Uluru is not the typical backpacker’s destination, with most travellers sticking to the well-trodden East Coast route. Given how remote Uluru is and how far off the backpacker track it is, there are different considerations you need to make for backpacking Central Australia. The region itself is so worth it, though, with breathtaking hikes around Kata Tjuta National Park, Indigenous cultural experiences and amazing art installations. This guide will cover all the big questions about getting there and getting around, the best time of year to visit, the best things to do and where to stay!
Uluru, Yulara or Ayers Rock?
The actual tourist township where you stay to visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta is called Yulara. However, many people will still call the area Uluru. In this guide, Uluru or Yulara = the township. Uluru National Park = the tourist sight (the rock).
The term “Ayers Rock” is a colonial name given to the rock by white settlers. The original name given to the rock by Indigenous people is Uluru. While many people still call it Ayers Rock (and the airport and resort still bear this name), it is considered respectful to use the original name of Uluru.
When is the best time to visit Uluru?
Central Australia (including Uluru) is a seasonal destination! Peak Season is May-September as the weather is mild (20-30 degrees Celsius during the day). This is the busiest time to visit, and flights and accommodation will be more expensive. However, you can access the hikes at any time of day, and the risk of heat-related injuries is fairly low. The temperature at night can be quite chilly (it can get down to 4 degrees Celsius overnight), so bring warm clothes.
December-February is low season as the high temperatures make it difficult/dangerous to complete hikes. It regularly exceeds 35 degrees Celsius during the day, and park rangers will close the parks between 9 am and 11 am. That means you will have to start the hikes before either 9 or 11 in the morning. Even then, it is blisteringly hot at this time. The risk of heat-related injuries is high, and every year, there are tourist fatalities in areas like Kings Canyon and Uluru due to this. The benefits of visiting during these months are that there will be significantly fewer people and flights and accommodation are often much more affordable.
If you are trying to visit at a more affordable time, try to visit in the shoulder months of October/November and March/April. These months are cooler than the summer months but with fewer people and lower prices than the winter months. This is the best time to visit if you’re a backpacker, as you’ll save money but still be able to do all the activities in Uluru safely. Regardless of when you travel, I have the ultimate Outback packing guide, which you can read here.
Is it possible to visit Uluru on a budget?
Yes and no! Australia generally has a high cost of living, and tourism costs are equally as high. Central Australia is much more expensive than other tourist areas of Australia due to its remoteness. Produce has to be flown in by plane or transported by road train from other parts of Australia. Also, there is a lack of competition among tourism companies. Voyages, AAT Kings and SEIT basically have a monopoly on all accommodation, transport and tours in Uluru (and Central Australia in general). The lack of competition means they can charge whatever they want, as if people want to visit Uluru, they have to use their services.
If you want to make it more backpacker-budget-friendly, travelling by car with camping gear will be the most cost-effective way to visit Uluru. Purchasing groceries and things you can cook yourself in the campground will save you a heap of money. The one thing you will have to budget for is activities. While there are some free activities around Yulara, all of the National Parks have entry fees. If you’re backpacking in Australia, I recommend trying to work in Uluru or elsewhere in Central Australia. Backpacker tourism jobs around Uluru usually include accommodation and food for a reasonable price, and you get paid very well!
Depending on where you work, you may get to participate in tours/activities for free or for a heavily discounted rate. Even if you don’t get any discount on tours, it is really easy to save money living and working around Uluru, as there is really not much to spend money on with food/accommodation included. You can read my full guide on how to get a job in the Outback here. I also have a guide on the reality of working so remotely, including all the good, the bad and the just plain strange, which you can read here.
How many days to spend in Uluru
You need at least two full days to visit both Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Parks properly. One day in Uluru wouldn’t give you enough time to experience the region properly. Ideally, if you want a relaxed itinerary, four days in Uluru would be the perfect amount of time for hiking, activities and relaxing. This doesn’t include time to visit Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Hermansburg (which you should definitely also be visiting).
How to get to Uluru
Yulara, the tourist township closest to Uluru, is famously super remote. There are three main ways to get to Uluru: by plane, by car or by bus. However, not all of these methods of transport are made equally. Flying is convenient if you only visit Uluru (and are not planning on visiting Kings Canyon, Alice Springs or Hermansburg). However, you are really missing out if you’re not visiting these places! If you plan to hit a few spots in Central Australia, you need either a car or a tourist bus.
