Uluru / Ayers Rock destination guide
Uluru, recorded in the Northern Territory (NT) Place Names Register as Uluru / Ayers Rock, stands in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the NT, with the domes of Kata Tjuta to its west. The park's World Heritage listing describes the sandstone monolith of Uluru and the conglomerate domes of Kata Tjuta rising abruptly to over 300 metres above relatively flat sandplains and woodland. Their colours shift through tones of red, violet and orange as sunlight, shade and rain cross them, the listing says.
The World Heritage listing says the park has been home to Anangu people for tens of thousands of years; Anangu is the term Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal people use for themselves. Parks Australia says the park was handed back to its Traditional Owners, Anangu, in 1985, in an event known as Handback. The listing describes joint management as a working partnership between the Anangu traditional owners and the Director of National Parks, and Parks Australia says the park is dual-listed as World Heritage for its natural and cultural values.
Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ) is at Yulara, the township outside the park, which Parks Australia puts about a ten-minute drive from the park's entry station. Most of Yulara is Ayers Rock Resort, an Aboriginal-owned enterprise that provides accommodation, restaurants and other services to park visitors, alongside shops, several art galleries and a day spa.
What to see and do at Uluru
The Cultural Centre
Parks Australia suggests starting a visit at the Cultural Centre, on the main road to Uluru, 10 to 15 minutes' drive from the park entry station. It has exhibits and presentations with Anangu and park rangers, a visitor information desk, and the Maruku Arts and Walkatjara Art galleries, and the Tjukurpa Tunnel there is the suggested very first experience of the park. Allow at least two hours.
Ininti, the cafe at the Cultural Centre, is the only place in the park where you can buy food and drinks, according to Parks Australia. Behind the centre is a picnic area with gas barbecues, and Outback Cycling hires bicycles from a shop just outside it.
Walking around Uluru
Parks Australia's walk pages say most of the park's tracks have wheelchair-accessible sections and range from easy to moderate. The Uluru base walk is about 10 kilometres of track around the whole circumference of the rock, and the time given for it is 3 hours 30 minutes. Start from the Mala carpark in the early morning, while it is cool, and go clockwise; you can walk the whole base walk or just one or more of its sections.
The base walk has water, toilets and emergency call devices. The Liru walk links the Mala carpark with the Cultural Centre, and Tourism NT's listing for the area includes a ranger-guided Mala walk.
The North-east walk is the longest open stretch of the base walk. Parks Australia says Anangu request that you enjoy the scenery of the north-east face and do not take any photographs.
Parks Australia says the North-east walk closes for the day from 11 am when the forecast or actual temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius or above. The Lungkata walk, which connects the Kuniya walk with the Mala carpark, closes for the day from 2 pm at the same temperature.
Kata Tjuta and the Valley of the Winds
Kata Tjuta is a Pitjantjatjara word meaning "many heads", and Parks Australia says it is an Anangu men's site, sacred under Tjukurpa. Parks Australia puts the domes 50 kilometres by road from Uluru and the drive from Ayers Rock Resort at 45 minutes. Walks there include the Valley of the Winds and Walpa Gorge.
The Valley of the Winds is a Grade 4 walk, steep, rocky and difficult in places, and the full circuit takes 3 to 4 hours, with drinking water halfway and no toilets. Karu lookout is 1 hour and 2.2 kilometres return, and Karingana lookout 2.5 hours and 5.4 kilometres return. Parks Australia says the full circuit is actually easier than walking to Karingana lookout and back.
Because the Valley of the Winds is a culturally sensitive men's area, Parks Australia asks walkers not to take any video or photographs of Kata Tjuta throughout the walk, though close-up photographs of plants, animals and people are welcome. The walk closes at Karu lookout from 11 am when the forecast or actual temperature reaches 36 degrees Celsius or above.
At Walpa Gorge, Parks Australia says Anangu ask that you keep both sides of the gorge in frame when you film, paint, draw or photograph it.
Sunrise and sunset viewing areas
The park has viewing areas for watching and photographing sunrise and sunset: Talinguru Nyakunytjaku for sunrise, the Uluru car and bus sunset viewing areas, and the Kata Tjuta sunset and dune viewing areas. Parks Australia says they are placed so that the sun's rays hit the rock formations directly at that time of day, which makes them appear to change colour.
The park closes at night, and all visitors must leave by closing time. The hours change through the year, and the Parks Australia opening hours page lists them by month. Night-sky photographs have to be taken from outside the park, and Parks Australia suggests a raised lookout on a sand dune beside the Lasseter Highway, about halfway between the entry station and Ayers Rock Resort.
Light shows at Ayers Rock Resort
Ayers Rock Resort lists these light experiences:
- Wintjiri Wiru, evening Indigenous storytelling through drones, light and sound after dusk, which brings to life a chapter of the Mala story sacred to Anangu.
