Uluru is a UNESCO World Heritage site with rich cultural significance. The site is considered sacred by the traditional owners of the land, so be respectful and pay attention to sensitive sites where no photos are allowed.
How to get to Uluru
Surprisingly, there is a regional airport which serves Uluru called “Ayers Rock Airport, Connellan Airport”. There are daily direct flights from the major cities in Australia, including Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Flights are limited, and usually only go once per day, so shop around different airlines to find the best times and dates to suit your plans.
Once you arrive in Uluru, there are AAT Kings coaches waiting outside the airport. All hotel stays include free bus transfers from the airport to the hotel, which saves a lot of hassle.
The airport also provides car rental if you prefer to explore the area at your own pace. Shop around for the best car rental deals here.
As we didn’t opt for a rental car, we decided to buy the one day pass for the Hop On Hop Off bus. This was pretty expensive in my opinion ($130), so we made the most of it by seeing Uluru at sunrise, and Kata Tjuta at sunset. There are different options for the hop on hop off bus to suit your budget.
Where to stay
Accommodation in Uluru is limited to the town of Yulara, which is known as “Ayer’s Rock Resort”. There is a small selection of hotels, but you’re bound to find one to suit your budget.
Hotels in Yulara (price based on 2 adults per night)
- Outback Hostel (~$100 in a 20 bed dorm, $120 in a 4 bed mixed dorm) – we stayed here for the price, and it was perfect as somewhere to sleep, but I am definitely not about the hostel backpacker life…!!)
- The Lost Camel (~$400-$440, book early as this hotel gets sold out fast)
- Outback Hotel (~$460-$520, this is the same place as the hostel, but offers a private room.)
- Desert Gardens (~$520 – $700)
- Emu Walk Apartments (~$600-$685, right beside the town centre and shops.)
- Sails in the Desert ($645-$745, the fanciest option to splash out for a special occasion!)
I recommend to book accommodation well in advance, as the resort is small, and demand is high. Take this as your warning that it is very expensive to stay here!
A huge bonus is the free resort shuttle, which operates every 20 minutes, and takes you around the town. This makes it easy to access the grocery shop, other restaurants and food places from where ever you decide to stay.
Activities
Uluru Sunset
The sunset over Uluru is iconic, as the colour changing effect in the evening is spectacular. We watched the sunset from our accommodation at the Outback Hotel (there is a lookout on site), however it was cloudy and stormy on our arrival day.
Field of Light
We decided to visit the Field of Light on our first night here, and I’m so glad we did. The installation was way bigger than I had imagined, and it was incredibly unique and cool to walk around.
General admission is $48, but you can have additional experiences such as the Star Pass for $118, or the dinner for $335.
Alternatively, you can participate in a sunrise tour with hot drinks.
Uluru Sunrise
As part of the Hop On Hop Off day pass, an early morning bus (4.40am for us!) picks you up from the hotel, and brings you to a sunrise viewing platform 30-40 minutes away.
Uluru Base Walk
After sunrise, the bus does a loop of Uluru, and you can choose where to be dropped off. We decided to begin our base walk at Mala Car Park.
It was really special to see Uluru up close and learn about the cultural significance along the way. Be aware that there are many stretches which are sensitive sites, and prohibit any photos or videos. These are clearly marked.
The walk is advertised as 3 hours, however it took us around 4.5 hours when you factor in stops for photos, food, and water breaks.
Kata Tjuta Sunset
As part of the Hop On Hop Off day pass, there is a sunset trip to Kata Tjuta, as well as to Uluru. We opted for the Kata Tjuta one for something different. We hit the jackpot as we basically got a private tour as only one other person was booked on to the tour at the same time as us.
While our amazing tour guide was the star of the show, and taught us so much about the area, the culture and the geology, the landscapes of Kata Tjuta were spectacular. The sunset tour included a stop at a lookout over sand dunes, then an hour walk to Walpa Gorge which was incredible, then finally a viewpoint for the sunset at Kata Tjuta.
3 days, 2 night itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, Uluru Sunset, Field of Light
- Arrival at Ayers Rock Airport
- Check into accommodation
- Lunch at the Outback Kiosk
- Grocery shop at the IGA (take the free resort shuttle to avoid walking in the heat.)
- Dinner at Gecko’s Restaurant in the town centre.
- Watch the sunset over Uluru
- Field of Light art installation (transfers included in the ticket.)
Day 2: Uluru Sunrise, Base Walk, Kata Tjuta Sunset
- Uluru Sunrise viewing platform (4.40am bus)
- Uluru Base Walk
- Return to the resort (12.40pm bus)
- Lunch at the resort (we went back to Gecko’s)
- Kata Tjuta Sunset (3.45pm pickup)
- Dinner at the Outback Kiosk (there is an option to partake in a DIY BBQ here also)
Day 3: Breakfast, Chill, Travel Home
- Breakfast buffet at Bough Restaurant ($33 each if you stay at Outback, or else it’s $44). We were pleasantly surprised at how tasty and convenient the buffet was!
- Chill by the pool, eat lunch
- Get the free shuttle back to the airport
- Flight home
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this blog comes in useful for planning a short trip to Uluru.
Love, Lydia x
LYD1A KERR 
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