How to get to Uluru by plane
Several airlines fly in and out of Yulara (AYQ) Airport, such as Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar. You can get direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. If you fly into Uluru directly, you can get a free shuttle bus to Yulara township, with the bus stopping at all hotels, hostels and campgrounds. The shuttle buses don’t run to a schedule but instead wait for all arriving planes.
How to get to Uluru by car
The most cost-effective way to get to Uluru is by car. If you plan to visit other places like Kings Canyon and Hermansburg, rent a car from Alice Springs to travel around. Ideally, if you rent a car with FWD capability, you can travel along a FWD-only road called the Mereenie Loop to avoid backtracking from Kings Canyon. You can rent a non-FWD vehicle for $60 AUD per day and a FWD vehicle for around $326 AUD per day. While this might seem expensive, you will pay way more for a bus between these locations. The more people you have in your car, the cheaper it will be. Also travelling with your own car means you can pack a tent and save money on accommodation by camping.
How to get to Uluru by bus
You can get buses to Yulara from Alice Springs and Kings Canyon through the company AAT Kings. To get from Alice Springs to Yulara, a direct bus takes around 6 hours, including a stop. Buses leave Alice Springs between 6 and 7 am and arrive in Yulara at around 1 pm. This includes around a 30-minute rest break at Roadhouse for a brief meal, a bathroom break, and a view of Mount Conner from a viewing platform. The bus runs daily in peak season (May-Aug), Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat in low season (Dec-Feb) and every day except Mondays at all other times. Expect to pay $199 AUD for this bus ticket. You can book this online on the AAT Kings website here.
Less frequent buses are coming from Kings Canyon to Yulara, so plan accordingly if you want to take the bus along this route. The bus departs from Kings Canyon Resort at 1 pm (then picks up passengers at Kings Creek Station) and arrives at Yulara at 5 pm. This includes around a 30-minute rest break at Roadhouse for a brief meal, a bathroom break, and a view of Mount Conner from a viewing platform. The bus runs bi-weekly in peak season, departing on Mondays and Fridays (Mar-Nov) and once a week on Fridays at all other times. Expect to pay $169 AUD for this bus ticket. You can book this online on the AAT Kings website here.
How to get around Uluru
By far, the easiest and most cost-effective way to get around Yulara and visit sights such as Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park is by car. While hiring a car may seem like a big up-front cost, it will honestly save you so much money in the long run. If you don’t hire a car, you can still visit all the sights, but transport will cost you more, and you will have less flexibility in visiting these sights. To get around the township of Yulara itself, there is a free shuttle. This runs every 20 minutes from 10:30 am to 12:30 am and essentially does a big loop of Yulara.
Using the free shuttle, you can visit all accommodations, including the campgrounds, the Camel Farm, the art gallery, all cafes and restaurants and a few viewpoints. Most of these places are also walking distance from each other, though, so you can also get there on foot (most are less than a 20-minute walk). A second free shuttle runs to and from the airport, which meets all flights departing and arriving from AYQ Airport.
Getting around Uluru without a car
While the free shuttle around town is super convenient, you cannot visit Uluru or Kata Tjuta National Parks using this service. To visit the National Parks, you must either book a hop-on/hop-off bus pass or a guided tour. There are 1-3 day hop-on/hop-off bus passes, including Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Parks, which allow you to explore the sights at your own pace. If you’re low on time or money, you can squeeze all Uluru and Kata Tjuta hikes and experiences into one day. However, this would be a jam-packed day and would not allow much time for relaxing and stopping to really take in the beauty of the region.
Ideally, opting for the 2 or 3-day hop-on/hop-off bus would allow you to explore both Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Parks at a relaxed pace. This would also allow you to enjoy multiple sunrises and sunsets from the various viewing platforms. In peak season, the hop-on/hop-off bus operates five times daily, including for sunrise and sunset. Hop-on/hop-off passes are between $120 AUD and $ 210 AUD, depending on how many days you pick. You can view the timetables and maps and book a pass directly on their website here.
The other alternative to the hop on/hop off bus is booking a day tour with AAT Kings or SEIT, including pickup and drop off in Yulara. Tours will be more expensive as you will have a guide and be given more information on the walk. You can expect to pay around $200 AUD for a guided tour of either Uluru or Kata Tjuta National Parks, which lasts around 5 hours. All tours can be booked on the Voyages website here.
Where to stay in Uluru
Voyages Tourism owns every accommodation in Uluru, and all are easily accessible via shuttle or car, so location doesn’t really matter. The main factors that will impact where you stay in Yulara are your budget and whether you have the ability to camp. Pre-warning: campground spots and accommodations will sell out in advance during peak season. Book at least one week in advance (ideally more!) to ensure you don’t miss out or have to pay for a more expensive room or campground spot. You can book all accommodations in Uluru here.
