’t blame them for keeping their deep history and culture to themselves when Europeans have historically taken advantage of and exploited things that the Aboriginal people have shared, including the sacred rock of Uluru.) Today, the Anangu have generously provided basic information and the essences of different Dreamtime stories for Uluru and the sites around it, making it one of the most important destinations for people to visit if they want an introduction to the Aboriginal history and culture.
The Importance of Uluru
Uluru is a unique and enormous rock that protrudes out of the ground in the center of the desert of Australia. Because of the stark contrast between the rock and the flat desert, it has been a remarkable tourist attraction since the 1930s. It was during this time that the site was named Ayers Rock by European settlers in the area as they built an airport and infrastructure to support visitors to the area.
In 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of the land of Uluru to the Anangu people, with the condition that it be leased back to the National Parks organization to continue to allow tourism to flourish in this part of the country. This relationship continues to evolve over time. Things that may have been permitted by the government over the years may no longer be allowed because they infringe on the sacredness of the land to the Aboriginal people. For example, tourists used to be able to climb to the top of the Uluru rock; however, some tourists unfortunately died during this challenging climb. The death of any person on the sacred land of Aboriginal people weighs very very heavily on them in their culture and leads to years of mourning and ceremonies to process each tragedy. (In addition, people were heavily disrespecting the rock with their actions.) The government allowed the banning of climbing the rock by tourists with the condition that other attractions be built and designed to maintain the same level of tourism in the area, such as sunset dinners and drone light shows.
The Rock is also the site of important rituals and photographs in the designated areas (signs are posted to indicate the restricted areas) are strictly prohibited due to the ceremonial and cultural significance. It is through respecting the wishes of the Original Owners (Aboriginal people) that people will continue to have the privilege of visiting and experiencing this beautiful destination.
Different Sites to Explore Around Uluru
There are a few different rock formations that can be explored around the Uluru region. Here are the three that are most popular to visit, hike around, and experience.
Uluru
This rock is the namesake of the region and the most iconic piece of the red desert landscape of the center of Australia. We discussed the cultural significance of the rock above and it is the tourist draw to this destination. The rock is quite stunning due to its size and stark protrusion from the flat landscape all around it. There is a walking/biking path that circulates the rock, allowing visitors to tour it from all sides to see the changing colors of the rock based on the position of the sun. There are viewpoints around the rock where people congregate at sunset. For sunrise, the most popular location to see the rock is at a viewing platform, where Kata Tjuta can also be observed.
Kata Tjuta
Kata Tjuta is a formation of a few large domed rocks in the desert near Uluru. The best place to photograph these rocks (and one of the only places to photograph it) is at the popular platform viewpoint of Kata Tjuṯa Dune Viewing Area, which is often visited at sunrise or sunset. Kata Tjuta is incredibly sacred to the Anangu people and photographing any portion of the rock formation while hiking within and around the site is forbidden. While you can hike within Kata Tjuta without a guide, it may be more beneficial to be part of a tour group or hire a guide to get the most out of the experience. The Valley of the Winds is the most popular hike that will take you through the transformative landscape.
Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park)
Kings Canyon is located 3.5 hours away from Uluru towards Alice Springs. (This is such a large and barren landscape so you can expect large distances between destinations.) You do not need to stay near Uluru to visit Kings Canyon; the location has a resort and glamping options. The best hike in this canyon is the rim walk, a walk that takes you both above the canyon on the rim and down into the canyon to the Garden of Eden, a fresh water hole with a variety of plants. If it has recently rained, you can find the water hole full of water and the streams and waterfalls running. This is a rare occurrence, being in a harsh desert.
Some Uluru Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Uluru located?
Uluru is located in the center of Australia in the Red Centre desert. It is part of the Northern Territory.
Are Ayers Rock and Uluru the same?
Yes, and no. Ayers Rock is the name given to the rock by non-Aboriginal explorers (of European descent). Now, Ayers Rock is used as the name of the airport (it’s hard to change the name of an airport) and the main resort and hotel area near the rock. However, the name of the rock itself and the area has been returned to the Aboriginal name of Uluru. The official name is Uluru / Ayers Rock (in that order) but it is always referred to by its original name.
When is the best time to visit Uluru? When should you not visit Uluru?
Because Uluru is located in the middle of the desert, it can be in a very harsh and hot climate. You can visit any time of the year but you should be prepared for extreme heat in the summer months and bring sufficient water when out on hikes throughout the region. The weather during the day is most pleasant between May and September, with the shoulder months of April and October as great options as well. The evenings can get quite cold during the winter months so make sure you are prepared for those sunset vistas and camping experiences.
