If you don’t follow me on my Instagram, you wouldn’t know that I recently went on a weekend getaway to Uluru or Ayers Rock. Uluru is a massive sandstone in the Northern Territory, essentially what’s known as Australia’s Outback. What’s so special about Uluru other than the fact it’s a GIANT rock in the middle of nowhere, seriously it’s crazy, but it’s also sacred to indigenous Australians.
Due to the significance to indigenous people, after October 26, 2019, individuals will no longer be able to climb Uluru. Although we visited Uluru before and could climb the rock, we didn’t feel comfortable doing so. However, if you’re planning on traveling to Uluru before October 26, this will be your last chance to climb to the top of Uluru.
Climbing the rock or not, Ayers Rock Resort made a place in the middle of nowhere a beautiful getaway perfect for a couples retreat or a girl’s trip away. There’s plenty to do, see, and eat while in Ayers Rock Resort and I hope you find this post helpful if you’re planning on visiting Uluru.
How to Get to Uluru:
Since Uluru is in the middle of nowhere, there are only a couple of ways to really get to Uluru. We flew on a direct flight from Sydney via Jetstar. Virgin Australia also flies to Uluru, but we were unable to find a direct flight, and it was also more expensive, so we opted for Jetstar.
As you would expect, Uluru’s airport is very small, so there’s only a couple of options when it comes to airlines and flight times.
Other than flying, there are a few other options to travel to Uluru from Alice Springs, the closest city from the area, about four hours away.
There’re a few buses that you could buy tickets for, or as a lot of people do, you can rent a car and drive from Alice Springs. However, we came from Sydney and flying was definitely the easiest option when it came to traveling to Uluru.
Where to Stay:
Ayers Rock resort is the main, if not only, accommodations in Uluru. Ayers Rock Resort is a huge, almost small town, in the middle of the Outback. At Ayers Rock Resort, there are multiple hotels, restaurants, a town center, post office, and IGA (grocery store), and pathways connecting everything.
Accommodations start off with really, really nice places such as Longitude 131, a stunning single style house with incredible views to the Ayers Rock campground.
We opted to stay at the Outback Pioneer hotel in a standard room. With Ayers Rock Resort essentially owning all accommodations in the area, as you would expect, nothing is really super budget-friendly.
If you are looking to be on a budget and a little bit more comfort than camping, Outback Pioneer is a great option. It was still a little pricey for what we got, but the standard room includes a queen bed and a twin single, a full bathroom, fridge, TV, and patio area. The Outback Pioneer also has a swimming pool at the hotel, as does all the hotels, and a few restaurants on site as well including a DIY BBQ area.
Where to Eat:
As mentioned earlier, because Ayers Rock Resort owns everything in the area, you’re able to travel to the other hotels and resorts in the area and dine at any of the restaurants. In the town centre, there are also a handful of restaurants and cafes perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Geckios Café: We ate here the first night and it was delicious! There are plenty of options for a fancy sit down meal, but if you’re looking for casual dinning or takeaway, but still delicious food, Geckios Café is the place to go! They have pizza, burgers, salads, and a bar. I opted for the portabella mushroom burger and fries and I have been trying to recreate this dish since returning home because that’s how delicious it was!
Kulata Academy Cafe: If you’re looking for a quick, more affordable bite to eat, stop in at Kulata and support the trainees of Ayers Rock National Indigenous Training Academy. There’s a wide selection of different pastries and sandwiches and a great selection of coffee and tea to compliment at decent prices.
Breakfast Buffet: There are a couple of places where there are Breakfast Buffets available such as at Ilkari Restaurant at Sails in the Desert Hotel and Bough House at Outback Pioneer. We were originally going to pay the expensive price tag and enjoy a breakfast buffet at Ilkari, but then we realized that Outback Pioneer has a buffet breakfast for only about $25 when booking ahead of time if you’re staying at the Outback Pioneer.
