Your Ultimate Guide to Ayers Rock

Let's start with the obvious..

Ayers Rock-Uluru

Australia is probably best known for its beautiful beaches, the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock.

How to get there:

Ayers Rock, located in the center of the country, is one of Australia's best-known landmarks.

There are different ways to get there.

The fastest option is flying. There are direct flights departing from Sydney (Jetstar), Melbourne (Jetstar and Virgin), Cairns (Qantas), or Brisbane (Virgin). Depending on the time of year, flights are more frequent.

Go on a road trip! A 20+ hour drive from pretty much every major city means you need to be prepared for long distances filled with nothing. The landscape can be the same for hours and hours with no phone coverage, so make sure to plan some stops to rest.

Arriving by public transportation (BUS):

If you fly into Alice Springs, you can also hop on a bus that takes you directly to Ayers Rock Resort.

Make sure to book your tickets ahead, especially during peak season.

Best time to visit:

At Ayers Rock, you mainly have two seasons: dry and wet season.

The wet season roughly runs from November to March, and it’s hot and humid during that time. We had over 40 degrees Celsius for over four weeks. It doesn’t rain that often, but when it does, it pours down. That’s also when you have a chance to glimpse the "waterfalls" at Uluru.

The winter season is approximately from April to October. During the day it is usually a nice temperature, with up to 25 degrees Celsius, but at night it gets chilly, so don’t take that lightly; after all, we are still in the desert.

To enter the national park, you need to purchase a park pass. You can either buy a 3-day pass directly at the gate, or you can easily obtain a pass online. If you go with a tour, you need to have your pass prior to boarding the bus (Attention: some tours already include the pass in the price).

The park also has specific opening hours; usually, they open shortly before sunrise and close shortly after sunset. Throughout the day, there are rangers patrolling the park, and they take the opening hours seriously, and you may get fined. For more information on opening hours, check the park's official website:

Park opening hours

How to get to Uluru from Ayers Rock Resort

The easiest way to get from the resort to Ayers Rock is either by driving your own car or renting a car. This gives you flexibility, and you can go whenever you want. When renting a car, you need to know that it is more expensive if you are under 25, and most cars need to be picked up at the airport, not at the resort. The three rental companies are Hertz, Avis, and Thrifty. All three are located at the Tourist Information Center at Town Square in Yulara, or simply look them up online for availability. I would also recommend calling them to check if it’s possible to pick up the car at Town Square instead of the airport, or plan ahead and pick it up directly after landing at the airport.

Another way to see Ayers Rock is by going on a guided tour. The most popular tour operator is AAT Kings, which offers day and half-day tours to Uluru. They have a variety of options, including sunrise, sunset, and even a BBQ.

You can also take the hop-on hop-off bus, which is cheaper in price than the other tour operators but only gets you to and from the rock. No guides or other extras are included. Also, be aware that they sell out fast, so book in advance.

What to do at Uluru:

Once you make it to Uluru, there are a couple of things to do.

Base Walk:

The Base Walk goes all around the rock. It is almost 10 km long but flat, so if you go early to avoid the heat, it is definitely doable. During the wet season, I recommend getting up early, watching the sunrise, and starting the base walk right after. You will see all the beautiful things Uluru has to offer, including the Mutitjulu Waterhole (most impressive after it rains), Kuniya Piti, and many more. On the official website, you can also find maps with the different walks, lengths, and difficulty grades on them.

Guided Ranger Walk:

Check the official website of the national park for more information about this. There is a daily guided ranger walk which starts at the Mala car park, the biggest car park at the rock. The walk usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, and the ranger tells you interesting facts about the rock, the traditional owners, and their way of living at the rock. The ranger finishes the walk where it started; the tour is free of charge.

Cultural Center:

On your trip to Uluru, don't skip the Cultural Center. It has a café where you can try some of the local ice cream, browse for souvenirs, and an art gallery where you can meet some of the local artists working on their paintings. Plan some time at the Cultural Center if you are interested in the history of the spiritual heart of Australia.

Sunset and Sunrise:

Enjoy a sunrise and sunset at one of the many platforms; they are very magical. If you have the time, don’t miss out!