The summer months of December through February are going to be the hottest of the year with temperatures rising to 97°F or 36°C on average. It is also important to note that heat and sun in the southern hemisphere is warmer and stronger than in the northern hemisphere due to the thinning of the ozone layer and the hole in the ozone over the continent of Australia. With the heat in this area comes tons and tons of flies. And we are not exaggerating! The flies are looking for any source of moisture in the dry desert and will try to go into your mouth, nose, and eyes to get any water. They will be pesky to the point where you will not be able to talk or eat while out in the desert. If you get lucky and it has recently rained, you may have fewer issues with flies. No matter when you go, bring a fly or mosquito net cover to visit the Uluru area, especially in the summer months. Purchase the net cover prior to arriving in Uluru because you will be paying a premium for the net around Uluru.
What is there to do in Uluru?
In Uluru and the overall region, there is a plethora to do that range from hiking and biking activities to cultural explorations. The area is sacred to Aboriginal people and is a great place to learn about their history, customs, and culture. All guides in the Uluru region have particular certifications, developed by the Aboriginal people here, to be able to work in and around Uluru. You can visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn more. There are also a variety of ways to visit Uluru, including biking around the base, segwaying around the rock, or walking either independently or with a tour group. You can also walk through Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon to experience these sacred areas. Finally, staying at the Ayers Rock resort gives you access to pool facilities to relax in the Red Desert during your stay. The resort also organizes a variety of sunrise and sunset activities, including dinners, breakfasts, light shows, and more that can entertain you all while experiencing this beautiful landscape.
Where should you fly to to visit Uluru?
The most direct airport to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta is the Ayers Rock airport. The Ayers Rock resort has a shuttle that runs between the hotel area of Uluru and the airport, giving you easy access to your accommodation, if this is where you are staying. If you are doing a group tour with camping or glamping accommodations independently from the Ayers Rock resort, then they typically pick you up from the airport. Finally, there are a few car rental agencies at the airport as well, should you need your own transportation. If you are considering visiting Kings Canyon, you may want to look into flying into Uluru and out of Alice Springs (or vice versa) because Kings Canyon is right in between the two airports.
What is the difference between Uluru, Yulara, and Alice Springs?
Uluru is a large rock and iconic landmark in the middle of the Red Desert of Australia. It is also the overall region around the rock, including the Ayers Rock resort and Kata Tjuta. Yulara is the town outside of the airport of Ayers Rock and the town in which all the hotels of Uluru reside. Alice Springs is the largest town in the area, located 6 hours away from Uluru and Yulara. There are airports in both Uluru and Alice Springs.
Where should you stay to visit Uluru?
If you are looking for hotel accommodations or a campground, you can look into staying at Ayers Rock resort in Yulara, the town outside of Uluru. The collection of hotels in Uluru all belong to the Ayers Rock resort and are at a variety of budgets to accommodate most visitors in the area. They also have a campground with powered and unpowered sites and a swimming pool that you can use if you want to camp in the desert.
To visit Kings Canyon independently, you can look into the Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon for hotel-like accommodations or the nearby campground.
What to wear in Uluru?
There are a few things to consider when determining what to wear while in the Uluru region.
- Consider the weather and the heat and dress in light clothing that does not trap your sweat. At night, you may want an extra layer, especially in the winter, because the desert can get quite cold in the evenings after the sun sets.
- Because of the strength of the sun, you will want to wear clothing that covers your skin, such as long sleeves or pants or to wear and reapply sunscreen consistently. You may also want to bring a cap or a wide brim hat to protect your face and neck.
- You will want to wear close-toed shoes for the walks around Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon.
- Bring a fly or mosquito net to protect your face, mouth, nose, and eyes from the flies in the area that are looking for moisture.
How can you visit Uluru without a car?
There are a few ways that you can visit Uluru without a car. It truly is not necessary to rent a vehicle to get a lot out of the area. The easiest way to visit Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon is through a tour group that includes transportation, accommodation, and food (see below).
The Ayers Rock resort also provides a variety of experiences and can help coordinate different tours, all of which depart directly from the resort. These include different hikes, biking opportunities, sunset dinners, light shows, and more. Their website has different experiences (both free ones that happen at the resort and paid ones that happen around the Uluru area) that can take you to Uluru and Kata Tjuta at different times of day and through a variety of activities. If you do not want to reserve activities through the resort, you can look into SEIT, an organization that provides small group tours to explore the Uluru region.
Some tours that are unique to the region and popular with tourists include the Wintjiri Wiru experience which is a drone show over the desert connected to the stories of the local Anangu people. The other popular experience is the Field of Light Uluru, a light art installation through the desert that completely transforms the landscape.