I’m so glad that we didn’t pay more for the other breakfast buffet because the buffet at Bough House was seriously delicious! They had everything you would expect from a Australia buffet- eggs, sausages, bacon, beans, hash browns, to a cold deli, oatmeal and a selection of juices and coffees. I was very happy with the breakfast buffet and it filled us up for hours after- perfect for out day of exploring.
Shopping at IGA: Another great option if you’re looking to save a bit of money or not eat out as often is picking up some groceries at IGA. We picked up some snacks and fruit since we only had a fridge in the room, but if you’re interested in using some of the BBQs in the area or have more cooking equipment in your room, buying some groceries at IGA will definitely save you a bit of money. Although it’s not a large as a full-size IGA, they have a good selection of basics, fruits, vegetables, and deli along with basic toiletries.
What To Do:
Although the main/only attraction for Uluru is Uluru itself, there is still plenty to do in Ayers Rock that will keep you busy for days.
Sunrise and Sunset: Viewing Uluru during sunrise and sunset is one of the top things you should do when visiting Uluru. There are a few different tours that you can sign up for, but there are also a variety of lookouts on the paths connecting all the resorts where you can observe the rock during sunrise and sunset. I recommend checking the time for when the sun will rise and set, set an alarm, bring your camera, and maybe a cup of coffee like we did.
Although it can get extremely hot during the day, make sure to wear layers when attending the sunrise- because it’s can definitely get cold!
AAT Kings Tours: Tours are extremely popular in Uluru and there are a lot of different ones to pick from. Some include multiple tours, meals and some are just quick tours. We opted for two different tours, the Uluru Sunset and The Sunrise with the Field of Lights.
Uluru Sunset: Although we already watched the sunset the previous night, experiencing the Uluru sunset with the AAT Kings tours was extremely different. Along with all the tours, you’ll be picked up at your hotel at a designated time in a AAT King Charter Bus and brought to the location. With a quick drive, you’re brought to a beautiful location with stunning views of the rock. You’ll be greeted by endless champagne and wine and some snacks like veggies, chips, dip, and cheese. The food isn’t anything special, but the endless drinks were definitely nice! You’ll have about an hour or so to mingle, drink, and take tons of photos.
It’s recommended that you keep taking photos of the rock during the changes in the sun to capture all the colors of the rock since they change drastically depending on the position of the sun.
Sunrise Field Of Lights: The Field of Lights is a display of over 50,000 solar lights designed by Bruce Munro to look like a field of flowers. It’s absolutely stunning and I highly recommend it if you’re making the trip to Uluru. Although the Field of Lights is displayed for only a limited amount of time, they’ve extended the display until December 31, 2020 because of its popularity.
Although the field of lights doesn’t come out amazingly on camera unless you have a tripod, it’s a beautiful place to just take in all the lights and the beautiful view.
With this tour, it’s a few hours before sunrise so that you get plenty of time to experience the field before the sunrises. You’ll be able to wander around the paths throughout the field for a good 45 minutes or so before you walk back up to the overlook where you’ll be able to enjoy some biscuits and coffee while watching the sunrise and Uluru in the distance.
It’s amazing that no matter how many times you see the rock, it’s breathtaking from different angles and times of the day.
As I mentioned before, mornings and nights can get very cold, so make sure to wear layers to this tour.
If you’re looking to spend a little bit more money, Ayers Rock Helicopter and Scenic Flights are an incredible way to see Uluru. There’s also camel tours, Segway tours, and motorcycle tours as well. However, if you’re looking for some free activities in the area there’s a wide range of free daily activities on the resort ranging from food, culture, art, and nature.
I highly recommend you check out the Ayers Rock Resort website and booklet to get a better idea of the amenities available and what suit your needs.
Hike Around the Rock: By catching the Hop on Hop Off Bus, you’re able to arrive at the rock and hike around it. This is how you can get up close, hike around it, or hike on it if you wish. There are a number of different stops around the rock and the shuttle bus has planned stops around the rock throughout the day so you need to plan accordingly.
