Updated August 11, 2020.
This is the reaction I got most often when I told people Steve and I were headed to Uluru for my birthday: “What? Where’s that?” I was genuinely surprised that so few people knew about Uluru in Australia’s Red Centre! (No, I did not spell that wrong, it’s the Australian way!) But then, I guess most Americans were not fascinated with all things Autralian from childhood. So here it is, my readers: everything you need to know about Uluru!
Terminology
They do speak English in Australia, but you might still find yourself a bit puzzled at some of the words they use, especially those with an Anangu influence!
Keep reading: What to Know Before You Visit Uluru
Anangu: ah-nan-goo
This is the group of native Aboriginal people who live in this region of central Australia.
Palya: pall-yah
This is the Anagu word for “good” and is also used as a greeting. We heard it a lot in our time there.
Uluru: “oo-luh-roo”; formerly called Ayers Rock
This is the main attraction! It’s a large red rock in Central Australia’s Northern Territory, and it’s made of red sandstone. The color comes from iron in the dirt that has literally rusted into that rusty red color, and one of our tour guides said it used to be part of a mountain range higher than the Himalayas! It’s sacred to the native people and is 348 meters tall (380.5 yards). It’s also a World Heritage Site!
Read on: The Ultimate List of Hiking Tips
Kata Tjuta: “cat-uh joo-tah”; formerly called the Olgas
Nearby but less famous, Kata Tjuta is a group of large, dome-shaped rock formations. The name literally means “many heads,” and it’s just 16 miles from Uluru. The two rock formations are within the same national park: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Keep reading: Tips for Visiting the Outback
Getting There and Getting Around
Ask anyone who works there, has visited there, or wants to go there, and you’ll hear the same thing, “It’s in the middle of nowhere!” But it’s possible to get there, and here’s how:
Fly to Uluru/Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ)
This is what we did, and I imagine this is what most people do. Tickets into this airport are pricey, but the next closest airport is a 4.5 hour drive!
Find out more: Flying JetStar MEL-AYQ
Fly to Alice Springs Aerodome (ASP) and Drive
Alice Springs is the next closest city, but it’s 4.5 hours away, as mentioned above. You might want to check ticket prices and rental car rates to see if this is more cost effective for you. With such limited time for us, we did not want to spend nine hours driving round-trip!
Drive from Anywhere in Australia
It is also possible to drive here from anywhere on the Australian mainland. Here’s a quick run-down of drive times for those who love a good road trip:
- From Sydney: 29 hours; 1,758 miles
- From Melbourne: 24 hours; 1,440 miles
- From Adelaide: 16 hours; 988 miles
- From Perth: 37 hours; 2,280 miles
- From Darwin: 19 hours 15 minutes; 1,213 miles
- From Cairns: 29 hours; 1,735 miles
- From Brisbane: 33 hours; 1,994 miles
Need to know: Tips for Driving on the Left
Take the Ghan Train to Alice Springs and Drive
If you’re up for a real blast from the past, take the Ghan Train! It runs from Adelaide to Alice Springs, then up to Darwin. You can take the train either direction and then drive from Alice Springs if you like.
Shuttle Around the Resort
There is a FREE shuttle that runs about every 20 minutes to several stops all around the resort, including the Camel Farm a bit farther afield.
More here: Staying at Ayers Rock Resort Uluru
Rent a Car
If you want some freedom of movement and to set your own schedule, consider renting a car to get to and around the National Park. You will definitely want a car to get around if you choose to do the National Park sites without a tour.
Take the Charter Buses to the National Park
This is the option we chose, since we only had limited time, and we don’t like to drive. We booked our tours with Uluru Hop On Hop Off, and we were pleased. We actually didn’t book our tours until after we arrived, and I’m glad we did it that way because we were able to get a better feel for how things work.
Need to know: How to Get an Australian Tourist Visa
I recommend the same thing the tour booking agent for Uluru Hop On Hop Off recommended for us: get the 1-day Pass, good for 24 hours from first departure to last departure, meaning you can take the afternoon bus to Uluru with a sunset viewing on the way back to the resort, and the next day you can take the sunrise tour and hike Kata Tjuta before the heat and flies take over in the afternoon!
Money Matters
There’s no real way around it—a trip to Uluru is pricey! An Australian gentleman we met there actually told us it’s less expensive for Australians to spend three weeks in Hawaii than just one week at Uluru! But it is what it is, and if it’s worth it to you, it’s worth it. Here’s the breakdown of what we spent for four days and three nights:
Flights
The flight to Australia is not cheap, but there are deals available! But then getting to Uluru is a bit of a different story. Because it’s so remote and only three airlines fly there, you’ll just have to pay what it costs. And for us, flying from Melbourne (MEL) to Uluru-Ayers Rock (AYQ) in early August from Friday-Monday cost $1,308.05 AUD (currently $886.55 USD), or $654.02 AUD (currently $443.21 USD) per person.
