Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park

So you’re headed to the Red Centre and you’ve only got a day or 2 to see everything? Don’t stress, you can still see majority of the magic that Uluru and Kata Tjuta have to offer.

First things first; book your flights & choose your accommodation.

Jetstar does daily flights from Sydney to Uluru that cost around $450 return. About 15km outside of the National Park is Yulara. Yulara aka Ayers Rock Resort is a tiny town that offers a variety of accomodation options, from unpowered camping sites at $40 to rooms at $500+ per night. Choose whatever suits you and your budget, but don’t forget you won’t be spending much time at all in your room, you’ll be out exploring!

We camped, and it was great. The showers are HOT, bathrooms clean and there are kitchens with microwaves, kettles and BBQs available. What more could you need? There is an IGA in Yulara so you are able to buy anything and everything you need to fuel yourself for the big days ahead.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Entrance Fee

​As you enter the park youll pass through a boom gate where you can purchase your 3 Day Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park Pass. It’s $25 per adult and lasts for 3 days.
Make sure you have this on you in the park as apparently the rangers can ask to inspect it (this didn’t happen to us, but hey, better safe than sorry!)

Handy Helpful Information about What To Do and See (Read on for More Information)

• Sunrise & Sunset Viewing Areas
  • Bus Sunset & Dune Walk (Beautiful Sunrise of both Uluru and distant Kata Tjuta)
  • Talinguru Nyakunytjaku​
  • Car Sunset (Imaginatively named)
• Hikes
  • Base Walk (or Run!)
  • Mala Walk
  • Lungkata Walk
  • Kuniya Walk
  • Liru Walk
• Cultural Centre
• Climbing the Rock (Don’t do it)

​The Dune Walk is a short walk from the end of the ‘Bus Sunset’ Viewing Area. In the evenings this area is reserved for tour buses however in the morning you’ll get it all to yourself and it is magnificent! In our opinion this was the best place for sunrise as you can see both Uluru & Kata Tjuta from the end of the walk.

In the picture below you can obvioucly see the rock to ther ight but in the left in the distance you can see Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)!

Talinguru Nyakunytjaku is a beautiful spot for both sunrise and sunset. there is a series of paths and boardwalks that take you between different viewing platforms and shelters.

Take a thermos and make yourself a cuppa as the sunrises or sets, you won’t be disappointed.

This place is crowded! However, it does provide a great spot to watch the sun set or rise and there is plenty of space for everyone. The oranges as the sun sets are particularly vibrant from here!

You will pass this carpark on the way in/out of the park on the road to Yulara.

10.5km Loop, 2-4 Hours, Easy (Flat entire way)

Along the Base Walk you can do the Mala and Kuniya trails as small detours, whilst the Lungkata walk makes up part of the Base walk. We did the hike in just under 2 hours with time for photos etc. 

4km Return, 1 Hour, Easy (Flat entire way)
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Between the Cultural Centre and the Rock, plenty of pretty native flowers. Popular with bike riders.

2km Return, 30minutes to 1 Hour, Easy (Flat entire way)

* Can be done as part of the Base Walk 

1km Return, 30minutes, Easy (Flat entire way)

* Can be done as part of the Base Walk

Takes you to a watering hole, seats along the way for rest.

As always when visiting a National Park or area of cultural significance it is important to try and learn as much as you can about the place to truly understand and respect what you are seeing. The cultural centre has a large amount of information about the Anangu People and the dreamtime stories associated with Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the surrounding areas.

Uluru is a very important and sacred place to the Anangu People, the traditional land owners. Climbing the rock is very disrespectful to them and their culture. It’s beautiful to see from the ground and there is absolutely no need to climb it especially knowing the pain and sadness it brings to the traditional land owners.

There is a place to climb the rock however there are MANY signs advising you not to.

Handy Helpful Information about What To Do and See!

• Sunrise & Sunset Viewing Areas
  • Dune Viewing
  • ​Sunset Viewing (also a great lunch spot!)
• Hikes
  • Valley Of The Winds
  • Walpa Gorge

7.4km Loop, Moderate- Hard Difficulty (Need to climb over rocks, stairs etc), 2-4 hours

There are 3 distances you can do in this track if you do not want to do the whole distance.
The Karu Lookout is 2.2km return and the Karingana Lookout is 5.4km return. We recommend doing the track anticlockwise so that as you reach the Karingana Lookout you will see the valley in front of you which is really beautiful. Our favourite hike by far!