If you haven’t heard of Uluru, I’m sure you’ve still seen Uluru, Australia ‘s iconic Rock. It’s also called Ayers Rock. Uluru is a sandstone monolith rock that’s famous for its beautiful auburn hue that changes throughout the day. This rock is rich in Aboriginal history and has become a landmark recognized around the world!
Be sure to keep reading to learn all the tips before visiting Uluru, Australia!
- History of Uluru
- How to Get to Uluru
- Best Time to Visit
- Where to Stay
- Watch our Uluru Experience
- What to do in Uluru – Kata Tjuṯa National Park
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History of Uluru
Uluru was discovered by the first non-Aboriginal person, William Gosse, in 1873. Of course, the Aboriginals knew about it for thousands of years before then. The rock actually has two names. It’s called Ayers Rock after William Gosse’s discovery, but to the Aboriginals and its official name is Uluru.
Uluru, and its close neighbor, Kata Tjuṯa, are both sacred sites to the Aboriginal people. Uluru is considered a resting place to spirits and is home of where many sacred rituals have taken place for the Aboriginals. Please keep this history in mind and be respectful of posted signs, noting these sites, during your visit.
In 1994, UNESCO named Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park as a World Heritage site.
While you use to be able to climb to the top of Uluru, as of October 26, 2019 the climb was permanently closed. For many years, Aboriginals asked Australia to close the climb due to its importance to their culture and to protect it. In 2019, the government finally listened [which we think is great]!
How to Get to Uluru – Australia Rock
Uluru is located in Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park in the heart of the Outback in Central Australia. It’s a very remote, desert-like climate that has extreme heat during part of the year.
The best way to get to Uluru is definitely by flying into the Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport. Since it’s a very small airport, there are not a lot of flights out or in. Be sure to check what days and times flights go from major cities in Australia to Uluru! We’ve heard of other people flying into Alice Springs and then driving [about 4 hours drive] but we wouldn’t recommend it. According to the locals, Alice Springs has become increasingly unsafe and the crime rates continue to go up.
We were flying from Cairns and there’s only 2 direct flights a week to Uluru so we had to plan our itinerary to make sure we could get in and out on those dates.
Best Time to Visit Uluru – Australia Rock
The best time to visit the Uluru Australia Rock is between May and September. The temperatures are much cooler, not as much rain, and the bug are not as bad. It’s actually the Australian fall/winter. We visited during early February – it was HOT and the flies were horrible. Watch this video for a laugh about the flies ha!
Due to the extreme heat, it’s advised that you finish all your walks before 11:00am. Sunrise and sunset are the best times to be exploring, not only because of the heat, but Uluru is made of sandstone that contains minerals that reflect the sun’s red light, making it appear to glow.
If you do visit during the Australia summer [October to March], be sure to listen to all posted signs about the heat. Drink LOTS of water and electrolytes. Eat healthy snacks throughout the day. Stay in the shade as much as possible. Wear sun protection [hat, sunglasses, linen clothing, sunscreen, etc.] And BUY THE NETS FOR YOUR HAT!!!! I promise you, you don’t regret it haha.
Watch our Uluru Home Video below for the full experience!
Where to Stay in Uluru – Australia Rock
Due to Uluru’s remote location, there aren’t many places to stay. In fact most of the hotels/resorts are all owned and operated by the same company – Ayers Rock Resort. The only exception to that is a luxury resort a little further outside called Longitude 131.
Places to stay in Ayers Rock Resort:
- Sails in the Desert [where we stayed]
- Lost Camel Hotel
- Desert Gardens Hotel
- Outback Hotel & Lodge
- Emu Walk Apartments
- Ayers Rock Campground
Unless you visit in the off season, be prepared to pay top dollar for your accommodations and food. This is not a cheap place to visit!
What to do in Uluru – Kata Tjuṯa National Park
There are so many things to do in Uluru! Keep in mind, as mentioned above, most of the activities will take place around sunrise or sunset. Below you’ll find a list of things to do as well as links to the tours you can book!
- Ride a Camel at sunset [one of the favorite things we did in Uluru!]
- Bike around the base of Uluru with Outback Cycling
- Segway Tour around the base of Uluru
- Visit the Uluru Cultural Center
- Walks around Uluru
- Uluru Base Walk – 10.4 km/ 6.5 miles
- Mala Walk – 2 km / 1.2 miles
- Dune Walk – 500 meters
- Lungkata Walk – 4 km / 2.5 miles
- Liru Walk – 4 km / 2.5 miles
- Kuniya Walk – 1 km / 0.6 miles
- Watch sunset at the Uluru Car Park
- Walk in the domes at Kata Tjuṯa
- Walpa Gorge – 2.6 km / 1.6 miles
- Valley of the Winds – 7.4 km / 4.6 miles
- Watch the sunrise at the Kata Tjuṯa Dune Viewing [short walk to the platform]
- Take a free Didgeridoo Workshop in Town Center
- Explore the Field of Light Art Installation
- Enjoy a 3 course meal at the Sounds of Silence
Looking for other things to do in Australia? Check out our blog Top 10 Things to do in Sydney!
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Enjoyed reading!! I’d love to avoid the flies but see the mineral-glow on sandstone….what a unique feature…and