Yulara Campground
Campground rates are based on dynamic pricing, meaning they can be higher or lower depending on the dates and the live availability. That means that if only a few campsites are left for your travel dates, the prices will be significantly higher. During peak season, you can get an unpowered tent site for $32 AUD a night, based on 1-2 adults per site. For every additional person on the site (maximum of 6), it will be $18 AUD per extra guest per night. This is based on staying four nights or more; if you stay less than this, expect to pay up to 30% more. They also have powered sites on dirt and slabs and sites that are longer for bigger caravans and camper trailers. You can check prices and book on the Voyages Tourism website here.
Outback Pioneer Lodge Hostel
If you don’t have camping equipment or want to stay indoors in Uluru, the next backpacker budget-friendly option is the dormitories in the Outback Pioneer Lodge. Post-pandemic, this is the only hostel/ backpacker accommodation in Uluru. Pre-warning: the dorms are pretty basic (no curtains on beds, no lockers and only a few powerpoints per room, which are not near the beds). A bed in a dormitory costs $38 AUD per night, and they have only single-sex dorms of around 12 people. The dorms weren’t very social, to be completely honest; most people staying there were travelling with other people and just looking for a cheap bed to sleep in.
What to do in Uluru
For such a small place, you can do an overwhelming number of activities in Yulara. You could stay here for two weeks and do different activities daily. Some activities are free, whereas others are self-guided, and you only need to pay an entrance fee. There are also a lot of activities in Uluru, which are pretty expensive if you’re on a backpacking budget. That means the majority of those backpacking won’t even come close to doing all activities in Uluru unless they have endless cash. For a backpacker or budget traveller, you’ll want to really think about which activities you want to splurge on in Uluru.
It’s important to note that you will need to book activities like camel rides, the field of lights, the drone show, and segway tours more than a week in advance if you are travelling in peak season. They will book out, particularly the sunrise and sunset sessions, which tend to be the most popular. You can make all bookings on the Voyages Tourism website here.
Uluru National Park
Unsurprisingly, the number one activity in the region is visiting the famous Big Red Rock. There are a couple of ways you can get here, either by driving yourself, by Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus or by a guided tour. Uluru National Park is around a 25-minute drive from the township of Yulara. Regardless of which option you go with, you will need to pay for a National Parks Pass. The Parks Pass lasts for three days and covers you for unlimited visits to both Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Parks over these three days.
The price is $38 AUD per adult, and you can purchase this online here, or you can purchase it at the toll gate on the way to Uluru National Park. It will be faster for you to enter if you purchase online in advance (particularly if you’re travelling at a busy time, like for sunrise or sunset). Please be aware this is a different pass from the generic Parks Pass you need for other Northern Territory Parks like Kings Canyon. Even if you have a general Parks Pass, you will still need to purchase an individual 3-day pass for Uluru National Park.
Walking around Uluru National Park
Once you’ve arrived at the carpark and visitors centre for Uluru National Park, there are a few ways you can experience the big rock. The first way is by walking around the rock on foot, which will take you around 3-4 hours, making plenty of stops for photos and reading informational plaques. The walk is completely flat, so it is not difficult to walk around. However, in some parts of the walk, you will be in direct sunlight, which may make the walk more difficult. The walk will be broken up by many sights which you can stop to learn more about the place. Please note there are many spots that are sacred sights to the Indigenous people and where photos are not permitted. These are clearly signed, so make sure you are paying attention to all signs.
Segway Tours and Cycling Around Uluru National Park
If you want something a bit more exciting than a base walk, you can join a segway tour around the base. The tours are guided and go for about 2.5 hours, departing at 1 pm daily. A segway tour costs $189 AUD, not including transport to and from Uluru National Park. The other alternative is cycling around Uluru National Park, which is a great compromise if you’re on a backpacker budget and don’t want to walk. It costs $70 to rent a bike, and you have 3 hours to complete the loop. This is not a guided tour, so that you can do it at your own pace.
The ground is very flat, so it’s super easy to cycle around, even if you are not fit or not an experienced cyclist. You can show up and rent a bike, but it is subject to availability, and sometimes they will run out. It is recommended to reserve a bike in advance directly through the website here to avoid disappointment.
