Visiting the sunburnt country was my dream.

I usually don’t prefer much to go back to the places I have visited once, only because I feel I do not have enough time to travel all the other places which I would love to see.  But there are certain places which I dream about going back over and over again and this certainly had made it to the list!

I started dreaming about a trip to Australian Outback years before but could made it happen only a while ago.

So, this is about my trip to Uluru/Ayers Rock & the Things to do in Uluru.

Best Time to Visit

Parks Australia Website recommends the best time to visit Uluru as between May & September to avoid the extreme heat which varies between 30 degree and high Forties.  I was however recommended by a few of my colleagues to visit during October as it is more of a transition month in terms of the weather.  However, I ended up visiting Uluru in pouring weather!

As a rule of thumb avoid summer as the weather will be too hot and walking around will be very hard & dehydrating.

How to Reach

Since riding a camel is not an option, you are limited to either fly down or drive down. Flights operate from all major cities except Canberra to Ayers Rock/Uluru.  Flights are available from Alice Springs to Uluru as well and is a 45 minutes ride. Also, there are Bus services from Alice Springs to Uluru – Check out http://www.austour.com.au/  & https://www.aatkings.com/

Coach Transfer from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock is also an option if you are travelling down from Alice.

Wanderer’s Tip: Try to check out for travel buddies in facebook groups or gumtree if you are traveling solo from Alice Springs and would like to share the travel costs. Hiring cars are expensive than other Australian cities. Also, be mindful of the vast empty land in between.

Most of the roads are sealed and hence you don’t really need a 4WD to drive around in Uluru.

The Ghan Railways – Another exciting option!

I was very keen on considering the legendary Ghan Railways to Alice Springs and then traveling from Alice to Uluru however the constraints around leave and time made it difficult for me at the time( a reason to go back!)

Where to Stay

Camping – We opted to camp & hence hired a  4WD LandCruiser from Britz Alice Springs. Since we were 4 of us, the idea was for us to use the camping gear which comes along with it. We chose a Manual shift instead of stick shift as all of us knew driving with manual and it was a cheaper option. The painful part was to get it all off and then pack it up the next morning!

The closest camping option near Uluru is Ayers Rock Campground 

In the season prebooking is a must as the next campground is quite far from the Yulara center. Also being in the Ayers Rock Resort camp helps you with few amenities of the resort such as the shuttle bus service.

Outback Pioneer Lodge is an affordable accommodation close to the town center

Sails in the Desert  & Longitude131  are the best options for a luxury stay

Things To Do in Uluru

After a downpour we landed in Uluru/Ayers rock, quickly picked our Rental car( two of our friends were driving the 4WD from Alice Springs and we thought of roaming around in the car until they arrived in the evening).

Yulara, the center of all key activities is just a short drive away. The cafe in the center of Yulara served ice cold beer & burgers. The reception at the i-center was not great as there were quite a few people waiting and just a single staff. After gathering a few brochures we walked around the Uluru/Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre & surroundings, gasping at the silver dollar fern trees and other native plants rooted in the bright red soil!

The key attraction remains to be the large sandstone monolith which has been forming since the last 550 million years. It is believed that spirits of the ancestral beings continue to reside in these sacred places making the land a deeply important part of Aboriginal cultural identity. Hence Uluru & its iconic sandstone is viewed with the utmost respect by the natives as well as the tourists.

Sunrise & Sunset Viewing are must do’s while visiting Uluru. There are multiple vantage points, however, the most spectacular sights are those from the Kata-Tjuta National Park.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park charges $25 AUD for a three-day ticket.

1. Sunset Viewing

Sunset Viewing was our first plan and we drove into the park.  Around 10 KM from the park gate, we stopped at one of the designated parking spots where we got a good view of the setting sun located. It was still drizzling and it looked like there was not going to be a sunset. The iconic stone looked even more majestic in the red soil as the rain further amplified the beauty of it.

A very old local couple pulled next to our car and started making tea in their steam kettle. The sky was clouded, a light drizzle & deep red all around. The bush was unique & beautiful at the same time with its yellow & green color. I remembered the only place I have seen the soil being so dark red was in my father’s village.

We stood there watching it getting dark. Though we didn’t get to feel the golden sunset as it was described everywhere, what we saw was purely magical!

Our friends joined us with the Safari land Cruiser 4WD which was going to be our home for the next few days. Our plan was to camp in the Ayers Rock Campground.  By then the rain had increased which left us unsure if camping would be a good idea. Though we checked at the Ayers Rock resort it was all booked out. The only option was the Snails Resort which was expensive. We finally managed to secure a room for 500AUD for 4 of us, but by then we realised the rain had come down and with all the love for being out in nature, we rushed back to the campground to set up our tents.

Then we realised one of the key rods for setting up the tent at the bottom was missing which limited us from setting up the tent below. It was too late to get another makeshift tent ( if at all it was available anywhere nearby).  The night was dramatic with 2 of us sleeping in the tent on the top and 2 of us in the Car. We slept in the anxiety of the tent falling on top of us any time due to the heavy rain and wind.