- Field of Light, which the resort describes as a peaceful, artistic walk through glowing lights set on the desert landscape.
- Sunrise Journeys, a morning experience that combines sunrise with Indigenous storytelling, projecting an artwork by local Anangu women across the desert with lasers and music.
The resort recommends booking ahead, because the experiences can sell out. Tourism NT's Uluru listing also names the Sounds of Silence and Tali Wiru dinners, camel, Segway and helicopter tours, and Uluru Astro Tours.
Photography, drones and the climb at Uluru
Drones and other remote-controlled devices are prohibited in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, and Parks Australia says penalties apply for unauthorised use. Commercial use of images taken in the park needs a media permit, and Parks Australia asks visitors always to ask permission before photographing Anangu.
Anangu request that you enjoy the scenery of the north-east face of Uluru and take no photographs on the North-east walk, and Parks Australia's photography page says Anangu ask photographers to take only wide shots from a distance and to avoid showing any of the details on the top-left side of the rock. The North-east walk page says the north-east face is visible from Ayers Rock Resort, the Camel Farm, Field of Light, Sounds of Silence, Wintjiri Wiru and Longitude 131, and when flying on a commercial or scenic flight, and asks that when you photograph or film Uluru from these places you make sure the north-east face is not clearly visible.
The Uluru climb closed permanently from 26 October 2019. Parks Australia says climbing Uluru is a breach of the EPBC Act and penalties will be issued to visitors who attempt it, and its staying-safe page asks visitors to stay on marked tracks at all times.
When to go to Uluru
Parks Australia says Uluru and Kata Tjuta are worth seeing at any time of year, but the weather in Central Australia varies quite a bit between seasons. It calls May to September the best time to come, when the daytime maximum is usually between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, walking is safer and more pleasant, and there is very little rain. Overnight temperatures can be very cold in winter, so it advises bringing warm clothing, and it names August and September as usually the best months to see the park's wildflowers.
From October to March it can get extremely hot, with daytime temperatures regularly above 35 degrees Celsius, and the heat also brings storms and rain that fill the waterholes and start Uluru's waterfalls flowing. For summer visits Parks Australia advises drinking plenty of water and not walking after 11 am. It also warns that summer brings large numbers of flies to the desert, and says protective head nets can be bought on arrival.
Tourism NT gives the Red Centre a summer from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August and spring from September to November. It says Uluru can be visited at any time of year, with the autumn and spring months best for comfortable weather, so its best months differ from Parks Australia's May to September. The Bureau of Meteorology says the Red Centre is mainly classified as desert.
Heat and walking at Uluru
Parks Australia advises walking only in the cooler parts of the day, avoiding the hottest period between 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm, and not walking on any track closed because of the heat. It says some tracks close in the afternoon during summer because of the high risk of heat stroke, and the Valley of the Winds, North-east and Lungkata walks have temperature closures.
The Anangu seasons
Parks Australia sets out the seasons Anangu recognise in the park, which follow the feeling of the weather rather than exact dates. The months it gives for each are the usual ones:
- Itjanu/inuntji: January to March.
- Wanitjunkupai: April to May.
- Wari: late May to July, when very little to no rain falls and frosts come.
- Piriyakutu/piriya piriya: August to October, when reptiles come out of brumation and grevilleas begin to bloom; Parks Australia says desert wildflowers bloom in this season only after winter rains.
- Mai wiyaringkupai/kuli: late October to December, the hottest season, when lightning strikes can start fires.
Flying to Uluru
Flights land at Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ) at Yulara, which Parks Australia puts a 10-minute drive from Ayers Rock Resort. Ayers Rock Resort says coach transfers for its hotel guests meet all commercial flights arriving and departing, and that no bookings are taken for this service, while Parks Australia says you can hire a car from Ayers Rock Airport. The Ayers Rock Airport page covers the terminal and its facilities.
Direct flights recorded from Ayers Rock Airport go to the places below, with the airlines recorded on each route. Schedules change, so check with the airline before planning around a route.
| Destination | Airlines recorded |
|---|---|
| Brisbane | Virgin Australia |
| Cairns | Qantas, Alliance Airlines |
| Melbourne | Jetstar, Virgin Australia |
| Sydney | Jetstar, Qantas |
The Northern Territory and Queensland do not observe daylight saving, while New South Wales and Victoria do, according to the New South Wales Government.
The Northern Territory Government says laws stop some fruits, vegetables and plants from crossing into the NT, and that uncertified bananas from North Queensland are not allowed into the NT.