Kata Tjuta National Park
This is a controversial opinion, but I preferred the walks around Kata Tjuta National Park to Uluru National Park. Kata Tjuta is around a 40-minute drive from Yulara township, in the direction of Uluru National Park. After the ticket checkpoint, you will need to take a right turn when the road forks, following the signs toward Kata Tjuta. At Kata Tjuta, there are a couple of different hikes you can do: the main two are the Valley of the Winds (4 hours) and Walpa Gorge (45 minutes). Even if you’re not much of a hiker, I highly recommend doing both hikes, as the scenery is different.
Valley of the Winds is the most popular hike, with the full circuit taking around 4 hours. This is a moderate hike that is a combination of uphill, downhill and flat areas. I’m not much of a hiker, and I managed this in around 4 hours, with plenty of stops to take photos, catch my breath and admire the scenery. You can do several shorter circuits if you are short on time or don’t feel up to doing a full 4-hour circuit.
The other hike is Walpa Gorge, which is a much easier hike and only takes around 45 minutes, with plenty of time to take photos and admire the view. Walpa Gorge is clearly signed and is a 4-minute drive from the carpark to Valley of the Winds Hike. Which hike you do first doesn’t matter too much; just make sure you allow enough daylight hours to complete Valley of the Winds.
Sunset Viewpoints
There are several sunset viewing areas (either official or unofficial) in Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park. The most famous is Uluru Sunset Viewing Area, which you can find on Google Maps. The second most famous is the Kata Tjuta Sunset View Area, which is also on Google Maps. Watching the sunset over Uluru National Park was one of my top experiences in Central Australia, so make sure you don’t miss it! It was the perfect chilled way to end a big day of hiking.
The Sunset Viewing Areas are essentially big car parks where people stand or set up camping chairs in front of their cars to watch the sunset. There’s no entry charge to visit these areas, but you need to have a valid Uluru/Kata Tjuta Parks Pass. Both viewing areas will be super busy, so try to get there at least 45 minutes to an hour before to get a good spot. Otherwise, the only spaces available will be obstructed by shrubs.
Also, I highly recommend bringing foldable chairs, warm clothes, snacks, and drinks. You’ll be waiting there for a while for sunset, so you should make yourself comfortable! If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can get on the hop-on/hop-off bus to either of the sunset viewing platforms. You will be standing in the coach/group tour area, which can be extremely busy in peak season as many different large tour groups come through.
Sunrise Viewpoints
Similarly to the Sunset Viewing Areas, there are several different Sunrise Viewing Areas. These are in different areas from the sunset spots, so make sure you don’t mix them up, or you’ll be on the wrong side of the rock to see the sky changing colours. The most popular spot is Talinguru Nyakunytjaku- Uluru Sunrise Viewing Area. For this viewing area, you need to park your car and go to a series of pathways and platforms, where you stand in a crowd and watch the sunrise. You can also get the hop-on/hop-off bus here.
There is no separation of the tour groups and individuals for the sunrise area, so the platforms are really busy! Try to arrive at least 45 minutes early to get a good spot to stand for an unobstructed view. Sunrise is also freezing in peak season. In my opinion, sunrise wasn’t as good as sunset. This was due to the crowds, how cold it was and just generally, the colours weren’t as impressive.
Field of Light
This was one of my favourite activities in Uluru! Field of Light is an art installation of more than 50,000 little lights that change colour. To visit the Field of Light, you do need to purchase a ticket in advance. If you just want to visit the installation, you can purchase a pass for $46 AUD. This will include a self-guided walk through the Field of Light and return coach transfers from Yulara Town. This tour departs 30 minutes after sunset and takes around 1.5 hours, including transfer time.
If you have a bit of extra cash than the average backpacker, I highly recommend purchasing the Uluru Field of Light Star Pass. It costs $110 AUD per person and lasts for 2.5 hours, including transfers. The difference is you arrive at a private viewing platform and watch the sunset over Uluru National Park. While you’re here, you get canapes and free-flow drinks. Afterwards, you will enjoy a self-guided tour through the Field of Light and then be dropped back at Yulara Town.
Travel Tip: Make sure you book at least a week in advance, as it is an extremely popular activity! You can book this tour online here. If you use my code “BRETT5”, you’ll receive a 5% discount on this tour.
Camel Tour
This is another must-do activity in Uluru! Nothing feels more “outback” than riding a camel through sand dunes with views of Uluru National Park as a back-drop. The most popular tour option is the sunset camel ride, which leaves about an hour before sunset. The tour includes transfers, beer, wine and snacks, which you can enjoy while watching the sunset. The other popular tour is sunrise, which leaves about an hour before sunrise.