I recommend starting at the Mala Carpark and walk towards the Mutitjulu Waterhole. The Mala Carpark is one of the most popular shuttle stops since it’s where the only bathrooms around the rock are located, along with where you can hike on the rock. Mala Carpark to Mutitjulu Waterhole was also recommended to us due to the sun getting hotter on that side of the rock earlier on, so if you’re looking to hike around the whole rock, getting that section of the rock out of the way earlier in the day is best.
Lounging by the Pool: After all the hiking and tours, it’s nice to just spend some time lounging by the pool. The Outback Pioneer had an outdoor pool and all the resorts have a pool as well. Spending some time on one of the day beds and catch some sun was a great way to unwind after our hike.
Camel Farm: Although we didn’t stop at the camel farm, it’s definitely something if I was to go back, I would do. The camel farm is completely free, however, if you’re looking to ride camels, that does cost money. They have tours with the camels as well like the sunset camel tour which looks lovely.
Rent Bikes: Although we didn’t decide to rent bikes, renting a bike and biking around Uluru is the perfect way to experience the rock up close, without taking as much time as a traditional walk. To access the bike rentals, you need to either catch the Hop on Hop Off shuttle bus or have a car rental since it’s located in the National Park.
Town Center: Whether you’re interested in doing some shopping or sending a postcard back home, the resort town square is where you’d want to go. Either just a quick shuttle ride of a short 5-15 minute walk depending on your accommodations, the town square has everything from boutiques, tour and information centre, ANZ bank, to a hair salon. Since all the workers essentially live on the resort, it’s the town square has a lot of practical items, food and toiletries available as well.
Kata Tjuta: Before traveling to Uluru, I never knew there was another rock since Uluru is always the one that you hear about. Located near Uluru is Kata Tjuta which is very popular for hiking and tourism as well. If you’re spending a few days in Ayers Rock, I would highly recommend checking out Kata Tjuta as well!
How to Get Around:
Hop on Hop Off: If you don’t have a car or a tour booked, the Hop on Hop Off shuttle bus is the only way to get to and from the rock. For about $49.00 a person, you get a trip to the rock and back to your accommodations. It’s a bit expensive for what you get, but it’s really the only option.
Rent A Car: At the airport and in the town center, you’re able to rent a car for your trip. We were only in Uluru for two nights and three days. Although a rental car would be useful, there are definitely other ways to get around with the free shuttle bus, AAT charter bus, and the Hop on Hop Off bus. If you’ll be in Uluru for a few days or have more than 2 of you traveling in your group, I would recommend renting a car to get around.
Complimentary Ayers Rock Resort Shuttle: There is a complimentary Ayers Rock Resort Shuttle bus that runs throughout the day and night. This shuttle bus will bring you around the resort and is completely free. Although everything’s in walking distance around the resort it’s perfect for the cooler morning and evenings to catch the shuttle bus instead of walking back home.
With prebooking your hotel, you will get a free airport transfer to and from the airport at the designated time. Like I mentioned, the airport is very small so there will be a lot of people traveling with you on the bus. The bus is just like the buses used for the tours, an extremely nice, charter bus style. It’s makes traveling around the resort and area extremely comfortable.
What To Bring:
This isn’t something that I normally include in my travel guides, but I think especially with this trip, I wish I was a little more prepared with what I packed. Aside from the obvious of bringing your camera, sunglasses, purse etc, here’s some items that I would definitely pack when visiting Uluru:
- Sunscreen and Hat
- You need to protect yourself from the harsh sun
- Filter Water Bottle.
- If drinking out of the tap doesn’t bother you much, you can easily fill up your water bottle at your hotel. However, it’s essential that you always have water with you when visiting Uluru.
- Backpack
- Great for traveling and hiking
- Layers- Gloves, Hat, Scarf etc.
- This is something that I definitely skipped on. Regardless of how hot it gets during the day, it’s really cold in the morning and at night. I would have brought a thicker jacket, gloves, scarf, and thicker clothing in general.
I hope you found this Uluru Travel Guide helpful! Uluru is such a cool place and it’s definitely something that I’m happy that I got to experience.
Have you ever heard of Uluru before or plan on going? Let me know in the comments below!