Read on: How to Find Cheap Flights
Accommodation
There is exactly one place to stay at Uluru: Ayers Rock Resort. However, there are eight types of accommodations on the resort, so there will be something for your budget. The most expensive option is the luxurious Longitude 131, and the least expensive is the campground.
Get all the details: Legendary Hotels of the World
We stayed at Sails in the Desert three nights and got a package deal that included daily breakfast, dinner and a night at the Field of Light, a helicopter ride over Uluru, and one dinner reservation at Ilkari Restaurant. The total cost was $2,166 AUD (currently $1,467 USD).
Keep reading: The Ultimate Travel Couple Bucket List
Tours
Outside of the experiences included in our package, we paid $240 AUD (currently $162.50 USD) for the two of us to get 1-day passes with Uluru Hop On Hop Off. (That’s $120 AUD or $81.25 USD per person.)
In addition, you will need an Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Pass, which is $25 AUD (currently $17 USD) per person.
Read on: 10 Things to Do at Uluru
Food
Even after living in D.C. for 11 years, I was surprised at how expensive the food was at Uluru. Thankfully there are several food options in a variety of price ranges, but nothing was what I’d call “cheap”! In all, we spent $156 AUD (currently $105.50 USD) on food over the course of four days, keeping in mind that breakfast each day was included. That’s $78 AUD (or $52.75 USD) per person. That price includes two sandwich-style lunches, two coffees, and two pizzas for supper one night.
Still hungry? What to Eat at Uluru
FREE Things to Do
If you have a particularly tight budget, there are still loads of things to do that don’t cost a thing. As a guest at any of the Ayers Rock Resort properties, you have access to all the properties and their amenities, including four swimming pools! There is also the Wintjiri Museum and Gallery, daily cultural experiences, guided walks, astronomy lectures, and my personal favorite: the Imalung Lookout hike. It’s a short hike, but from the top you’ll get an unobstructed view of Uluru!
Advance Preparation
I’ll be honest, I didn’t do as much advance planning for this trip as I normally do, despite this trip being on my bucket list for decades! But thankfully, the kind people at Ayers Rock Resort have made it very easy to plan your trip on the fly when you get there. Definitely not our typical travel style, but it worked really well for us there!
Keep reading: How to Spend 4 Days at Uluru
There’s an App for That
Download the FREE Uluru Visitor’s Guide app! It will give you an idea of things to do and all that Uluru has to offer before you even get there.
Get Your Park Pass Early
This is something you can go ahead and do so it’s done and out of your way! Go ahead and purchases your park pass online and save it to your Apple Wallet or other convenient location on your phone.
And don’t forget your Visa!
Read on: How to Get an Australian Tourist Visa
Good to Know
There are a few other “odds and ends” to know before you visit Uluru, so don’t skip this section!
Timing is Everything
If you’re depending on the bus tours for your trip like we were, you’ll quickly find out that you’ll have to keep up with a schedule! Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to do the things you’ve paid for, but you will need to be back to the bus for the journey back to the resort at the appointed time!
More here: What to Know Before You Visit Australia
What Time is It?
Uluru is on Australian Central Standard Time, which is GMT+ 9:30. Yes, 30! If you’re looking for it in your phone’s World Clock, it’s in the same timezone as Darwin.
Sunrise, Sunset
It’s easy to find out what time sunrise and sunset will be each day (just check out the hourly forecast on your phone or simply do an Internet search for “sunrise and sunset time at Uluru” for the date you want). However, it’s important to know that the colors will start to change in the sky (and against the rocks) for about 45-60 minutes before the exact time, and about 15 minutes after. You’ll miss out on some of the beauty if you plan to arrive at the exact sunrise or sunset time!
More here: What to Pack for Uluru for Women
What to Pack for Uluru for Men
The Red Dirt Will Get Everywhere
No, really, everywhere! And that includes the inside of your socks and shoes.
The City Where Uluru is Located is Actually Yulara
Uluru is not the city, but the main attraction. If you need to know the city, it’s Yulara! But for the most part, even fewer people have heard of Yulara that Uluru, so you are usually better off referring to the whole area as Uluru.
Want more? Check out 10 Things to Do in Uluru and my Australia Page!
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