Getting around Uluru
Parks Australia says there are no taxis or other public transport, and Ayers Rock Resort's airport FAQ, as archived on 5 March 2026, said there were no taxis or ride-sharing services in Yulara. The resort is compact enough to walk around and has a shuttle bus between its accommodation and the town square, according to Parks Australia.
From the resort the drive is 20 minutes to Uluru and 45 minutes to Kata Tjuta, and all roads are sealed, so driving around the park in a normal two-wheel-drive (2WD) vehicle is not a problem, according to Parks Australia. Only a limited number of rental cars are available in Yulara, so Parks Australia strongly recommends booking a few weeks ahead.
Ayers Rock Resort says coach transfers are available between the resort, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, booked online or through the Voyages Travel Centre.
Side trips from Uluru
Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park
Kings Canyon is in Watarrka National Park, which the Northern Territory Government manages, and Tourism NT puts it about 3.5 hours' drive from Ayers Rock Airport. The NT Government says the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road lead there from Yulara, and that the Stuart and Lasseter Highways and Luritja Road are all sealed and suitable for 2WD vehicles.
Tourism NT says the only real way to get around Kings Canyon is your own vehicle or a hire car picked up at Alice Springs or Yulara, with no taxis or shuttle bus services there. Coach transfers from the resort to Kings Canyon are described under Getting around Uluru.
The NT Government says the canyon walls rise 100 metres above Kings Creek to a plateau of rocky domes. Tourism NT describes the Kings Canyon Rim Walk as a 6 kilometre loop, moderate to difficult (Grade 4), that usually takes around 3 to 4 hours, and swimming is not permitted at its Garden of Eden rockhole. On days forecast at 36 degrees Celsius or above, the walk must be started before 9 am, and entry to the trail is not permitted after that time.
Kathleen Springs, 21 kilometres by road from Kings Canyon, has a path paved for its full length and accessible by wheelchair and pram, and swimming is not permitted at its waterhole. Overnight camping in tents, caravans or motorhomes is not allowed in the national park; the NT Government names Kings Canyon Resort for accommodation and Kings Creek Station for camping and cabins.
Curtin Springs
Parks Australia names Curtin Springs, about 100 kilometres from Yulara, as the nearest roadhouse to the park. It is an active cattle station and runs tours to nearby Mount Connor, a flat-topped sandstone monolith known as Atila to Anangu. Many locals call it Fooluru, because its resemblance to Uluru tricks many first-time visitors driving from Alice Springs.
Alice Springs and the Red Centre Way
Parks Australia calls Alice Springs the unofficial capital of Central Australia and puts Uluru 465 kilometres from it by road, about 5.5 hours of direct driving. It describes the Red Centre Way as a 1135 kilometre driving loop starting and finishing in Alice Springs, taking in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Rainbow Valley and Palm Valley. The NT Government recommends a four-wheel drive (4WD) for the Red Centre Way via Larapinta Drive through the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Remote Aboriginal communities
Parks Australia says remote Aboriginal communities within a few hours' drive of the park include Docker River (Kaltukatjara), Amata and Hermannsburg. Its general statement for the Northern Territory is that Central Land Council permits are required to access most remote Aboriginal communities, and that alcohol is prohibited or restricted in remote Aboriginal communities.
Uluru questions
Can you still climb Uluru?
No. The Uluru climb closed permanently from 26 October 2019, and Parks Australia says climbing Uluru is a breach of the EPBC Act, with penalties issued to visitors who attempt it.
When is the best time to visit Uluru?
Parks Australia calls May to September the best time, when daytime maximums are usually between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius and there is very little rain. From October to March it can get extremely hot, and the advice for summer is not to walk after 11 am.
Can you fly a drone at Uluru?
Parks Australia says drones and other remote-controlled devices are prohibited in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park under the EPBC Act, and penalties apply for unauthorised use.
Are there taxis at Ayers Rock Airport?
Parks Australia says there are no taxis or other public transport, and Ayers Rock Resort's airport FAQ, as archived on 5 March 2026, said there were no taxis or ride-sharing services in Yulara. The resort says coach transfers for its hotel guests meet all commercial flights, and Parks Australia says you can hire a car from Ayers Rock Airport.
Where can you buy food in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?
Parks Australia says Ininti, the cafe at the Cultural Centre, is the only place in the park where you can buy food and drinks. There is a picnic area with gas barbecues behind the Cultural Centre.
Does Uluru have daylight saving?
No. Uluru is in the Northern Territory, which does not observe daylight saving, according to the New South Wales Government.
How far is Kings Canyon from Ayers Rock Airport?
Tourism NT puts Kings Canyon about 3.5 hours' drive from Ayers Rock Airport, and the NT Government says the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road lead there from Yulara. On days forecast at 36 degrees Celsius or above, Tourism NT says the Rim Walk must be started before 9 am.