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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 24 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Mark Chipperfield

Rising up from the silent desert floor like a gargantuan monolith, ochre-hued Uluru is one of the world’s most bewitching sights – more so, as its colour and appearance constantly change depending on the season and time of day.

Formed more than 600 million years ago, and reaching a height of 348 metres, it overlooks wild and desolate desert landscapes, home for millennia to the Aboriginal people. The area is steeped in their legends and traditions; combined with the scenery, Uluru has an intense, unforgettable atmosphere. The thing has presence.

Climbing Uluru was banned in 2019, but there are still myriad ways to see and experience Australia’s most sacred site. Walking trails encircle the rock allowing you to get close to see the many fissures, gorges and galleries in to the sandstone, some containing centuries-old rock art, whilst learning about its mysteries and legends from local Aboriginal guides.

Those looking for a speedier or less strenuous introduction can opt for a Segway tour or a camel tour. Meanwhile, helicopter and scenic flights are the best way to truly appreciate the scale and strangeness of this geological anomaly sticking out from miles of flat landscape.

Recommendations

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Uluru Camel Tours

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Train of tourists riding on camels on a tour, riding past Uluru

Cameleer Chris Hill runs a wide range of carbon-neutral camel tours, including sunset and sunrise rides and express (45 minute) adventures through the dunes.

Adult price: £40+

Min age 5

Best for ages 10+

Duration: 45+ minutes

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Uluru Base Walk

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

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Bucket List Experience
A face of a red mountain on a clear winter's afternoon

A unique 10km circuit walk that showcases the complex and intricate beauty of this extraordinary monolith, and reveals the rich local legends that surround it.

Best for ages 10+

Duration: 2-3 hours

Helicopter flights over Uluru

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

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Bucket List Experience
Silhouette of red mountain from back of a helivopter.

Discover a different perspective on Australia’s most famous desert natural wonders, with a helicopter tour that soars across the jaw-dropping landscapes of the Northern Territories.

Adult price: £180

Min age 15

Best for ages 16+

Duration: 30 minutes

Uluru Motorcycle Tours

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Uluru Motorcycle Tours

A truly unique way to experience either Uluru or Kata Tjuta – and to perhaps fulfill a secret desire to ride on a Harley Davidson. Tour options range from a quick 30-minute spin to a viewing spot for Uluru, or full 3.5-hour tours of both Uluru or Kata Tjuta. Choose between riding a motorcycle or riding in a three-wheeler sidecar. Pick up from the Ayres Rock Resort.

Adult price: £130

Min age 18

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 90 minutes

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More details >

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Since ‘The Rock’ is located inside a national park, it’s entirely feasible to explore independently, but guided tours offer a much richer insight into the local legends and culture of the Aboriginal people and will take you to interesting places you won’t discover on your own.

Anyone staying at the nearby town of Yulara will find a dazzling variety of tours and cultural experiences available. All tours can be booked through Ayers Rock Resort and its associated properties.

When to do it

Dawn and sunset are the best times to see The Rock, the latter being particularly spectacular. Uluru absorbs heat during the day and seems to glow as the sky darkens.

Winter (June to August) is the ideal time to be in the desert. This is also the busiest time of the year, so spring and autumn can work well too.

Desert summers (December to March) are notoriously hot and when the air is filled with relentless swarms of annoying flies (though you can buy the classic hat with accompanying fly net to keep them off your face). On the plus side, it’s less crowded and rainfall over Uluru is spectacular.

Who to go with: organised tours

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset + Outback Barbecue Dinner & Star Talk

Uluru

Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset + Outback Barbecue Dinner & Star Talk
Enjoy an Aussie-style barbecue dinner with views of Australia’s most recognized natural icon, Uluru (Ayers Rock). Unwind with a complimentary glass of wine as you watch the sun sink over Uluru. Then, enjoy a mouthwatering dinner within the Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park as a myriad of stars come out to light up the outback’s night sky. After dinner, your outback experience is enhanced with a star tour of the southern desert sky.

Price: A284

Min age: 0

Rating 4.12 / 5 [325 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Uluru and Kata Tjuta Experience with BBQ Dinner

Uluru

Uluru and Kata Tjuta Experience with BBQ Dinner
Experience the wonders of Kata Tjuta & Uluru as part of your Northern Territory adventure. Travel in air-conditioned comfort, hear intriguing stories and learn the secrets of this unique world-renowned destination. We provide beverages, snacks, and BBQ so all you have to do is focus on your incredible surroundings. Combining luxury with exploration and discovery, this day tour is one of the most popular things to do during an authentic outback discovery holiday. All activities are considered very safe for all age groups. They do not require a high level of fitness or agility. You’ll enjoy: Watching the sunset at the sacred site of Uluru with a glass of bubbly Uluru: Guided Mala Walk Uluru: Guided Mutitjulu Waterhole Walk Kata Tjuta: Walpa Gorge Walk Aboriginal Cultural Centre ***Effective immediately to all bookings with travel dates from 01 April 2024 onwards, a visit to Kata Tjuṯa will no longer be included.

Price: A305

Min age: 2

Rating 4.32 / 5 [214 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Uluru (Ayers Rock) Base and Sunset Half-Day Trip with Opt Outback BBQ Dinner

Uluru

Uluru (Ayers Rock) Base and Sunset Half-Day Trip with Opt Outback BBQ Dinner
Join your guide for a drive around the base of Uluru. Learn about the native flora, fauna and intriguing cultural traditions of traditional owners, the Anangu, and discover an array of fascinating sacred sites. Continue to the Kuniya Walk where you will be escorted to the Mutitjulu Waterhole.Travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area, 'Sunset Strip' and enjoy a glass of wine and canapes while watching the sun set over Ayers Rock.

Price: A195

Min age: 0

Rating 4.46 / 5 [126 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Highlights of Uluru Including Sunrise and Breakfast

Uluru

Highlights of Uluru Including Sunrise and Breakfast
As you travel towards Uluru its vast shape rises from the sand dunes in the early dawn light highlighting its presence in this country. Your guide will take you to a special location to watch the sun rise over this amazing monolith. You will learn the Creation stories of Liru (venomous snake) and Kuniya (woma python) and hear about the Mala people. After a picnic breakfast you will visit Mutitjulu Waterhole and then drive around the base of the Uluru before returning to the resort. This three hour highlights tour is perfect for those short on time.

Price: A161

Min age: 0

Rating 4.86 / 5 [112 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Small Group Uluru Sunset Viewing Tour

Uluru

Small Group Uluru Sunset Viewing Tour
Experience the many moods of Uluru at sunset with an uninterrupted view on this two hour tour. Admire the immensity of Uluru as you immerse yourself in the environmental changes of this world-renowned icon. Relax with a glass of sparkling wine and light refreshments as the sun sets in the west.

Price: A96

Min age: 0

Rating 4.63 / 5 [86 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Northern Territory, Australia

The large red flat mountain at sunset.

The place to come for the Australian outback experience – jaw-dropping geological formations (including world-famous Uluru), sleeping out in swag bags, sampling bush tucker, and connecting with authentic Aborginal culture.

Round-ups

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Round-ups that include this experience