Wanderer’s Tips: Bring Cold drinks/Nibbles & set your tripod up while you wait for the sunset.

Wanderer’s Tips: The park close at 11:00 AM

Need more  Australian itineraries? Check Western Australia Roadtrip itinerary

2. Sunrise Viewing

Next agenda was Sunrise viewing which also would not be at the best because of the rain. We woke up & realised it is still pouring and went back to sleep. After some time we walked down to the viewing point just behind our campsite. A short walk on the wooden plank, watching the native plants with a cup of hot tea made with great hardship ( trying to prevent the gas stove from turning off in the wind). As a distant view, we spotted the iconic monolith hidden partly in the clouds.

Alternately, Talinguru Nyakunytjaku platform is one of the most popular sunrise viewing point.

3. Uluru Base Walk

Uluru Base walk is a 10 KM/ 3.5 hour walk around the monolith through the dirt road. The comfortable walk starts right outside the open car park.  Because the rain has left the soil deep red & the trees dark green it was a pleasant walk while we tried to avoid the little mud pools on the way!

If not a game for Uluru Base walk there is a Mala walk which is a free ranger-guided walk which starts at 8:00 AM October to April & 10:00 AM May to September. This is a 2KM return walk and quite nice.

Also, you can hire bikes to bike around the base from here.

4. Kata – Tjuta National Park, The Olgas & Valley of the Wind

Kata Tjuta,also known as Olgas is a group of 36 large dome-like rock formations situated 50 KM away from Yulara. Kata Tjuta is a Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal word meaning “many heads” which precisely suits the structure. It is even more important to the Aboriginals than Uluru when it comes to sacred ceremonies, and as a result, much of it is off-limits to most of the world.

Valley of the wind is a 3 Hour /7.5 KM walk which is a key attraction. We arrived there in the afternoon and must say it lived up to its name. The wind was strong and slightly cold. As we walked into the valley it felt like entering a magical land.

The walk was surreal because of the clouds and the afterglow from the rain. I am not sure if it would be the same had I visited in a dry summer.

If not up for this walk, there is another option which is a 2.6 KM return of Walpa Gorge walk.

5. Field of Lights

This is one key attraction I missed for two reasons – one being not prebooking the ticket & two being the event canceled on the day due to the downpour. This is a spectacular sight which has the beautiful light installation on a field. Ticket costs $42 for an adult and can be pre-booked online.

6. Camel Safari 

One of the sights which kept luring me into the outback was the line of camels walking in the backdrop of spectacular outback sunrise & sunset. Because we really did not get to see the typical outback sunrise or sunset due to the rain, I did not book for the predawn camel safari. Had my trip been this year I definitely would not have even considered riding on a camel as I am moving towards better ethical traveling.

Though I do not recommend Camel tours anymore, I did visit the Camel farm and gained some insights about how Camels are a key part of outback wildlife. You can read some interesting insights here – Camels Outnumber Koalas in Australia. I took a short ride within the camel farm which I am no longer proud of. But ultimately that is what travel is, we evolve.

7. Sounds of Silence – A touch of luxury 

This is another highlight of Uluru. This is a beautiful dinner set up in the backdrop of Uluru monolith under the sky. The contrast of the white table clothes against the red soil is just amazing. This luxury comes with a price tag of 210 per adult and has few inclusions such as sparkles,  3 course Bush Tucker inspired menu, Didgeridoo performance, return transfer to hotel etc. Also, there is the option of clubbing it with the Field of Lights. Check out the sound of silience dinner for more details.

If you are not up for a high budget , alternately you can try out Uluru Sunset Barbecue Dinner

8 Stargazing

Uluru is classified as one of the best spots for world-class stargazing – I definitely want to do this next time while I am here.

9. Motor Bike Rides 

For those who are interested in motorbikes,

Check out, http://ulurumotorcycles.com.au/

https://www.adrenaline.com.au/uluru/harley-rides/harley-davidson-1hr-30min-ayers-rock-sunrise-sunset-tour/

10. Helicopter Rides 

And, for those who fancy a heli ride, got 25 minutes ? – Try Uluru Kata Tjuta Helicopter experience

More options here 

If you have another day you can even pay a visit to Kings Canyon from Ayers Rock on a Day tour

Beer To Try 

Great Northern Brewing Company is available at most of the places in Uluru, though a Queensland product. A great fit for any outback trip!

To Climb or not climb

Since ages, it has been a big discussion point whether you can climb the Rock or not.  You can climb but you are advised not to do it out of respect for the Anangu. Someone has let us in and visit their most sacred place & let us agree this is not a power trip. Also, as of October 2019, the climb is getting closed permanently.

Planning an Australian Outback Trip ?, read these as well,

How to Plan an Outback Trip to Northern territory ( Darwin/Kakkadu/Katherine)

Top Things to Do in Litchfield National Park 

 Top 9 things to do in Broken Hill

Outback Packing List