This tour includes transfers, tea, coffee and Australian damper, which you enjoy while watching the sunrise. Sunset and Sunrise tours cost $145 AUD per person. They also run standard tours at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 2 pm daily, with the tour lasting around 1.5 hours, including transfers to and from Yulara. The standard tour cost is $89 AUD per person.
Travel Tip: Make sure you book at least a week in advance, particularly for the sunset and sunrise tours, which are the most popular! You can book this tour online here. If you use my code “BRETT5”, you’ll receive a 5% discount on this tour.
Wintjiri Wiru Drone Show
I’m going to be super honest here: this activity, for me, was not worth the price. Wintjiri Wiru is an immersive storytelling experience using drones. Using over 1000 drones, the experience tells the story of Mala, which is an indigenous story that is thousands of years old and important to the local people around Uluru. While the story itself was an interesting experience, the use of drones detracted from the story for me personally. It also costs $190 AUD per person, which includes transfers to and from the viewing area, a packet of popcorn, 1-2 drinks and the actual performance. Compared to the Field of Light, the Wintjiri Wiru Show was not worth it for me, particularly if you’re on a backpacker budget while travelling Uluru.
Free activities in Yulara
Voyages Tourism holds many free activities around Uluru township (which is a money-win if you’re on a backpacker budget). These include things like guided garden walks, bush stories, bush food experiences, star-gazing and a didgeridoo workshop. In peak season, these free activities run daily at different times. Most only go for around 45 minutes and are all within Yulara town, so they are easily walkable or accessible on the free shuttle. I did the Didgeridoo Experience and the Bush Food Experience, which were both super interesting (and, best of all, free!). While I wouldn’t prioritise the free activities over other experiences like seeing Uluru National Park or going on a camel ride, the activities are great if you have spare time between other activities. You can find a list of all the free activities with times here.
Where to eat in Uluru
Food is one area where you can save a fair bit of money in Yulara. Apart from the fine dining (which is pricey), the food options in Yulara are pretty limited and very average, in my opinion. This is partly due to its remote location and the difficulty and expense of fresh produce transportation. If you do decide to cook yourself for most meals, you’re not missing out on much. The IGA in the town centre has a pretty good range of food. Expect it to be a bit more expensive than other more built-up areas of Australia, but it still is way more affordable than eating out for every meal.
Kulata Academy Cafe
Kulata Academy Cafe is the place to come for breakfast/brunch! But be prepared; it is always super busy in the mornings with queues out the door. You can either eat in or grab some breakfast to go and enjoy it at one of the National Parks (highly recommended). Kulata has a great range of sandwiches, pastries, pies and salads. It is also a social enterprise, providing First Nations people with training for careers in the hospitality industry.
Ayers Wok
Ayers Wok is an Asian-takeaway restaurant in the centre of Yulara that offers many affordable options. They have a range of cuisines from different Asian countries, with dishes like Laksa, Pad Thai and Gyoza. Ayers Wok is open from 5 pm to 8 pm every night and is for takeaway only. Be prepared for there to be a bit of a queue, as it is a popular backpacker budget-friendly dinner option in Uluru!
Mangata
If you want to treat yourself to a fancy meal, Mangata is the place to head. Located in the Desert Gardens Hotel, they are open from 11 am to 9 pm daily. They have delicious food and even better cocktails (but expect there to be a higher price tag).
Walpa Lobby Bar
Another great option for a treat-yourself meal! Walpa Lobby Bar is located inside the Sails in the Desert Resort and is open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. They offer lunch and dinner service, with an extensive wine list.
Uluru Nightlife
Uluru isn’t really somewhere where you come to party, given most people wake up early for hikes. Most people have a few drinks with their dinner or grab some takeaway alcohol to enjoy in the campgrounds. If you do fancy having a few drinks, the only place with a bit of a vibe in Uluru is the Outback Pioneer Bar (where the backpacker accommodation is). It has a very much country pub kind of vibe, but they often have live music, and they have pool tables. Even in peak season, it’s not super busy here, with the bar being mostly filled with tour guides and hotel staff.
Did you find this blog post helpful? Want to see more travel tips and recommendations? Join me on Tik Tok and Instagram for daily travel content!
This blog is a free and independent source of information for all things travel and backpacking. If you benefitted from the information on this blog, please consider using the affiliate links to book hostels/activities etc. This will be at no extra cost to you but helps subsidise the cost of running a free travel blog.