Unfortunately, the Ayers Rock resort and SEIT tour group do not provide offerings to visit Kings Canyon. For that, you may have to look into a multi-day tour or rent a vehicle independently to explore the canyon.
Tour Options for Visiting Uluru
If you do not want to manage and coordinate a multi-day itinerary to visit Uluru, you can look into a coordinated group tour to visit the different sites in the area and be immersed in the desert landscape. These tours range from 3 to 4 days, depending on the sites you want to explore between Alice Springs and Uluru. These tours are the most efficient, immersive, and cost-effective way to visit the region and allow you to see everything without renting your own vehicle. There are a few different tour agencies that provide experiences throughout the Uluru area. Blueprint Travelers recommend Mulgas Adventures as our preferred tour group to explore Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and even Kings Canyon because they are a small business that is owned and operated directly in the region, giving them strong connections to the local communities.
Mulgas Adventures is a small family-owned business that has been operating in the Red Center desert for over 40 years. They have a small team that guide groups between Uluru, Alice Springs, and Darwin and focus on tours around the Red Center of the Northern Territory of Australia. (The tours that go to Darwin are seasonal, avoiding the wet season during the summer months.)
The tours with Mulgas include meals and snacks during the tour. They can accommodate dietary restrictions and ensure that no one goes hungry during the entire tour. Meals can include burgers, pasta, burritos, sandwiches, and more, providing variety in food and making sure that you will get the nutrition and hydration you need for the activity and heat of the tour.
Throughout the tour, you will be driven around in a tour bus with a secure trailer to hold all your belongings and the food equipment needed for the entire tour. This means that you can travel with a suitcase or larger backpack, which is helpful for people who are including this trip through Uluru as part of a larger trip in Australia.
The company provides swags as well and you can rent a sleeping bag from them for the duration of the trip. Swags are portable sleeping units that are commonly used in Australia outback camping. The unit includes a small mattress surrounded by a canvas, keeping the inside of the swag waterproof. You can add a sleeping bag to the inside of the swag if the temperature cools in the evening. You can think of them as personal tents, although the ones that are provided by Mulgas Adventures do not prop up and just lay over you as you sleep. While this might be daunting, it is a true outback experience and people with little-to-no camping knowledge can do it!
All the facilities that you stay at during the tour are clean. Most of them have showers and electricity, making it comfortable to use the restroom, brush your teeth, take a shower, etc. In addition, many facilities have a pool where you can refresh yourself during the hot desert afternoons. Overall, you will get a true experience of the outback and see inspiring nature in a sustainable, budget-friendly, and local way.
Things you will need to bring:
- Towel
- Bathing suit
- Sandals
- Pillow (optional)
- Sleeping bag (optional and can be rented from Mulgas Adventures)
Below are the two tours that they provide that focus on the area around Uluru.
Uluru 3-Day Tour | The Rock Trip
Pick Up
Early morning in Alice Springs or early afternoon at the Ayers Rock airport
Drop Off
Alice Springs in the late afternoon
This 3-Day tour includes 2 nights of camping in traditional swags, giving tourists the true Aussie outback experience. When the sky is clear, the stars are mesmerizingly beautiful. In addition, you will get to walk around the Uluru rock and see the sun set over the rock, see the sun rise over Kata Tjuta and Uluru, hike through the Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta, and trek along the famous Rim Walk in Kings Canyon. This trip truly hits all the highlights of the region in a raw, simple, and unassuming way, allowing you to truly connect with the beauty of the nature around you.
Uluru 4-Day Tour | The Rock-to-Rock Tour
Pick Up
Early morning in Alice Springs or early afternoon at the Ayers Rock airport
Drop Off
Morning at Ayer Rock airport or resort or mid-afternoon in Alice Springs
This 4-Day tour includes 3 nights of camping in traditional swags, giving tourists the true Aussie outback experience. When the sky is clear, the stars are mesmerizingly beautiful. In addition, you will get to walk around the Uluru rock and see the sun set over the rock, see the sun rise over Kata Tjuta and Uluru, hike through the Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta, and trek along the famous Rim Walk in Kings Canyon. The main difference between the Rock-to-Rock tour and the 3-Day Rock Trip is that the tour allows you to start and end your trip at the Ayers Rock airport or resort.
Read More About the Blueprint Travelers' Personal Experience around Uluru and in the Outback of the Red Center
Update 49: Central Australia and the Outback
We did our first Australian camping trip, hiking around Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Watarrka to experience the outback.